Scott Nichol was dissecting another Blackhawks collapse when he said it.
After the Hawks gave up a 2-0 lead Sunday night and lost 4-3 to Edmonton at the United Center, Nichol said the Hawks should try to play the game like the New Jersey Devils.
On the surface, it seems an admirable goal because the Devils have won three Stanley Cups in the last decade. But for a league that already is playing in half-empty buildings in many cities, some wonder whether the NHL is putting itself in an economic trap because so many teams strike defensive postures.
More than any other professional sport, the NHL depends on fans buying tickets. “People say it’s boring hockey,” Hawks winger Mark Bell said.
Although the Devils have had success on the ice, that success has come at a cost–poor fan support. Through their first 21 home games this season at the 19,040-capacity Continental Airlines Arena, the Devils have had just three sellouts and only six crowds in excess of 16,000.
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Michael Morgan (mnmorgan@tribune.com)
