Pretty sure guys like Bob Ryan and Wilbon know hockey.
I even think I have heard Melrose say there is too much...but not 100% sure.
The Olympic hockey ratings are way higher than NHL...I get that its the Olympics but a lot of people prefer that game.
Haha, Wilbon is a prime example for my argument. He knows NOTHING about hockey outside of being a general sports fan. He's knowledgeable about sports overall, but his hockey knowledge is less than people on this board.
I dunno, I don't think I've ever heard him talk about it really. I know he doesn't like the thuggish attacks and cheap shots, but that is far different from fighting.
Apples to Oranges though, they are higher because it's the Olympics, not cause it's international ice hockey. What are the ratings like for regular international games? They can't even get on "The Ocho" cause they are SOOO boring.
Promise you, it's not more wide open and free flowing like people like to give the narrative of. It's sloppier because the longer passes miss and take forever to track back down, it's more dead play in the neutral zone and less action at either end.
It's like I said earlier, if you aren't a fan of hockey now, then you just aren't a fan of hockey, there is nothing wrong with that, but you aren't going to become one by changing all the rules and alienating people that are fans now. They don't HAVE to bring in casual fans, or different fans, they are doing fine as is, it's never going to be the NFL here, it's not a US type sport, but it does ok for itself.