| 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 |
64%
|
24%
|
11%
|
1%
|
0%
|
| Go to one NHL hockey game |
24%
|
16%
|
25%
|
29%
|
6%
|
| Go to more than one NHL hockey game |
20%
|
18%
|
21%
|
39%
|
2%
|
| Go out to a restaurant/bar/pub to watch an NHL game |
6%
|
14%
|
39%
|
38%
|
3%
|
|
2. |
The Collective Bargaining Agreement includes a completely revamped economic system under which, during the first year, total player costs of the 30 NHL Clubs will not exceed 54% of League-wide revenue. In addition, no Club payroll for the 2005-06 season will be less than $21.5 million and no payroll will exceed $39 million -- including all salaries, signing bonuses and performance bonuses. (All figures are in $US.)
How strongly would you say you support or oppose this clause?
|
39%
|
Strongly support |
|
46%
|
Support |
|
6%
|
Oppose |
|
3%
|
Strongly oppose |
|
6%
|
No Opinion |
|
| 3. |
In addition to the CBA, the NHL has also created a Competition Committee that was responsible for formulating and recommending the proposed rules changes for approval by the NHL Board of Governors. This committee currently consists of 4 NHL players, 4 General Managers, and one owner and is supervised by Colin Campbell.
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"
|
39%
|
7 - Great idea |
|
25%
|
6 |
|
22%
|
5 |
|
8%
|
4 oppose |
|
2%
|
3 |
|
1%
|
2 |
|
1%
|
1 - Terrible idea |
|
1%
|
No Opinion |
|
| 4. |
Do you feel the NHL is responsive to the concerns of fans when making changes to the game?
|
49%
|
yes |
|
37%
|
no |
|
10%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
| 5. |
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?
|
84%
|
yes |
|
8%
|
no |
|
5%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
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 |
69%
|
18%
|
7%
|
2%
|
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 |
30%
|
18%
|
15%
|
8%
|
4%
|
5%
|
19%
|
0%
|
| 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" |
69%
|
19%
|
6%
|
2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
2%
|
0%
|
| The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent |
49%
|
23%
|
13%
|
8%
|
2%
|
2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
| 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. |
14%
|
10%
|
10%
|
12%
|
9%
|
12%
|
31%
|
2%
|
| A team that ices the puck cannot make a line change prior to the ensuing face-off |
36%
|
28%
|
13%
|
10%
|
4%
|
3%
|
4%
|
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') |
37%
|
28%
|
17%
|
9%
|
2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
3%
|
| 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 |
13%
|
11%
|
13%
|
11%
|
7%
|
11%
|
32%
|
1%
|
| 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 |
44%
|
21%
|
14%
|
11%
|
4%
|
2%
|
3%
|
1%
|
| "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 |
27%
|
22%
|
15%
|
10%
|
5%
|
5%
|
13%
|
2%
|
|
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%
|
23%
|
30%
|
12%
|
4%
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
| Shoot out to decide games |
48%
|
19%
|
11%
|
7%
|
4%
|
4%
|
6%
|
1%
|
| Expanded Offensive zone |
21%
|
31%
|
27%
|
12%
|
3%
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
| Reduced goaltender equipment size |
14%
|
24%
|
28%
|
18%
|
6%
|
6%
|
3%
|
1%
|
| Removal of the center red line to permit longer passes |
46%
|
30%
|
14%
|
5%
|
4%
|
0%
|
0%
|
2%
|
|
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?
|
78%
|
Better |
|
7%
|
Worse |
|
11%
|
No significant change |
|
3%
|
Don't know |
|
| 9. |
Has the CBA made you:
|
43%
|
A bigger NHL fan than before the lockout? |
|
10%
|
Less of a fan than before the lockout? |
|
46%
|
Don't know |
|
| 10. |
How many "live" NHL games have you attended this season? |
|
|
33%
|
none |
|
39%
|
1-5 |
|
10%
|
6-11 |
|
5%
|
12-15 |
|
4%
|
16-24 |
|
9%
|
25 or more |
|
| 11. |
Do you plan to attend more games next season? |
|
|
50%
|
yes |
|
22%
|
no |
|
28%
|
don't know |
|
| 12. |
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... |
|
|
31%
|
a good idea |
|
20%
|
neither good or bad |
|
46%
|
a bad idea |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
| 13. |
How many NHL games do you intend to watch on TV in the next
12 months? |
|
|
1%
|
none |
|
12%
|
1-20 |
|
19%
|
21-40 |
|
19%
|
41-60 |
|
45%
|
more than 60 |
|
4%
|
don't know |
|
| 14. |
Generally, what do you think of the calibre of television coverage of the NHL in the United States? (only
answered by U.S. members) |
|
|
2%
|
excellent |
|
23%
|
good |
|
35%
|
average |
|
38%
|
poor |
|
| 14a. |
Generally, what do you think of the quality of television production of the NHL on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) in the United States? (only
answered by U.S. members) |
|
|
4%
|
Excellent |
|
26%
|
Good |
|
31%
|
Fair |
|
20%
|
Poor |
|
18%
|
I have not seen a game on OLN |
|
| 14b. |
Generally, what do you think of the quality of television production of the NHL on NBC in the United States? (only
answered by U.S. members) |
|
|
8%
|
Excellent |
|
42%
|
Good |
|
29%
|
Fair |
|
11%
|
Poor |
|
10%
|
I have not seen a game on NBC |
|
| 15. |
Generally, what do you think of the calibre of television coverage of the NHL in Canada? (only answered by Canadian members) |
|
|
56%
|
Excellent |
|
34%
|
Good |
|
7%
|
Average |
|
2%
|
Poor |
|
| 16. |
Should the NHL season start in early September thus ensuring the season finishes before June? |
|
|
54%
|
yes |
|
26%
|
no |
|
6%
|
don't know |
|
13%
|
no opinion |
|
| 17. |
What is your prime source of information about NHL hockey? |
|
|
9%
|
newspaper |
|
63%
|
Internet |
|
18%
|
television |
|
0%
|
magazines |
|
3%
|
radio |
|
7%
|
The Hockey News |
|
0%
|
other hockey publication |
|
1%
|
other |
|
| 18. |
Do you think NHL players should participate in the Winter Olympics? |
|
|
54%
|
yes |
|
37%
|
no |
|
4%
|
don't know |
|
5%
|
no opinion |
|
| 19. |
Did you miss the NHL All Star Game and Skills Competition this season? |
|
|
46%
|
yes |
|
48%
|
no |
|
2%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
| 20. |
Do you think the NHL should allow players to have more liberal curves in their sticks? |
|
|
36%
|
yes |
|
44%
|
no |
|
10%
|
don't know |
|
9%
|
no opinion |
|
| 21. |
Do you think measuring sticks before shootouts is a good idea? |
|
|
43%
|
yes |
|
42%
|
no |
|
5%
|
don't know |
|
9%
|
no opinion |
|
| 22. |
Generally speaking, do you think the NHL on-ice officials do a good job? |
|
|
73%
|
yes |
|
22%
|
no |
|
2%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
| 23. |
Are you fearful that the NHL will let strict officiating slip during the playoffs and allow more infractions to occur? |
|
|
62%
|
yes |
|
31%
|
no |
|
5%
|
don't know |
|
2%
|
no opinion |
|
| 24. |
Do you think the punishment handed out to players by the NHL this season for major infractions has been fair? |
|
|
51%
|
yes |
|
31%
|
no |
|
13%
|
don't know |
|
5%
|
no opinion |
|
| 25. |
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? |
|
|
52%
|
yes |
|
37%
|
no |
|
9%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
| 26. |
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? |
|
|
51%
|
yes |
|
39%
|
no |
|
6%
|
don't know |
|
4%
|
no opinion |
|
| 27. |
Should fighting be banned from the NHL? |
|
|
8%
|
yes |
|
88%
|
no |
|
2%
|
don't know |
|
1%
|
no opinion |
|
| 28. |
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? |
|
|
31%
|
yes |
|
59%
|
no |
|
6%
|
don't know |
|
4%
|
no opinion |
|
| 29. |
Should the NHL award two points for a regulation, overtime or shootout win and zero points for an overtime, shootout or regulation loss? |
|
|
32%
|
yes |
|
57%
|
no |
|
5%
|
don't know |
|
5%
|
no opinion |
|
| 30. |
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)? |
|
|
20%
|
yes |
|
67%
|
no |
|
7%
|
don't know |
|
5%
|
no opinion |
|
| 31. |
The NHL is considering allowing more teams to make the playoffs each year. Do you think this is... |
|
|
10%
|
a good idea |
|
9%
|
neither good or bad |
|
79%
|
a bad idea |
|
2%
|
no opinion |
|
| 32. |
Have you ever visited the NHL.com Web site? |
|
|
97%
|
yes |
|
2%
|
no |
|
0%
|
don't know |
|
1%
|
no opinion |
|
| 33. |
If you have visited the NHL.com Web site, how would you rate it? |
|
|
13%
|
very good |
|
59%
|
good |
|
20%
|
neither good or bad |
|
4%
|
bad |
|
1%
|
very bad |
|
2%
|
I have not visited NHL.com |
|
| 34. |
Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner in support of the game? |
|
|
40%
|
yes |
|
40%
|
no |
|
11%
|
don't know |
|
9%
|
no opinion |
|
| 35. |
Do you think Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the owners? |
|
|
76%
|
yes |
|
9%
|
no |
|
9%
|
don't know |
|
6%
|
no opinion |
|
| 36. |
Do you feel Gary Bettman is doing a good job as NHL commissioner on behalf of the fans? |
|
|
30%
|
yes |
|
52%
|
no |
|
12%
|
don't know |
|
7%
|
no opinion |
|
| 37. |
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)? |
|
|
6%
|
A |
|
33%
|
B |
|
29%
|
C |
|
17%
|
D |
|
11%
|
F |
|
4%
|
don't know |
|
| 38. |
Do you think Ted Saskin, executive director of the NHL Players Association, is doing a good job on behalf of players? |
|
|
22%
|
yes |
|
30%
|
no |
|
38%
|
don't know |
|
10%
|
no opinion |
|
| 39. |
Do you think Ted Saskin, executive director of the NHL Players Association, is doing a good job in support of the game? |
|
|
21%
|
yes |
|
33%
|
no |
|
35%
|
don't know |
|
11%
|
no opinion |
|
| 40. |
Ticket prices for NHL games are... |
|
|
76%
|
too high |
|
0%
|
too low |
|
18%
|
about right |
|
4%
|
don't know |
|
3%
|
no opinion |
|
| 42. |
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 |
|
48%
|
I am generally pleased with the NHLFA's progession |
|
24%
|
I am very pleased with the NHLFA's progession |
|
20%
|
I'm not in a position to judge yet |
|
2%
|
no opinion |
|
