Finally We Get A "Reasonable" Answer On Why The NHL Does A Terrible Job Marketing Personal Rivalries

Bill Daly says the NHL has learned about not marketing individual rivalry since Sid/Ovi: "Our sport is the ultimate team sport."

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 14, 2016

Okay, I admit it. I'm really stretching the definition of the word "reasonable" here. After all, that isn't just a fairly legitimate explanation. The league avoids shining a spotlight on it's most entertaining talents out of absolute necessity. I mean, if the NHL can't learn from it's mistakes then what can they learn from?

And before you go babbling on about growing the game and all that happy-go-lucky horseshit, I ask you to remember the great Crosby/Ovechkin ratings recession of 2009. Need a refresher? No big deal, it was just two of most exciting hockey players in the universe damn near ruining the spirit of the sport by going head-to-head in a well publicized series that went the distance, featured three overtime games, and one in which both netted a hat trick for their respective teams. Shit, I was half surprised people kept watching all the way through to the finals after how badly Sid and Ovi scared off the casual viewer by hogging all the postseason attention with their own mano-a-mano matchup. 

Is that what all these people that are clamoring for Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Patrik Laine to get more airtime want to see? Young superstars developing personal rivalries that are encouraged by the viewership of multiple nationally broadcasted, primetime encounters? Have they no respect for the team aspect of hockey? What kind of world do we live in where the best players are more worth watching than the 4th line grinders that are paid to protect them? I suggest those people that hate the "all for one, one for all" mentality start watching basketball. Lord knows the NBA could use the ratings after ostracizing all their fans by glorifying their most provocative athletes.