Phil Johnston#NHL I have come to the realization that I don’t enjoy watching the playoffs. I prefer the regular season. Playoff rules are different, the culture is more violent and less skill based, and players get hurt. Also, “the best” team is better decided over 82 games (this year that’s Boston by far) than a few in the playoffs (Boston went out in the 1st round). The best team is the most consistent team over the long haul. #hockey
The playoffs also inspire weird contracts like “rental” players, creating odd mashed together teams that only last a couple months. They don’t inspire a GM to create a team that is good long-term, but rather to bet wildly on the short term. This even has a bit of a dehumanizing effect, as players are seen as products to be passed around and used up, instead of as humans and team mates.
Jake in the desert@johnstonphilip all this you're saying is what I really hated about football when I stopped following it in the 90s. It started getting like that, players were everywhere, you couldn't get any team loyalty. I'm not a sports guy but that bugged me. I do dig hockey though. Although I don't follow it hah
@jake4480 I stopped watching hockey around 2006 but got bit by the nostalgia bug in 2020. It was going to be the one thing I shut my brain off for and mindlessly enjoy, but alas, I cannot do that 😂. The #NHL is even worse with its love for Ovechkin despite his blatant support for Putin (featuring him in the all star game after the war started). I think I’m going to start watching women’s hockey instead.