| 1. |
This past season, how often did you do the following:
|
Very often |
Often |
Not often |
Never |
Don't know |
| Watch NHL hockey games at home |
68%
|
21%
|
8%
|
0%
|
0%
|
| Go to one NHL hockey game |
24%
|
17%
|
24%
|
28%
|
5%
|
| Go to more than one NHL hockey game |
21%
|
17%
|
23%
|
36%
|
2%
|
| Go out to a restaurant/bar/pub to watch an NHL game |
6%
|
14%
|
41%
|
34%
|
2%
|
|
2. |
In addition to the CBA, the NHL created a Competition Committee that is responsible for formulating and recommending proposed rules changes for
approval by the NHL Board of Governors. This committee consists of four NHL
players, four General Managers, and one owner and is supervised by Colin
Campbell, VP Operations.
In your opinion, do you think the creation of the Competition Committee is a good decision? Please choose a number from 1 to 7, where 7 means "Great idea" and 1 means "Terrible idea"
|
33%
|
7 - Great idea |
|
25%
|
6 |
|
25%
|
5 |
|
11%
|
4 |
|
2%
|
3 |
|
1%
|
2 |
|
1%
|
1 - Terrible idea |
|
0%
|
No Opinion |
|
|
| |
| 3. |
In your opinion, do you think the Competition Committee has been successful and should it continue?
|
31%
|
Yes, it should continue it is a success |
|
51%
|
Yes, it should continue, but it is far from a success |
|
2%
|
No, it should be terminated |
|
8%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 4. |
Should the National Hockey League Fans' Association have a representative on the Competition Committee, allowing fans to be heard before the NHL institutes rule changes?
|
80%
|
Yes |
|
10%
|
No |
|
5%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 5. |
Do you feel the NHL is responsive to the concerns of fans when making changes to the game?
|
28%
|
Yes |
|
56%
|
No |
|
9%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 6. |
With the addition of the Competition Committee several rules changes have been made in hopes of emphasizing the skill, competitiveness and entertainment value of NHL hockey to its fans.
For each of these rules, please indicate whether you agree or disagree with their instating.
|
Strongly Agree
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Strongly Disagree
1 |
Don't know |
| "The Tag-up Rule" will permit play to continue if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone return to the blue line and "tag" it |
71%
|
15%
|
5%
|
3%
|
1%
|
0%
|
1%
|
2%
|
| Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in a shootout. If the score remains tied after each player has had a turn, the shootout will proceed to a "sudden death" format |
29%
|
15%
|
13%
|
10%
|
5%
|
4%
|
20%
|
1%
|
| Passes from behind the defensive blue line to the attacking blue line will be considered legal. The center red line will be ignored for purposes of the "two line pass" |
71%
|
16%
|
5%
|
2%
|
1%
|
0%
|
1%
|
1%
|
| The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent |
46%
|
20%
|
12%
|
10%
|
3%
|
2%
|
4%
|
2%
|
| A player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game will receive a game misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension would double for each additional incident and the player's coach will be fined $10,000 - a fine that will double for each such incident. |
13%
|
7%
|
8%
|
10%
|
8%
|
11%
|
39%
|
2%
|
| A team that ices the puck cannot make a line change prior to the ensuing face-off |
46%
|
24%
|
11%
|
9%
|
2%
|
2%
|
3%
|
1%
|
| The addition of four feet in each of the offensive zones (the size of the neutral zone will be reduced to 50' from 54') |
36%
|
24%
|
16%
|
13%
|
2%
|
2%
|
2%
|
4%
|
| Goaltenders who play the puck behind the goal line but outside the designated puck handling area (in a trapezoid-shaped area) will be penalized for delay of game |
18%
|
10%
|
10%
|
10%
|
8%
|
10%
|
30%
|
2%
|
| In addition to the minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct/diving that may be assessed by the Referee during a game, Hockey Operations will review game videos and assess fines to players who dive or embellish a fall or a reaction, or who feign injury in an attempt to draw penalties |
45%
|
22%
|
13%
|
8%
|
3%
|
2%
|
3%
|
2%
|
| "Touch" icing will remain the practice, although the Linesman will have discretion to wave off apparent icing infractions if they are deemed the result of an attempted pass |
28%
|
18%
|
14%
|
9%
|
5%
|
5%
|
17%
|
3%
|
|
7. |
For each of the following rules changes please indicate the level of impact you believe it has had on "livening up" the game of hockey. Please choose a number from 1 to 7, where 7 means "large impact" and 1 means "no impact at all".
| Rule Changes |
Huge impact
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
No impact at all
1 |
Don't know |
| Tag up rule |
24%
|
21%
|
25%
|
14%
|
4%
|
2%
|
2%
|
3%
|
| Shoot out to decide games |
46%
|
19%
|
11%
|
8%
|
3%
|
4%
|
6%
|
2%
|
| Expanded Offensive zone |
18%
|
24%
|
29%
|
16%
|
5%
|
2%
|
2%
|
3%
|
| Reduced goaltender equipment size |
13%
|
19%
|
26%
|
21%
|
10%
|
4%
|
4%
|
2%
|
| Removal of the center red line to permit longer passes |
48%
|
28%
|
14%
|
5%
|
2%
|
0%
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
8. |
In comparison to previous NHL hockey seasons, do you think this new Collective Bargaining Agreement has changed the game of hockey for the better or for the worse?
|
59%
|
Better |
|
15%
|
Worse |
|
17%
|
No significant change |
|
7%
|
Don't know |
|
|
| |
| 9. |
Has the CBA made you:
|
10%
|
A bigger NHL fan than before the lockout? |
|
10%
|
Less of a fan than before the lockout? |
|
77%
|
Neither - my
dedication as a fan has not changed |
|
2%
|
Don't know |
|
|
| |
| 10. |
Do you think the new CBA has been good for the economics of the game?
|
57%
|
Yes |
|
14%
|
No |
|
22%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 11. |
Do you think the new CBA was worth the loss of the 2004-05 season?
|
20%
|
Yes |
|
68%
|
No |
|
7%
|
Don't know |
|
2%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 12. |
Is NHL hockey more exciting since the new CBA was signed?
|
57%
|
Yes |
|
29%
|
No |
|
6%
|
Don't know |
|
7%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 13. |
Is the National Hockey League your favourite sports league?
|
86%
|
Yes |
|
9%
|
No |
|
1%
|
Don't know |
|
2%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 14. |
How many "live" NHL games have you attended this season?
|
33%
|
none |
|
35%
|
1-5 |
|
11%
|
6-11 |
|
5%
|
12-15 |
|
3%
|
16-24 |
|
10%
|
25 or more |
|
|
| |
| 15. |
Do you plan to attend more games next season?
|
52%
|
Yes |
|
22%
|
No |
|
24%
|
Don't know |
|
|
| |
| 16. |
The NHL has weighted the games each team plays so it plays it divisional and conference opponnents more often than teams from the other conference. Do you think this is...
|
18%
|
a good idea |
|
17%
|
neither good or bad |
|
60%
|
a bad idea |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
|
| |
| 17. |
How many NHL games do you intend to watch on TV in the next
12 months?
|
0%
|
none |
|
9%
|
1-20 |
|
16%
|
21-40 |
|
17%
|
41-60 |
|
52%
|
more than 60 |
|
3%
|
don't know |
|
|
| |
| 18. |
Generally, what do you think of the calibre of television coverage of the NHL in the United States? (please answer only if you are a resident of the U.S.)
|
1%
|
excellent |
|
19%
|
good |
|
30%
|
average |
|
48%
|
poor |
|
%
|
Not a resident of the U.S. |
|
|
| |
| 18a. |
Generally, what do you think of the quality of television production of the NHL on Versus (formerly OLN) in the United States? (only answered by U.S. members)
|
4%
|
Excellent |
|
32%
|
Good |
|
33%
|
Fair |
|
21%
|
Poor |
|
7%
|
I have not seen a game on OLN |
|
%
|
Not a resident of the U.S. |
|
|
| |
| 18b. |
Generally, what do you think of the quality of television production of the NHL on NBC in the United States? (please answer only if you are a resident of the U.S.)
|
6%
|
Excellent |
|
38%
|
Good |
|
35%
|
Fair |
|
14%
|
Poor |
|
5%
|
I have not seen a game on NBC |
|
%
|
Not a resident of the U.S. |
|
|
| |
| 19. |
Generally, what do you think of the calibre of television coverage of the NHL in Canada? (please answer only if you are a resident of Canada.)
|
52%
|
Excellent |
|
37%
|
Good |
|
7%
|
Fair |
|
2%
|
Poor |
|
%
|
Not a resident of Canada |
|
|
| |
| 20. |
Do you feel Canadian hockey fans
receive better television hockey coverage compared to the U.S. market?
|
84%
|
Yes |
|
2%
|
No |
|
7%
|
Don't know |
|
5%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 21. |
Do you think it is important that existing and prospective fans have access to NHL hockey on a national public broadcast station in the U.S. market?
|
84%
|
Yes |
|
5%
|
No |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
5%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 22. |
Should the NHL and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) work together to bring Saturday "Hockey Night in Canada" to all American fans via a
national public U.S. broadcaster?
|
86%
|
Yes |
|
5%
|
No |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 23. |
Should the NHL and its broadcast partners work to create better camera angles for TV coverage?
|
70%
|
Yes |
|
14%
|
No |
|
7%
|
Don't know |
|
7%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 24. |
Should the NHL season start in early September thus ensuring the season finishes before June?
|
52%
|
Yes |
|
29%
|
No |
|
8%
|
Don't know |
|
10%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 25. |
What is your prime source of information about NHL hockey?
|
6%
|
Newspaper |
|
69%
|
Internet |
|
14%
|
Television |
|
%
|
Magazines |
|
2%
|
Radio |
|
5%
|
The Hockey News |
|
%
|
Other hockey publication |
|
1%
|
Other |
|
|
| |
| 26. |
Do you think the NHL should consider dividing its television broadcasts into two distinct sports entertainment products? For example, one would contain a sanitized, non-violent version for family viewing. No coverage of fights, violent acts or arguments. The other version would be rated "R" and
targeted to a fan base that enjoyed the violent side of the sport. The "R"
version would provide fight analysis and ice-level audio of players' chatter.
|
9%
|
Yes |
|
81%
|
No |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 27. |
Do you think the NHL should continue to explore ways to improve the game?
|
86%
|
Yes |
|
8%
|
No |
|
2%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 28. |
What one action would most help the NHL increase its fan base in the U.S. market?
|
40%
|
have more games played on national U.S. public broadcaster |
|
19%
|
increase the quality of U.S. TV broadcasts |
|
0%
|
reduce the length of games |
|
1%
|
remove fighting entirely |
|
0%
|
reduce fighting dramatically |
|
18%
|
spend much more on marketing players |
|
6%
|
market/promote the violent side of the game |
|
4%
|
implement changes that increase goal scoring |
|
3%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 29. |
Should the NHL expand to Europe?
|
10%
|
Yes |
|
79%
|
No |
|
6%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 30. |
Are you looking forward to seeing NHL players in tighter fitting jerseys next season?
|
8%
|
Yes |
|
58%
|
No |
|
15%
|
Don't know |
|
17%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 31. |
Do you like the new pink jerseys designed for female fans?
|
20%
|
Yes |
|
49%
|
No |
|
10%
|
Don't know |
|
19%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 32. |
Do you like your home team wearing their dark coloured jersey for home games?
|
43%
|
Yes |
|
38%
|
No |
|
2%
|
Don't know |
|
15%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 33. |
Should the players traded to a new team within 30 days of the annual winter trade deadline be prevented from going back to their former teams for at
least one full year?
|
45%
|
Yes |
|
43%
|
No |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
5%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 34. |
Do you think NHL players should participate in the Winter Olympics?
|
66%
|
Yes |
|
28%
|
No |
|
1%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 35. |
Generally speaking, do you think the NHL on-ice officials do a good job?
|
66%
|
Yes |
|
28%
|
No |
|
1%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 36. |
Are you pleased with how on-ice official interpret and apply all the new rules?
|
49%
|
Yes |
|
42%
|
No |
|
3%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 37. |
Should swearing at on-ice officials carry more severe penalties?
|
32%
|
Yes |
|
55%
|
No |
|
6%
|
Don't know |
|
6%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 38. |
Do you think the punishment handed out to players by the NHL this season for major infractions has been fair?
|
55%
|
Yes |
|
34%
|
No |
|
5%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 39. |
Do you believe the "punishment should fit the crime"? Should players who have been penalized for deliberate infractions resulting in injuries to opponents resulting in games lost by those opponents, be banned from hockey until the injured player returns?
|
54%
|
Yes |
|
34%
|
No |
|
7%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 40. |
Should the NHL change the "touch up" rule on icings to allow the call to be made as soon as the puck crosses the goal line rather than waiting for a player to touch it?
|
53%
|
Yes |
|
37%
|
No |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 41. |
Should fighting be banned from the NHL?
|
4%
|
Yes |
|
91%
|
No |
|
1%
|
Don't know |
|
2%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 42. |
Do you think the NHL should take steps to reduce the number of fights in NHL games?
|
11%
|
Yes |
|
83%
|
No |
|
2%
|
Don't know |
|
2%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 43. |
Do you think the NHL should take steps to reduce the players designated on each team that only fight and play less than six or seven minutes a game?
|
19%
|
Yes |
|
72%
|
No |
|
3%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 44. |
Do you think the NHL should explore ways of preventing a designated fighter?
|
23%
|
Yes |
|
70%
|
No |
|
2%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 45. |
Do you think the NHL should issue a two minute penalty to teams if they have a player who accumulates more penalty minutes in a regular season game than minutes played? For instance, if Donald Brashear had seven minutes in
penalties in a game and at the end of regulation play he had played only six
minutes, the team would go into the five minute overtime (if tied) with a
two minute penalty kill.
|
13%
|
Yes, I like this solution |
|
3%
|
Yes, this is on the right track, but there are better ways to penalize teams at the end of games than the aforementioned proposed format |
|
77%
|
No, teams should not be penalized for such transgressions |
|
3%
|
Don't know |
|
3%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 46. |
Regardless of your stance on fighting, do you think the NHL is limiting its growth in the United States because it contains fighting?
|
8%
|
Yes |
|
83%
|
No |
|
5%
|
Don't know |
|
2%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 47. |
Should the NHL award three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss and zero points for a regulation loss?
|
30%
|
Yes |
|
59%
|
No |
|
5%
|
Don't know |
|
4%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 48. |
Should the NHL award two points for a regulation, overtime or shootout win and zero points for an overtime, shootout or regulation loss?
|
39%
|
Yes |
|
50%
|
No |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
5%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 49. |
Should the NHL award points on a sliding scale, such as three points for a regulation time win, two points for an overtime win, one point for a shootout win (zero for the losing team in all cases)?
|
21%
|
Yes |
|
67%
|
No |
|
5%
|
Don't know |
|
5%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 50. |
The NHL is considering allowing more teams to make the playoffs each year. Do you think this is...
|
7%
|
a good idea |
|
9%
|
neither good or bad |
|
79%
|
a bad idea |
|
2%
|
no opinion |
|
|
| |
| 51. |
Should the NHL and NHLPA impose a mandatory half visor rule for players that would be 'grandfathered' into practice?
|
48%
|
Yes |
|
38%
|
No |
|
6%
|
Don't know |
|
6%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 52. |
Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner in support of the game?
|
26%
|
Yes |
|
56%
|
No |
|
9%
|
Don't know |
|
7%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 53. |
Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the owners?
|
65%
|
Yes |
|
18%
|
No |
|
10%
|
Don't know |
|
6%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 54. |
Do you feel Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the fans?
|
20%
|
Yes |
|
65%
|
No |
|
7%
|
Don't know |
|
6%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 55. |
If you had to give Gary Bettman a grade on his overall performance as NHL Commissioner, what would it be ('A' being the highest and 'F' being a failure)?
|
2%
|
A |
|
21%
|
B |
|
28%
|
C |
|
23%
|
D |
|
19%
|
F |
|
4%
|
Don't know |
|
|
| |
| 56. |
Do you respect the efforts and Chris Chelios and his colleagues who forced Ted Saskin's removal as executive director of the NHLPA?
|
58%
|
Yes |
|
10%
|
No |
|
18%
|
Don't know |
|
12%
|
No opinion |
|
|
| |
| 57. |
Ticket prices for NHL games are...
|
76%
|
too high |
|
0%
|
too low |
|
17%
|
about right |
|
3%
|
don't know |
|
6%
|
no opinion |
|
|
| |
| 58. |
If there was a local NHLFA Chapter in your community, would you support this Chapter by attending meetings and/or events?
|
10%
|
yes - annually |
|
23%
|
yes - quarterly |
|
15%
|
yes - monthly |
|
37%
|
it depends on the activity |
|
8%
|
sorry, no time |
|
4%
|
don't know |
|
|
| |
| 59. |
What is your opinion of the NHLFA's progress as it attempts to grow into a professional organization representing the fans' best interests?
|
6%
|
I am not pleased with the NHLFA's progession |
|
45%
|
I am generally pleased with the NHLFA's progession |
|
13%
|
I am very pleased with the NHLFA's progession |
|
31%
|
I'm not in a position to judge yet |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
