>From: erik <[log in to unmask]>

>
> > From: "Greg Ambrose" <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> > Well, it only too only day for the NHL commissioner to get to  Salt Lake
>and
> > burst the bubble for all us idealists.  According to Bettman (I saw it
>in
> > the Boston Herald today, couldn't get the link), the play we are seeing
>in
> > the Olympics has nothing to do with the size of the rink or the
>elimination
> > of the two line pass.  For him, it is just the skill of the players.  I
> > would like to ask Mr. Bettman why, with the same players, the play in
>his
> > league is so unexciting.
>
>Because there are 22 more teams in the NHL than this final round of the
>Qlympics?
>
>As much as people might not like to admit it, he's probably right.  I've
>been saying this for weeks and I'm kinda shocked that people are actually
>surprised at the high-level of play.  The exciting play is FAR more
>attributable to the players and the style of play (unlike Nagano, there are
>FAR fewer teams playing the extreme defensive styles that we see in the
>NHL.....and other European leagues), than the red line or wider ice.

Yeah, your right, the exciting games we saw in the preliminary round with
such all star laden teams as France and Austria had nothing to do with no
red line and wider rinks, It was the tremendous skill of the players.. ;)

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