The excitement is back as the NHL preseason kicks off, marking the end of a long summer without hockey. With all 32 teams returning to the ice, fans are eager to watch their favorite players compete. However, the enthusiasm is not universally shared. Some argue that preseason games lack excitement and necessity.
Rod Brind’Amour, the head coach of the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes, supports eliminating the preseason altogether. During an interview on TSN’s “Overdrive,” Brind’Amour expressed his preference for starting the regular season without preliminary games. “Guys just want to play. Guys just want to drop the puck and start for real,” he stated, highlighting the general dislike for practicing.
“They don’t like practicing — nobody does,” Brind’Amour pointed out during the conversation.
This sentiment echoes the famous words of Allen Iverson, who famously downplayed the importance of practice in the sports world.
The NHL’s recent collective bargaining agreement already trimmed the preseason from six games to four, extending the regular season to 84 games. However, Brind’Amour believes further reductions are warranted, arguing that preseason games often have little impact as teams are mainly predetermined.
“There were always spots available,” Brind’Amour recalled. “But now, that hardly happens. The team’s picked.” His view suggests that preseason games offer limited opportunities for players to earn a spot on the roster.
Despite these points, the preseason holds certain advantages. It allows NHL games to occur in neutral locations, giving fans from different regions a chance to experience professional hockey. For instance, the Capitals and Flyers played in Hershey, Pennsylvania, while the Senators faced the Canadiens in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. These games make NHL action more accessible and affordable for various audiences.
While preseason serves some purposes, Brind’Amour and others might argue that reducing or eliminating these games could be beneficial. The debate continues as the league weighs the merits of preseason and regular season play.