from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

... So it is with caution that I express skepticism about the sport’s condition. To these eyes and those of others, the NHL does not grab its customers by the collars and demand that every game be watched. In an informal poll, among those reporting dissatisfaction with the product include an ex-coach, a former front-office executive, an ex-Bruin, and several broadcasters. They echo most of the notes that arrive in my inbox.

It is through this prism that I wonder about the game’s future. It feels like the NHL is in a vulnerable position. The game is compromised, ticket prices are high, and entertainment alternatives have never been more expansive — athletic or otherwise.

I relate my experience as a cord-cutter, washing my hands when the Summer Olympics were not available via DirecTV. Netflix gives my family enough entertainment options for me to consider it a monthly no-brainer. Cable TV, meanwhile, is bleeding customers. The NHL is losing eyeballs that may not feel compelled to return.

Hockey fans are loyal and optimistic. But the NHL cannot depend on its customers’ devotion. The product has to become more engaging to watch. Some fixes:

- Restrict net-front time for defenses. This is standard operating procedure in the NBA, where defenders cannot occupy the paint for more than three seconds without actively playing a man. The NHL has to use something similar. The best scoring chances take place in front of the net. Coaches teach their players to collapse in the slot, force everything wide, and reduce chances. The game is nothing without scoring chances.

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