Hockey Deserves Better
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- A few years ago I started watching hockey. I was immediately hooked by the sport and since then I've been trying to learn more and more about it. At the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals, I started to think about how the sport was covered and how in my opinion, the presentation of the sport on certain networks is inhibiting the growth of the sport This is a video about me trying to navigate my way through the crazy world of hockey.
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Bit of a different video today. Been getting into hockey the last few years and wanted to summarize my thoughts as a casual fan trying to learn more about his awesome sport.
Please feel free to correct me, provide any additional info or just your thoughts on the vid.
I'm still learning about it and I got to say...I freaking fracking love it.
It was quite the amazing season. I hope you stick around to watch more hockey 😁!
Hockey is awesome, probably the best sport to be at in person
It's the best sport. Without it, I don't know who I would be. I play and referee but don't actually watch much until Playoffs. Glad you've found it!! It has a great history and the hockey community is incredible. You can start playing at any age and gain friends immediately =)
I will always argue that the NHL playoffs is the best time of the year for sports love the NFL will always be my first love but there's something special about the NHL playoffs
I welcome more sports content from you.
I'm just shocked the team you like is from Seattle considering a certain other Seattle team caused the Packers nothing but trouble and has haunted them.
ESPN missing the Stanley Cup lift was a good example of the presentation problem.
Im glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed that. That is the biggest moment of the year and often is iconic for the sport (ex: Messier winning with the rangers) and they completely botched it.
They suck now on who and what they should air to. They're not worth our time and paying subscription.
TNT has done a way better job than espn
Sportsnet is the way to go. Too bad it’s only in Canada.
It's rather hilarious. They thought Sasha Barkov was gonna wait to pose for their shot. Rookie move, you be ready to follow when it's time to raise the Cup.
Tom doing hockey content? I like this timeline
Me too!
Me three!
The Grossi Possi is full of goons!
Me four!
Soy cinco!
Ik your super busy but i absolutely can’t recommend The Hockey Guy’s channel enough. The two of you are my all time favorite sports media people and i think you’d love the way he talks about the history of the game.
This👆
This 👆🏻
I would love seeing The Hockey Guy and Tom Grossi doing a video together, maybe even an episode of GPS?
This ☝🏼
Agreed!
The four channels I follow for hockey - Steve Dangle for the passion, Hockey Psychology for analysis, The Hockey Guy for balanced takes, Tree for history and spice. Good to see you viewing it Tom. NHL needs a Betman replacement like it's 1999.
Can't go wrong much there. A little obscure, but "Scouting the Refs" is a good channel if one wants insights into the controversial calls, and officiating of the game in general. "The Hockey Guy" is a National Treasure.
Add pinholes Graham too! Great pieces and mini docs!
2BCProductions2BC for the video game as well
@@Helvigster The 🐐
Agreed except dangle, I can’t handle the screaming cringe
When I visited Canada, I was quite jealous of how I could talk to random people about hockey, and in America if I find someone who knows their hockey, it's pretty special. While I'm encouraged by the progress made in growing the sport, I agree with virtually all of Tom's points here.
I went to Vancouver right after the Kings won in 2012. Even though there was a lockout, it was still hockey 24/7 up there. And yes, I wore my Kings championship gear while I was there. 😁
If you really want to have trouble finding another American to talk to, get into the English Premier League. I get so excited finding another fan of the sport at all that it doesn't much matter that they support a rival such as Arsenal, Chelsea, or Man U. There's also the fact that when I mention my Spurs, a lot of them think I'm talking about San Antonio.
Grossi wearing a Seattle Sports jersey when it’s not a skit is a rare sight to behold
He should come to MSG during that summer
Lol
And be a fan of one too lol
He is a man of taste and culture.
Its a sweater, not a flimsy jersey, notice why we pay alot for them??
finally the debut of Puckast
I really hope this becomes a thing!
I was thinking Krakast but yours is much better lol
@@vumerinoI'd be up for that as a Kraken fan
If it becomes a second (or even 3rd if Buckscast comes first) podcast on this show, i think Krakcast is more likely.
Wait until he reaches his final form.... His Only Fans Channel. I think you can guess what it'd be called. 😈
2025 summer for Grossi - every NHL arena
Yo! He hearted it! He's gonna do it!!
Summer? How about the month after the Super Bowl.
Fuck it, well fundraise for a better sports desk for the broadcasters.
If that actually happens, i'd like it to be later than that so i can actually plan to be in LA when Tom is.
I would cry if Tom visited Maple Leaf Gardens. And the Forum would be dope too.
As a Canadian who has never watched the American broadcasts, it is interesting to hear how much they mess it compared to Sportsnet.
It depends on which feed you watch, often times the regional coverage is good. Lucky for me living near the border I get US and Canadian feeds. Sportsnet is the best unless the Leafs are playing then they just annoy me to no end.
Sportsnet is pretty good, unless you believe in announcer's curses. They are notorious for that.
in terms of national broadcasts (as a newbie) ESPN sucks and TNT is the gold standard. Regional coverage thru Root networks like Bally are fine. ESPN in general sucks right now as their NFL and NBA coverage has also been on a fast decline. again im a noob im a Cleveland Monsters fan (AHL) so i go to the games alot more than seeing broadcasts
Canadian national broadcasts are the gold standard of hockey broadcasts.
Sportsnet and TSN put basically every US broadcast to shame
regional broadcasts can range from fine to really good (for instance in my opinion the Kraken's regional broadcast is phenomenal, and starting this season they're making it SUPER accessible to watch - anybody with a satellite or an amazon prime subscription living in the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska will be able to watch the regional broadcasts at no additional fee, which will do a great job of further growing the sport here, paired with the elite announcing and broadcast work they do). But holy crap, the dip in quality when it's a nationally broadcast game is so unreal it's almost unwatchable in comparison, and I envy Canadians that they get all their broadcasts being top quality.
As a Canadian, life long hockey fan, this was so refreshing to watch and listen to. All your points were SPOT ON. Welcome to the hockey family! Nice pick with the Kraken, very exciting team with a lot of upside. Look forward to seeing more hockey coverage from your perspective.
How to fix the NHL: STOP GIVING THE FINALS TO ESPN!
Fortunately, next year it will be on TNT
@@masonmacomberis that confirmed? I’d give anything to have Eddie doing the games over Forraro
The sad thing is that ESPN/Disney screwed over the NHL back in the late 90's/early 2000's. The reason they moved to a third tier sports network (the outdoor network) was because ESPN/ABC/Disney screwed them over and even a third tier sports network was better then that.
And afterwards? Remember when Sharknado was a thing? Someone at ESPN decided to tag my Sharks on Twitter (not using that stupid new name) with a Sharnado joke, and the Sharks official twitter responded with "any plans on ESPN showing more hockey highlights?", which got instantly retweeted by almost every other NHL team.
That the NHL STILL went back to ABC and ESPN after all that baggage is ridiculous.
Also, there was no network broadcasting the game in my range. There isn't really a local ABC affiliate within my antenna range and I got rid of cable years ago. I couldn't even watch Game 7.
@@jdog345 They alternate who has the finals every year so next year it’s on TNT and then it’s back to ESPN the next year
ESPN literally gave the finals a viewer boost though.
Everyone hates the moving board ads, it’s not just you Tom
I don't even notice them. Idk what the hell is wrong with yall. It's not that bad. Those board ads are creating record growth and pumping serious money into the NHL. There are now more and more hockey players from around the world that are starting to find it worthwhile to move to the US or Canada to play in the NHL. This is bringing better players, better competition and a better product overall.
@@NatPat-yj2or Every hockey player in the US, Russia, Finland, Czechia, Sweden (and most of Europe) and obviously Canada knows what the NHL is and want to play in it if they can make it. The league/team owners making more money does not help those players get into the sport or get better. It doesn't make the NHL better either, it makes it worse. Too many ads on the ice, boards and now even helmets! It's gross
@@APAL880Not to mention the sweaters! I had to watch my Wings taint the design they've stayed faithful to for so long with a literal garbage patch!
Can't say I do. I've never even noticed them before now lol.
@@leviklynstra8975ääääääää
There are three commercial breaks per period in hockey (typically). And they occur when the ice crew is cleaning the ice. This happens the first stoppage after the 6 minute mark, 10 minute mark, and 14 minute mark of the period. (Unless the whistle is blown for icing. A commercial break will never follow an icing.)
Awesome to see new people loving the sport! Its the best sport in the world!
Yes, the commercials are not too disruptive. It's pretty bad in the NFL.
This is one of my favorite "hockey logistics" facts.
I've been a huge hockey fan all my life since I was a little kid, it's great to see more people getting pulled into it and finding how great it is. Though my Wings haven't been in the playoffs for 8 years now, and haven't won Stanley since 2008, I still enjoy watching the playoffs because of how fun it is. The added tension and drama, the fact any team could get hot and pull a surprise run, the emotions of knowing every game matters, and just the timeless tradition of everybody lining up to shake hands after the series ends no matter what. It's a level of sportsmanship that you don't see in most of the other leagues.
It is fascinating that you'd pick the Kraken as well, since they're a brand new team, only 3 years old now. So you're along for the ride early in their history to grow with them as a fan. They're a pretty young team so they'll be exciting to watch in a few years.
As a lifelong hockey fan in Canada, I can say that those presentation issues are unfortunately issues with the national level networks in the United States and their failure to take hockey seriously, rather than the NHL itself. In Canada, if a game gets cut off or switched in a critical moment (especially during the playoffs) people lose their minds. Heck in the 80s, the iconic host of Hockey Night in Canada, Dave Hodge, quit over CBC cutting a critical game in the season for Montreal that was going into overtime because they wanted to make sure bloody Coronation Street aired on time.
Agreed - been watching the Oilers since 1979!! Was going to mention about Dave Hodge but you beat me to it, lol
Actually it was Sunday night movie airing of “Heidi” if I recall correctly… from an interview with Hodge
@@PatDK if it was, then that would have been the second time Heidi was responsible for a high profile game interruption- it also interrupted a (New York) Jets-Raiders game in 1968.
The NHL does however, repeatedly seek the highest possible contact to air games without real consideration on long-term grown of the sport.
Remember that moment live. The Habs were playing Philly. Was seriously pissed with HNIC for firing Dave Hodge in the aftermath.
The one thing all hockey fans share: Jaromir Jagr was an active player when we became fans.
Jaromir Jagr 🤝 Fernando Alonso
Athletes that do not give a fuck about age, and full send it like the absolute chads they are
I still remember the epic mullet he rocked in the 90s
@@joshharrison9054 Manny Ramirez too, dude was playing baseball in Mexico or something til nearly 50
Facts
The 93-94 rangers' run got me, jagrs third season I think.
Adding Grossi into hockey fandom is a massive win for the sports community.
With regards to your "sometimes I can't see the puck" comment, as someone who has been watching since the 90s, you'll get to a point where you won't have to. To make a football reference, the more you watch, you'll start to become a quarterback who can read a defense by watching the safeties. You'll start seeing seams, reading motions, and anticipating who the puck is going to be passed to before it happens. It does take a while, but when you start to get it, watching the star players becomes even more breath-taking when they start doing things you don't anticipate. Awesome video!
Thank you Tom for giving hockey a shot! I think you would be a great influence for the game.
I was just a casual football fan, but between fantasy football and watching red zone, I’ve come to look forward to football every Sunday. I even look forward to single games that happen on the Monday, Thursday and Sunday night games!
Woah a Grossi hockey video ? Hell yes.
All in favor of grossi expanding to more sports 👇
Premier League next!
Yes but he's really testing me with the Kraken being his team 😂
i’m still waiting on buckcast dawg 😂
@@David-kg5nn at least it wasn't the Maple Leafs LOL
WE GOT ANOTHER ONE BOYS !!
Much love from a Devils fan, welcome to the hockey community Tom.
Yes! Much love to Tom grossi from a Rangers Fan
LETS GO DEVILS!!👹
@@matthewchristofferson2832 Let’s Go Rangers
LGD! ❤️🖤
Go Bolts ⚡️
I started watching hockey at the end of the NBC and Doc Emrick era, but I was so lucky that Doc was still announcing because I learned so much about the sport from him
Doc Emerick was so damn good, I watched him from 2009 when I was 12 until his retirement, and I knew when he left that there would NEVER be another hockey announcer as good. Gary Thorne is a close second, he announced for ESPN hockey in the early 00s when they weren’t a dumpster fire.
Loved the Doc! Would tune in to out of market games..... only if it was his game. (I watched dozens and dozens of Penguin games because of him) I complain about almost all the sports commentators. All the greats are gone, it was another generation. Do you have any theories on why everyone stinks nowadays?
@@Redmenace96 You’ve gotta be open minded. There’s still a ton of great sports announcers. In hockey alone you got Sam Rosen, Chris Cuthbert, Kenny Albert, and Gord Miller
the thing is espn had that desk for the first 2 games of the Final, they just couldn't be bothered to bring the thing to Canada. which reflects terribly on how espn chooses to treat broadcasts of the game.
you'll likely see a better presentation of the Final next year when it's on TNT, who seems to actually GAF about how they're perceived when it comes to hockey broadcasting.
There's nothing like live hockey. Definitely the best live sport.
Go Bolts ⚡
@@JoelElRican Go Panthers
Go Wild
Go canucks🗣🗣
@@doughboy1271Florida fans seeing Tampa fans and vice versa:
🫡🤝
As a casual falcons fan… i probably deserve that just for clicking on a hockey video. 😑
You sure do you ***'n clone!
Cuz Atlanta failed twice in the NHL?
Rip thrashers and your half empty arena
Wont worry man, I still believe in Blueland
You hit the nail on the head. I’m a newer hockey fan myself. Started watching in 2016 and really getting into it during the Covid playoffs. It’s hard to follow sometimes and it feels like the NHL gets no respect. Especially with the ESPN
It was better with NBC
This is so cool seeing a NFL social media creator praising hockey. This is the sport that had the Canadian hockey team wail on the Russian national team even when the lights were turned off. You prob heard about ThatHockeyGuy who is an excellent commentator online on the game, I’d also recommend Steve Dangle’s Manic Toronto Maple Leafs channel which has gotten me a little but more interested in the game. He is the one who made the meme: “THE LEAFS LOST TO A 42-YEAR OLD ZAMBONI DRIVER WHO WORKS FOR THEM!”
Also the whole: THEY LOCKED THEMSELVES INTO A SERIES WITH BOSTON BRUINS while laughing like the joker. Dude also has pretty good takes most of the time, but boy can he miss, and is infinitely entertaining.
I miss his Dang-Its and Hat-Picks.
This video needs to be plastered all over the internet for ESPN and the NHL. As a fan for my entire life, it is incredible how bad the national broadcast has gotten as well as the accessibility. I look so often on how to watch my team and I'm usually confused; sometimes I LITERALLY cannot watch them (despite not being blacked out)
Still ppl say hockey sucks when it’s so good!!!
definitely sucks compared to nfl, nba, and mlb
People who say hockey sucks haven't actually wanted a game. I used to be one ofnthose closed minded idiots too.
@@realitybloodYou definitely just don’t watch it it’s far better than the nba
@@jacobcorn7758 nba is the best sport when the refs don’t interfere…
@@realitybloodI love the nba but the nhl is a much better product
I miss the nhl on nbc
Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire... Those were the good old days.
Got a while to wait for them to have another chance
The NBC broadcast team knew hockey. These ESPN and TNT people are bozos.
@Odd1006 Emrick was also pretty good when he was with Fox.
I miss the NHL on Fox.
Never in my life did I expect a hockey game. I’m excited for more now
How bout them Stars
Some info on the commercials: there are three official TV timeouts per period: at the first even-strength stoppage for something other than a goal or icing after (not at) the 6, 10, and 14 minute marks. There may be short ads inserted during other stoppages, but the game is not further delayed by them. Also, there are no official TV timeouts in overtime, though the ice is scraped at what would be the after-10 break, and some networks will throw a quick ad up there as well.
Doc Emrick was the GOAT of announcing
Co-GOAT. Gary Thorne.
In America
@@nileswillis7992 I'd say him and Clement are the peak golden standard. I never got hooked on Doc's isms as much as everybody else. I could also be a little bit biased since it's Thorne and Clement that did the commentary for much of my Red Wings championship runs in the late 90's-00's, but who knows :b
BIG DRIVE!
@@nileswillis7992 His "OFF THE FLOOR, ON THE BOARD" call on Paul Kariya's goal gives me chills every time i watch
A lot of people agree with your opinion Tom. At least games on TNT have much better announcer and studio team and at odd-numbered years they cover the Finals. But ESPN is pure trash
man, TNT has a very good dedication to the sport.
They inherited much of the NBC crew, and NBC had a good run in their final years especially
Welcome aboard. John Forslund (Kraken announcer, former Hurricanes announcer) is one of the best current play-by-play announcers in the league. ESPN is horrific, I would watch Seattle’s broadcast whenever you can. Also you can be best friends with Marshawn Lynch now, huge Kraken guy
Yea that's what I do, Forslund's enthusiasm whenever the Kraken score and hearing their horn sound is one of the best things to experience as a Kraken fan.
Forslund also does TNT and TBS regular season and playoff games too. He’s great coming from a Wild fan (#1 favorite team) and Preds fan (#2 favorite team).
that’s hockey baby!
Forslund is in the top echelon for many years now
Never thought I’d see the day Tom made a hockey video.
Welcome to being a Seattle Sports fan! Its a special kind of pain.
Seeing Tom talk about hockey and wearing a Kraken jersey makes me think he should start something called “Krak Cast”…wait a minute…
Hockey is the sport I play. It deserves WAY better. That final series was good in my opinion. Also, as a Kraken fan, I approve your choice!!!
So next year.....32 in 32?
That would be tough. It would all depend on how the schedule worked. He'd want to be in LA when both the Kings and Ducks are playing at home, same with New York/New Jersey. It would be awesome to see, though.
@@tygrkhat4087 new york new york and new jersey
@@tygrkhat4087 he didn't do 30 in 30 during the season.
@@soulofthemedley Well, I didn't think I'd have to differentiate between the Isles and Rangers.
@@colbypupgaming1962 True.
As a diehard hockey fan and a casual football fan it brings me great joy to see Tom bring hockey content. Thanks for bringing light to a topic that fans have been screaming at to the league for years now. Don't even get me started about the blackouts that make it harder to watch teams we want to see on TV
So cool to hear you are a kraken fan Tom! They're on the up and up with Montour coming in and Berkly Catton in the pipeline now. Hoping for good vibes in the future!
ITs absolutely WILD they missed the cup lift. Its literally the iconic moment of hockey.
Tree be like: I'm impressed
And 5PV too
Hockey is really crazy because it’s one of the only major sports where the ‘minor leagues’ sell out almost the same amount as the majors. Up here in Seattle we have the Everett Silvertips and the Thunderbirds and they are both appointment viewing at least once a year for hockey fans. You think about it, most of the people going to NHL games are still real fans, not just casual viewers so any level of competitive hockey is worthwhile to them
Yah here in Hershey we get sold out crowds every night. Stadium sits 10,500 and sells up to 12000 at game six of the Calder cup finals
Minnesota packs arenas at every level, the High-school tournament sells out the Wilds barn for every game and people come from all over the world for it, it's crazy. Hundreds of thousands of people make the trip to the twin cities every year just for high school hockey
@@YOSHI450R as a follower of both hockey and soccer, a Minnesota team not having a Stanley Cup is as much of a crime as Netherlands not winning a World Cup. Passionate places, with history and great feats, but never winning the big thing.
This is untrue. Several teams have very low attendance relocation happens often. They don't even come close to the NHL's attendance numbers. Even in the CHL, where hockey is religion, most teams don't sell out.
@@Evan8787 sure, I’d argue that is more often a business move made to go somewhere with MORE fans instead of reaching the ones that don’t know you’re an option. I know if I didn’t grow up going to those AHL games that I sure as shit wouldn’t know they exist because they do Jack shit to market themselves normally. My point is there is a general interest in hockey that extends beyond just the NHL, and especially at a price point that can’t be found in other professional sports of the same quality. It’s minor league hockey and minor league baseball that are structured like that, the nfl and nba are sorely lacking in the local markets in terms of offering more products. If I’m not wrong the AHL is under the umbrella of the NHL yeah? Or is it a completely different league? Either way point stands I think
Tom covering hockey. never thought i would see this day but im all for it
I'm a sports broadcaster whose primary sport to cover is hockey. So glad to have you around in the hockey-fan community, and would love to collab with you sometime! 😊
Love this video. I've been playing hockey and a super fan since I was younger. I grew up through a few different broadcasting "eras" even though I'm only 33, and some clarifications on your comments:
1) the puck getting lost is definitely a problem, but unfortunately it's not something that can be fixed. The NHL tried years ago to add a green highlight to the puck and a small trail it left behind to help, but it only made things much worse. Trust me, you weren't missing much. Feel free to yt an example, it was awful. Then again, I'm a goalie and am used to following the puck normally, but the general consensus was the puck trail was garbage.
2) the product is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. And I'm glad that you got to experience it and are getting hooked. It's such a vastly overshadowed sports that's miles better than watching baseball. Hell I even prefer it to nfl viewing, even though I follow the NFL more in depth.
3) the constantly movings ads on the boards are a very recent thing, as of 3-4 years ago or so. In the beginning, they were hilariously bad and very distracting. Today, it's much more fluid, still not great, but they blur into the background after a while so I don't even notice them anymore.
4) love that you got to experience a game from ice level. It makes the dynamic so much different and gives normal people the experience of playing. I never had ice level tickets since they're insane in cost, but I played so I get it.
5) the one thing you need to know for the future, is that the commissioner, Gary Bettman, SUCKZ. Believe it or not, he's worse than Goodell. At least you can see another point of view of Goodell's and see why he made a decision. Bettman is an idiot who is worse at his job. He's the number 1 reason why the game hasn't grown in the US.
National broadcasters are garbage, locals are better. And Go Flyers!!! 💪
Hockey is such a beautiful sport. I’ve been a casual fan for the last twenty years. I’ve never really looked too much into stats. I’m all about the action. The hype gets bigger come playoff time, I don’t know what it is about playoff hockey, but it is so entertaining.
I hope you continue to enjoy an amazing sport!
Nothing beats playoff hockey. Nothing.
I'll give a shot to answer using another sport I'm a fan of: soccer.
The Stanley Cup is to hockey what the World Cup is to soccer, of course with the obvious differences. But the principles are the same.
A hockey player knows that his shots at winning are limited, and if he doesn't get his name in the Cup, he will never touch it while wearing skates and a stick. Soccer players know that if they doesn't win the World Cup, he might be rich, he might win other big things, but he will never get the true glory.
Both know that if they don't win this one, their careers are incomplete.
So they fight for it like there is nothing else to do.
The playoffs are the ultimate proving ground. For both. It's where the legends are built, sometimes even in the losses.
“I’m Tom Grossi, and as always, go Krak go”
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that Grossi is a Kraken fan. Would love to see more hockey content from you.
Yes Grossi is one of my favorite creators and I would be estatic to see him support the Seattle Kraken which is also my team.
Go Kraken
Tom, greetings from a die-hard Ottawa Senators fan. Kraken is a good squad to root for. Lots of all-star players in that Pacific Division, too. And in terms of fan favourites, Joey Daccord is an easy guy to rally around. Welcome aboard the hockey train, pal! Hope you enjoy your stay.
So glad you’re also a Kraken fan. I wanted to dip my toe in from a friend of mine who was interested. My state didn’t have an NHL team but Seattle, whose Cricket team I liked, did. I found out they were new, loved their team colors and idea, and quickly loved their new goalie Daccord.
7:20 ahhh you just made every hockey fan miss the immortal Doc Emerick with that statement.
First things first: I'm here for the hockey content, Tom! Besides football, hockey is my favorite sport, so I'd love to see you dip your toes into the iceberg that is the NHL.
Secondly, I think that hearing a casual fan's thoughts about the game and its presentation is, in many ways, more important than hearing from hardcore fans. As a hardcore fan, it's easy to criticize or question any change that the league makes, whether major or minor. It gets to the point where you can't tell if something is actually bad or if people are overreacting. Hearing someone who doesn't watch the game heavily recognize that the league is putting effort into growing the game is refreshing.
I suggest the movie "Miracle" to REALLY get into hockey and how big of a sport it can be once again.... and also watch TJ Oshie's olympic shootout to get how incredibly gifted some of these players are.
College hockey is extremely fun to watch as well. North Dakota, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Denver, UMass, Miami (OH), Quinnipiac, etc are some of the excellent programs out there that have high amounts of prospects that go to the NHL. A video from Spittin' Chiclets on youtube called *The Ralph Is The HOLY GRAIL Of College Hockey* is a start on more videos with more hockey history you can start to dive into as well.
This is the rarest thing ever, Tom talking about hockey! Love from Canada 🍁
Hockey is also such a fun sport to watch live
I saw a new Grossi video and saw it was NHL and actually thought my 40yr old eyes were going... "That's supposed to be NFL right?" Literally the Peter Parker meme...
Welcome to the fanbase Tom! It's a helluva sport hope you get to enjoy a deep run in post in the next few years. Emotions swing in seconds... how you can go from "We're winning!" to suddenly "20 seconds just passed and they've scored two goals and now we're about to lose."
Hockey is the best in person experience in sports!
Woah a hockey video let’s gooo
After the first day of free agency in the NHL. Tom's choice of team is looking pretty good right now.
I got into hockey in the 1980s by going to Seattle Thunderbirds games. The T-birds are major junior league, players aged 16-20 years-old. Junior League is a fast-track for players to get into the NHL. I was so happy that Seattle finally got a NHL team.
In 2020 I moved to Las Vegas and met my fiancé, who was born and raised in Vegas. Naturally she was a Knights fan, and loved them more than any other team and I never watched hockey growing up.
I found that the blessing of hockey was their minor league, and watching the Silver Knights was a great way for me to learn and than fall in love with the team just like my fiancé had, and both crying when they hoisted up the Stanley Cup.
The presentation for a home game for the VGK (and even the Silver Knights at that) is what truly set it apart, and I can’t wait to hopefully see this league grow because it’s non stop fun, truly.
Earlier this year, I went to my 1st NHL game with some friends at work. It was the Bruins versus Kraken (Kraken won 4-1). The best way to describe the atmosphere of the TD Garden at a Bruins game: imagine walking into a modern style Roman Colosseum for a sold-out showdown with a mixture of cheers, boos, alcohol, and a ton of black 'n gold jerseys giving the teams a hoot 'n a holler. One of the most unique experiences I've ever had as a person who doesn't follow hockey that much.
I would also like to add in another possible theory as to why the NHL isn't presented as nicely as its counterparts such as the NBA and NFL: sports personalities such as Stephen A. Smith usually turn a blind eye away from the sport because they're not an expert on such conversation. When somebody like SAS says that the only thing they know about hockey is that the puck is black, they reinforce the stereotype of hockey not being the go-to activity for urban kids in low-income neighborhoods, thereby limiting its accessibility to all potential fans. But hey, I probably am reading into it too deep, so I can be wrong. Just stating a possibility
All original 6 teams are like that. It’s indescribable the feeling of watching a game in one of their stadiums.
So Tom, as a lifelong fan of this sport, so much so that I came out the puss with a hockey stick in hand, I can tell you this video makes myself extremely proud of the people coming into this fandom, and *who* those people are, I think it's nothing but amazing for the sport. But it also makes me a little sad because you, being a viewer for just a couple of years, have caught onto issues with this league that we've been SCREAMING about. For YEARS we have been upset about this, and the league just doesn't really seem to mind or care what the majority of its fanbase thinks.
The broadcasting situation, with ESPN, was a decision the NHL made back in 2020, and actually didn't start until the 2021-22 season, but a LOT of people were discontent with the switch to ESPN as the US' national broadcasting partner. ESPN is a football and basketball network, the NHL walking away from NBCSN after how amazing they had been for more than 10 years at that point, felt like a stab in the back to longtime, hardcore fans of this sport, because it was essentially the NHL saying "we know NBC has presented, and worked with this sport amazingly, and we know ESPN's potential for hockey coverage is next to zero. We don't, however, care."
So for big market teams, or more successful teams in the US at the time, that meant that 5-10% of their SEASON was going to be on national broadcasts. So with Sharks, Ducks, maybe Red Wings, Devils fans maybe, you won't hear the complaints about ESPN as much as you will from fanbases like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rangers and Islanders, the Capitals, Kings, Golden Knights, Blues, these teams that get a large share of the (already tiny) marketing attention, now their fans have to have some sort of access to ESPN or ABC, to watch broadcasts that are largely worse than their RSN counterparts, or they miss 1/10 of their team's season.
You also touched on the subscription issue, and that can't be understated, but it gets worse when you also factor in that for the NHL, you get constant blackouts. They aren't nearly as bad with the NFL and other leagues, but the NHL gets SO MANY in-market blackouts, that I can sometimes go weeks at a time without being able to watch my team's home games. I'm a Penguins fan, and with the streaming services I pay for, I cannot watch my team if they are playing in Pittsburgh, Philly, Buffalo, New York market (so Rangers, Islanders OR Devils), and I can expect blackouts on like half of our home games. Just because of where I live.
So I have to either use a VPN, which COSTS ME MORE MONEY, or just not watch unless we're playing a Canadian team, or are on the road our out-of-division. There is no reason that I, living in Jefferson County should be paying money to NOT be able to watch any of the Penguins, Flyers OR Sabres (the three market region teams), but I can catch nearly every Ducks or Blues, or Stars game or whatever the hell. There's no reason for it. That's why so many people "sail the seven seas" to watch hockey, if they do at all.
Since you need a VPN to watch your team anyway, to the average fan, you might as well do it for free. But there again, that's extremely off-putting to new fans, who wants to get into a sport where half the time, you have to commit a felony to even be able to watch? That's the paradox with this league and sport; the sport of hockey is, to me, the best collection of the best aspects of every other team sport. The physicality and drama of football, the pace and momentum of basketball, the patience and mentality needed for soccer with elements of MMA-style wearing down of the competition.
And yet the league is the polar opposite. The NHL doesn't go out of its way to show this sport off and say "that sport you like? We're doing that too, but harder", it doesn't draw people in. It uses shit like the streaming BS to push people away. It uses companies like Fanatics to get a dollar out of you then never see you again. It tells ESPN to get all these hockey personalities and names, talking heads and then lets ESPN set them up at an Ikea desk where they're squashed together.
Not even RSNs operate on that low of a budget, have you seen Sportsnet Pittsburgh? Bally's setup for the Blue Jackets? They put budget and EFFORT into it, yet the NHL's entrusting ESPN to... this. It makes me, as a fan, sad to see it, and a video (and channel) I would largely recommend to you as a fan of this sport to get into it, is called Post2Post. The work Neil does over there is far better than anything I could put together here and I think that he offers a lot of great perspective in his more newsy-type videos.
A lot of people would recommend TheHockeyGuy, and I love his work as well, but I think for a new fan, Post2Post is going to be more digestible because Neil isn't going to keep you for 25, 30 minutes talking about 1 specific subject, he's much more... punctuated. I think TheHockeyGuy at times can keep you for too long, and that's really only a plus if you're VERY dedicated to the sport, it's good for keep up with everything but... maybe not so much for getting into the sport and learning it. In my opinion, anyway.
Bettmen's brilliant leadership has led us to this. Many can't watch their local team during the regular season, and the national broadcasts are terrible. NHL is already feeling the cord cutting shift, and no sport is prepared for it. And hockey is a sport that really shows us how the shift from local to national broadcasts was a bad thing.
Also, great source of hockey knowledge is The Hockey Guy here on RUclips. He is a must-subscribe for any NHL fans. Just like you, he is dedicated to his channel a lot. Daily recaps, previews, news of the day, and right now during the offseason he is doing entire NHL history season-by-season
Tom Grossi hockey video? I’m all for it!
I'll just highly recommend watching THG, The Hockey Guy. He does historic videos, game recaps, various videos on team updates and videos on his massive jersey collection. He's good for hockey fans who are just starting up. I'm glad you're getting into this great sport, Tom.
Mr. Grossi, Welcome to The Kraken Fanbase! Your video is Amazing and you have Stated Excellent Points. I watched The Canadian Broadcast (CBC/Sportsnet) and they are my fav. Unbiased and Never Missed Anything.
If you ever want to watch some very paced hockey for cheap, go to a local university/college level hockey game. I used to live across the street from a university arena, so decide to drop in for some games, I had been used to NHL games, have gone to a few a year with my dad since I was a kid, but college/university hockey is a very different and exciting game.
Im curious what other people think, but in my opinion, Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond, the local announcers for the Detroit Red Wings are the best announcer duo for hockey. I wonder who Tom's favorites are?
They are absolutely awesome to listen to and give a fair assessment of other teams too!
I love them
Love this video, Tom. My stomach dropped when that broadcast cut out and started showing Dallas pregame. I agree with everything you said and am in a similar stage of being a hockey fan. Hopefully my Canes will be able to get it done next year
We’re losing all our players smh
Sorry, was routing hard for you in the post season but you guys got cleaned out in FA
It was damned close to a Heidi game.
NHL fans: * Upset that ESPN is disrespecting a major sport that they love *
2007-14 NASCAR fans*: First time?
*Then again, at least ESPN's NASCAR broadcasts themselves weren't that bad, which I cannot say about their current NHL broadcasts.
If only Sean McDonough were even 10% as good as Allen Bestwick.
Definitely not the first time, ESPN used to cover hockey I'm the 90's until the NHL told them to shove it because of shitty business practices
Tom over here casually calling out the thing all of us long term hockey fans have been screaming about for years.
I know you've said you're not trying to crap on any broadcaster. But as a long time fan PLEASE crap on them. NHL broadcasting, ESPECIALLY ESPN now, has been an absolute joke for years.
Too bad you can't watch Canadian Broadcasts. We know hockey up here! 😉But the NHL wants more US viewers, so the US networks NEED to hear people like you---Way to go!!
Hey, Tom, you're rocking the Kraken jersey, but there are the Milwaukee Admirals that play in the AHL. They are an affiliate for my Predators. Just food for thought. ;)
Remember them from IHL days, playing my Saginaw Gears 😊
Fellow Predators fan. When I took my wife to a game when we first started dating she was like I've never seen you happier.
This is wonderful!! Way to go Tom and welcome to hockey. Go Red Wings and FTB(Blackhawks).
And penguins
Go Sabres. The agony never ends.
One day buddy, I feel for you as much as I do Sharks fans
Buffalo as a whole is pain, Bills and Sabers
@@PhantomThiefOfSports the pain is what reminds me that I am alive
@@jdog345 plz get a cup so that Ryan Miller has one
Buffalo might be a story that ends up being like the Cubs
Welcome to the greatest sport on Earth! You may not be an expert, but your opinion certainly sounds like that of an expert. As a lifelong hockey fan (40 + years) I must say your opinion is spot on perfection. The presentation this season, especially that of ESPN, is an absolute joke.
BTW, if you're going to become a hockey fan you should know up front, the NHL has an amazing skill of shooting itself in the foot again, and again. Like signing up with ESPN, a network that couldn't possibly care less about the sport.
In all my years of watching hockey espn gives the WORST presentation of hockey I've ever seen. Their announcers are terrible: Sean Mcdonough is so boring, Leah Hextall and steve levy suck as well. Bob wischusen is the only guy I like. Their analysts are afwul Messier sucks, Subban sucks, callahan sucks. Ferraro is the only guy I like. Espn has the worst announcers and analysts I've ever seen. I miss their old coverage when they had gary thorne, bill clement, mike emrick, and barry melrose.
We've done it! We've converted him to be a genuine hockey fan! Mission accomplished! 😁 Love how things have come full circle after how this channel made me an NHL fan. 😅
NFL* Whoops
you have no idea how great it is as an NHL and NFL fan to see you come out and advocate for this sport. love ya Tom.
Hey, it’s the hockey content.
QUICK, SEND HIM HOCKEY JERSEYS!
I’ve been a Kings fan my whole life. I still remember the day Gretzky was traded to LA. I watch a lot of hockey videos, which is how this video wound up on my feed. A few others already recommended The Hockey Guy. His individual game breakdowns are great, especially if you’re newer to the game. I’d also recommend Brodie Brazil. He covers other sports, and has a bit of a Bay Area focus since he works for NBC Bay Area. His coverage of the Coyotes/UHC saga was great. He talks about things beyond the technical stuff, and gets into coaching, the draft, uniforms, all kinds of things. It’s a good channel.
This is something I've said for YEARS, ESPN has never cared about hockey. It was such a better viewing experience when NBC had the rights. ESPN only wanted it to say they have every major sport on their channels. If it's not the NFL or NBA, they half ass any attempt to cover it to their fans
So happy to see you doing a hockey video!! Can’t wait to see more!!
Heres an interesting question, why the kraken?
I'm still surprised Wisconsin doesn't have an NHL team
Who do they even root for? Minnesota? Chicago? That’s awkward when they absolutely hate the Vikings and Bears
@Zach-mw5so Most wisconsin fans from my experience as a minnesotan are Wild fans. Though it's probably just cause bally sports/formerly fox sports broadcasts them. They have a pretty popular AHL team though
@@Zach-mw5soas a packers fan I root for the hawks
@@Zach-mw5sogenerally speaking the Hawks in my experience
@@Zach-mw5so i work in wisconsin. there’s a big blackhawks flag in my building.
feels great to know that toms a fan of my team. it kinda feels like learning that a celebrity went to your high school
you don't have to apologize for being a new hockey fan. No one does. I know this is gonna sound weird, but this is the truth: the NHL has ZERO interest in growing the game. Everything they do accomplishes the opposite. I mean this league has been around for over 100 years and they act like they've only been around for 10 in regards to their business practices. Hockey fans have a saying "I love hockey but hate the NHL". Oh, and the NHL is by far the cheapest and greediest of the sports leagues. So any extra revenue they make they just pocket it instead of investing it for the potential to make more money. They are all about short-term gain, not long.
One of the biggest issue the NHL has can be summed up in two words: Gary Bettman
I will only fully respect the NHL when and if they get over Bettman's hatred of places that actually like hockey and give me my gosh-darned Wisconsin NHL team already!
Agreed, Bettman NEEDS to go!!!
Tom Grossi and hockey? Never thought I would see that day, I agree hockey is awesome! Go Bolts!
Officiating is the worst part of hockey. You think the NFL officiating is bad? NHL's is worse by far, and as a Canucks fan since 1988, I find it hard to take the league seriously now because of it.
Sean McDonough (play by play for ESPN) is a crime to the finals. His calls were brutal man, zapping any and all excitement from the game. They really need to replace him if they want to keep growing the game.
Iced Kitties Go Meow!