Comments on: Summertime on the NHL Network: Not Yet Must-See TV

By: On Frozen Blog › A (Very) Welcome Sight on the NHL Network

On Frozen Blog › A (Very) Welcome Sight on the NHL Network — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:36:03 +0000

By: On Frozen Blog › Great TV

On Frozen Blog › Great TV — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:09:22 +0000

By: frank

frank — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:41:13 +0000

I have a suggestion….. get the NHL Network added to FiOS
I don’t have anything else to add that hasn’t been mentioned though – good suggestions all!

By: pepper

pepper — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:25:19 +0000

I’d like watching some European elite league games, if the rights to them can be had.
Doesn’t matter if there’s no commentary in English, just to get a feel for the games played in these leagues, that we never get to see.

By: Sean Leahy

Sean Leahy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:02:52 +0000

NHL Network will be showing the Winter Classic press conference from Chicago on Tuesday 7/22 at 12pm ET

By: Flying Cloud

Flying Cloud — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:01:02 +0000

Dear pucksandbooks, what great ideas! May I add a few stray thoughts? I love the interviews by Dan (Moriarty?? forgive an old lady with serious failing of the lamplight). He’s a great journalist who brings out the best in the players he interviews. I’d like to see more of his efforts, though I’m sure it’s expensive to produce. There were some shows where he just sat in players’ livingrooms and they watched their great cup games together and commented on all the behind-the-scenes action while the family dog wandered into shot — it was funny and heart-warming, besides very informative. He also did a memorable magazine format story on Slapshot Siberians – a player’s off-ice sled dog business. His show (I think it’s called ‘Cutting Edge,’ or similar)is a great way for the NHL to entertain its fans and have a positive influence on kids who will support it in future. Also, how about a marathon weekend of Hockey Academy re-runs! I’ve learned a great deal from watching that show, even though it’s for kids — it really helped me understand some of the drills at Caps’ practice, and to see the strategies of the plays during actual games. It’s great for someone like me, who has never played hockey. With Don and E.J., I’d become used to exercising at home after work to NHL Live on TV, and am suffering serious lack of conditioning now without it. Overall, you know, it is great to have the NHL channel (as well as Center Ice during the season). I’ve been a Caps fan since 1975 and an avid reader of THN, but was starved for hockey news and hockey action until last season. Having taken many kids to games over the past decades, I’ve made it my mission to bring first-time viewers, both adults and kids, and to encourage them to remain hockey fans for life. Things like NHL Channel programs help. And know what? The vintage games and endless 07 repeats are still interesting — despite no Ovie highlight reels — and I watch despite the intrusion of terrible direct sales ads for useless, tacky junk. (Doesn’t quite square with NHL’s goal to help stop the melting, you know — encouraging sales that will clog landfills with tacky, made-in-China junk.) Hoping for improvements, including many you suggested, but grateful for what we have received, I remain a devoted NHL channel viewer. Please keep your wonderful insights coming.
Flying Cloud.

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:56:41 +0000

Scott, in addition to offering some terrific programming suggestions, you highlight here just how broad the news coverage of our sport can be. Well done.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:45:05 +0000

AMEN! How many nights this summer have I turned to NHL network hoping for something to heal my hockey-empty heart and i see that game 3 of boston and montreal is on AGAIN, for the fifth time this week. It’s ridiculous…I mean, okay, if they want to show the playoffs then go ahead by all means but at least mix it up a little. Show games that mattered or were exciting. Go back to last years playoffs, or the year before. Heck, even replay great games from the past year.
Why don’t they have a summer show following the players when they take the Cup with them? I don’t like detroit, but I’d watch that. They have a blog about it on NHL.com (or they used to)…they should video it as well and make it a weekly segment.
For classic games, they can go outside the original six and canadian teams. i NEVER see any classics except those teams…How about showing some inaugural games (like the Caps first game).
How about some highlights of minors, perhaps even college and juniors games. What about games from other leagues like sweden and switzerland (especially those in the past featuring todays NHL standouts).
How about having a weekly show with former greats commenting about a classic game they were in.
How about a weekly “viewers choice” game where fans can go online and vote for the game they want to see.
Just some ideas

By: WVHockeyFan

WVHockeyFan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:59:32 +0000

I, like you, am not always thrilled with the exact game being broadcast on the network, but I still enjoy cranking up my AC, watching a game and pretending it’s late November or early February. My only real beef with the summer (and overall) programming is that more of it is not broadcast in HD. I enjoy the live games during the season and the playoffs in HD on NHL Network, but I think more of the studio shows (On the Fly) and the game re-airs should be done in HD. There’s something about the detail of a High Definition broadcast that brings out the best in a hockey game, maybe more than any other sport in the world. Maybe some re-airs of some Junior or NCAA hockey games involving highly touted prospects or recent draft picks wouldn’t hurt either. I wouldn’t mind seeing John Tavares skate or watch some classic CHL clash between the teams of two eventual lottery picks. I do have to say, however, that whatever the NHL Network decides to show, it’s still better than the NFL Network. Ugh.

By: TG

TG — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:27:08 +0000

Congrats. You've gotten national notice: http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/217579