Does hockey bring you joy, or is it becoming a drag

[Itse]

I have new girlfriend who's a Rangers fan, so I've been watching some of their games lately. I've also watched a few more Predators games as they've really grown on me.

This has made me realize that really it's mostly the Flames that suck.

Probably one of the most boring teams to watch in the league, even though I like many of the players individually.

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by Itse

I have new girlfriend who's a Rangers fan, so I've been watching some of their games lately. I've also watched a few more Predators games as they've really grown on me.

This has made me realize that really it's mostly the Flames that suck.

Probably one of the most boring teams to watch in the league, even though I like many of the players individually.

I remember watching iginlas first game as a penguin(which made a temporary 1 game fan of the pens)and being so jealous their fans got to watch that product game in and game out

[Snuffleupagus]

Until this team gets a real coach it's a real drag to watch, I'm enjoying watching Vegas and their go after it system no matter what the score is for a full 60 minutes.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It helps to trade some of your home-team fandom for a love of the sport in general. This year I got a new candidate for favourite player in Mat Barzal. I don't give a damn about the Islanders' success, except that I want them in the playoffs so that I can see that dude play more. For the same reason, I'm looking forward to seeing what Nik Ehlers can do when it's crunch time, and I'm not a Jets fan at all. And the whole atmosphere surrounding the Preds is infectious even if you're not there - and damn, would I love to be in Nashville for a playoff home game.

There are lots of ways to derive enjoyment from hockey even if your team's in a frustrating spot.

[tripin_billie]

I don't think it's limited to just being a fan, my general enjoyment of playing dropped off too. I stopped playing for about 5 years. I got back into it a little this year, but honestly, I'd rather play tennis, or ski which gives me a good all season combo. So I'm not even sure if it is just the Flames or if maybe, there is a natural level of longevity any interest can have. I played throughout childhood and after university and am now in my 30s. I mean, I bet even those who are the most passionate about a hobby, career, interest eventually burn out on it.

For hockey, I feel like the natural seasons have also disappeared. Hockey used to be fall and winter for me with soccer or some other summer sport to break up the season. I'd always be ready for the next sport season by the end of the other. Now, I can play hockey in August in DC, if I want. Rinks don't get rid of their ice anymore.

Tennis, I'm too cheap to play all that often indoors, so again, I get a natural break. And skiing, well, in the Mid-Atlantic, you've got a short season that just isn't long enough to burn out on.

But hockey... It's almost like there was too much of a good thing. I mean, I love pizza, but I bet I would be pretty over it if it replaced all the other meals.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Since I can't control the team, I try not to let their lack of performance bother me. It's a bit of a bummer that we can't even make the playoffs consistently but what are you gonna do?

I get no joy from endlessly lamenting our players or coaches or GM or trades. I find discussions on these topics have a distinct limitation before it becomes a cyclical and most often cynical exercise with little or no satisfaction or conclusion.

[colbym72]

This thread is lame

[SilverKast]

Originally Posted by colbym72

This thread is lame

Sort of like our team seems a fair amount of the time!

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

Sort of like our team seems a fair amount of the time!

Our team isn't playing well. At no point are they lame. That's the team up north you are thinking of

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by colbym72

This thread is lame

i think that is unfair.

There is a high volume of season ticket holders amongst the CP forum base, that have suffered through a putrid product while consistently paying a rising premium to watch this product.

Do you pay for your enjoyment of the flames? If not, i think you are in the wrong for passing judgement on a fanbase watching/paying for another year of sub-average results.

[Ducay]

I enjoy it when its enjoyable, but when the team is on a skid or not playing fun hockey - I do something else. With limited hours and $$ for entertainment in the week, why waste it on a product that causes you frustration?

Would you sit through the 80th installment of the Avengers if you hated the last 30 movies? Probably not.

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i think that is unfair.

There is a high volume of season ticket holders amongst the CP forum base, that have suffered through a putrid product while consistently paying a rising premium to watch this product.

Do you pay for your enjoyment of the flames? If not, i think you are in the wrong for passing judgement on a fanbase watching/paying for another year of sub-average results.

I understand that when I buy a ticket, it is cuz I am there to watch my team and favourite players and understand that there is no guarantee that I will be satisfied with the result. That is how sports work. My enjoyment comes from my love of the sport. You don't pay for results. That's the teams job. You pay to watch a sport.

Lots of your passion has gone away through the year because you get older and have other responsibilities. Why is it a problem to some that you get more hockey? That is opportunity and your choice if you watch it. No, officiating isn't worse than its ever been. Its always been super subjective and frustrating, you just watch and see more hockey than you ever have with slow motion cameras from six angles.

I am darn sure that if the Flames went on a huge run, people would have car flags, jerseys and be talking about how much they love this team. That's just how sports go. Every team has bad fans, good fans, bandwagons, thinks the refs are against them, players on cold streaks score against them, etc.

[RM14]

Spoiler!

[Envitro]

I'm sure I've said this on several occasions this year and past, but it's been tough this year.

My wife and are I both fanatical fans, our first date was a Flames game FWIW. We've had seasons now for 13 years and always went to ~80% of the games at home, and a few on the road every year.

This year has sucked especially hard. I PVR the games to watch them without commercials when on the road, but I end up mostly fast forwarding through until something of note happens. I can't quite explain my apathy, but we're both just not feeling it this year. The team plays an uninspired game, plain and simple.

We've been through the thick and thin with the Flames over the last 25 or so years, but honestly this year is a bit different. It might have started last year... Don't know why, and I don't care to find out. IF they got into the post-season, not sure I'd bother to go as it stands right now (but I'm sure I would).

We invest A LOT of time and money into this team, but we don't seem to get the same feeling of joy just watching the games, regardless of the outcome. I used to be excited to come home for the 5pm road games, had to watch it LIVE, couldn't be taped/PVR'd... Now, not so much. Maybe I'm just old now

[Erick Estrada]

I don't really care to tune into a lot of regular season games not featuring the Flames but I still really enjoy the playoffs even if the Flames aren't in them. Professional sports doesn't get much better than the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs IMO.

[SilverKast]

Originally Posted by Envitro

I'm sure I've said this on several occasions this year and past, but it's been tough this year.

My wife and are I both fanatical fans, our first date was a Flames game FWIW. We've had seasons now for 13 years and always went to ~80% of the games at home, and a few on the road every year.

This year has sucked especially hard. I PVR the games to watch them without commercials when on the road, but I end up mostly fast forwarding through until something of note happens. I can't quite explain my apathy, but we're both just not feeling it this year. The team plays an uninspired game, plain and simple.

We've been through the thick and thin with the Flames over the last 25 or so years, but honestly this year is a bit different. It might have started last year... Don't know why, and I don't care to find out. IF they got into the post-season, not sure I'd bother to go as it stands right now (but I'm sure I would).

We invest A LOT of time and money into this team, but we don't seem to get the same feeling of joy just watching the games, regardless of the outcome. I used to be excited to come home for the 5pm road games, had to watch it LIVE, couldn't be taped/PVR'd... Now, not so much. Maybe I'm just old now

Totally agree with this as it pretty much sums up exactly how we've felt too. We also have seasons seats and pay a small fortune for the pleasure. I've been giving away most of my seats this year as it just isn't enjoyable at most of the games, instead I watch on TV - sometimes...

[The Boy Wonder]

This team is incredibly boring most of the time this year.

If the flames played the style they played last night every game they would be very exciting to watch... GG finally let the D activate and started the transitional game instead of the boring 5 man unit garbage they’ve use all season.


If they keep that going it could be a fun end to the season

[ForeverFlameFan]

Hockey will always bring me joy. It's the only sport that I actually pay attention to all teams and what they are up to. Even if the Flames do not make the playoffs, you bet I'll be on that Nashville Predators bandwagon. Love their fans, love the team and what Poile has done for them, would love to see them raise the cup. Not to mention, there's a good chance that they play against the Lightning in the Finals, so Nashville needs to only limit the Lightning to one cup won (with an asterisk by it of course).

This year has been unfortunate. I usually make time to make sure that I see the games, but this season has been a tad different. Ever since that 7 game winning streak ended and we started to lose more games, I started to put more priorities in place (mainly school). There has been so many games that we should of won that it hurts to look at the standings sometimes.

[Hackey]

Biggest drag this season has been this board by far.

I'm not thrilled about this season but I feel like we have a lot of good pieces so I still see a lot of positive. Those Iginla years where the organization refused to rebuild were by far way worse for me.

[badradio]

I feel there are to many chintzy penalties and “even up calls” shouldn’t be a thing. Also, the score and time should have no impact on calls, but it does. When I see some of those games from 80s, man that was hockey! It was rugged hard nosed hockey, you could almost do anything and not get called. I do miss the goon factor as well. NHL hockey has become basketball, and maybe that’s what they were trying to do.

I would love for an old-time hockey league come in sort of like true XFL where they cap players at like 200k. I have a hard time cheering for multimillionaires that aren’t willing to leave it all on the line night in and night out.

For the most part, the interference of penalties/rules dictating outcomes makes me the most irritated and not want to watch. Goals and speed don’t directly make a game exciting, I think emotion is what makes the games exciting and there is a lack of that.