I agree-the NHL is a lot of fun to watch. Too bad that most of the games are on the OLN..I mean Versus. Stupid Gary Bettman.
I agree with his sentiments to a certain extent, but Simmons missed out on the game for too long a period to say that it didn't change. Because it did. The toughness and feistiness will never leave, but the rule changes following the lockout did a lot to open up the game and let skill decide games as well. Those "soft Europeans" are now able to show why they're capable of with more open ice. That's not to say that the league has pansified (you still have to be able to take and give a hit), but you don't have the league's real stars held back by cheap clutching-and-grabbing techniques. The league's also benefited a lot from the institution of the salary cap. Aside from institution parity, it forced NHL GM's and front offices to become a lot smarter in their approach to building teams (as every dollar counts). The impact has also trickled down into analysis, as commentators and writers now talk about the game in a more nuanced manner and aren't relying so much vague arbitrary "hockey terms" (toughness, heart, guts, intensity, etc.).
