NY Rangers sue NHL

... and good for them!

I actually agree with them. The NHL headed by Gary Bettman has been a bizarre organization. He's done almost everything absolutely wrong - moving teams from rabid strong fanbases, inserting gimmicks that just serve to annoy passionate fans and make the game a curiosity for non fans, etc. But over the offseason, I noticed that our Devils had their awesome website replaced with an uglier one on NHL.COM. Apparently the league is mandating that... and many other things. Meanwhile, you have idiots trying to make the nets larger and do other irrational things because their last round of rule changes didn't result in 10-8 games. Hockey isn't Lacrosse and nobody wants it to be. It's not the score that keeps people away. Oh.. and forget about NHL Europe. It's a crap idea.

Gary Bettman needs to be fired. Before the game is lost!

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/espn/nhl/~3/162688662/story

I agree...I think it is their right and they are completely valid in their lawsuit. I really hope more teams follow their lead (for once) because I think it's ******** that the NHL is forcing their hand in that.

... and good for them!

I actually agree with them. The NHL headed by Gary Bettman has been a bizarre organization. He's done almost everything absolutely wrong - moving teams from rabid strong fanbases, inserting gimmicks that just serve to annoy passionate fans and make the game a curiosity for non fans, etc. But over the offseason, I noticed that our Devils had their awesome website replaced with an uglier one on NHL.COM. Apparently the league is mandating that... and many other things. Meanwhile, you have idiots trying to make the nets larger and do other irrational things because their last round of rule changes didn't result in 10-8 games. Hockey isn't Lacrosse and nobody wants it to be. It's not the score that keeps people away. Oh.. and forget about NHL Europe. It's a crap idea.

Gary Bettman needs to be fired. Before the game is lost!

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/espn/nhl/~3/162688662/story

This has nothing to do with the web site.

And much more to do with $$$. The Rangers want control over their dominion so
they can divert funds around revenue sharing, and the NHL wants control over the web so teams, like the Rangers don't (correctly) put their product over the internet
either for free or for money that doesn't go right into the NHL coffers.

Honestly, if the NHL can't get your playoff games on national TV, you should be able
to broadcast them on the web. That, I agree with.

The rest of this is a petty money argument.

The NHL is simply following the path that the NFL has marched down this year with it's overwhelming control of content and it's "product". Read up on what the NFL has done in regards to media control and release of information, they're vying for complete control of anything related to football in an attempt to not only better market themselves but more importantly have more control of their image. For example when the next member of the Cincinnati Bengals gets arrested, Goodell is hoping that with the tight grip over the teams media outlets he can perform more effective damage control. They've got a ways to go yet but he's laying the groundwork now.

The NHL saw this and is probably saying, "Hey we should do that too". Except they are forgetting the NFL makes several boatloads more money a year and has the power to do whatever they want to seize control of their "product". I don't like what the NFL has done and I hope someone is going to step up and do something about it, much like the Rangers are doing now.

I can't believe I'm actually on the Rangers side for something.