Boycotting the NHL Without Boycotting the NHL

During the lockout, there were a numbers of groups that popped up around the idea that fans should somehow boycott the NHL. The belief was, that if you spoke with your wallet, the NHL and NHLPA would hear you, and the lockout would be solved. Groups like "Just Drop It," the NHLFA, and any number of other fan boycott groups popped up. These were all great ideas, save for one problem...

The NHL doesn't care.

Let me say that one more time, just to reinforce that for you. The NHL does not care about you. At all. You are not the casual sports fan that makes or breaks sports teams. If you are reading this site, they already know they have you. If you are so passionate about the NHL that you will set up a boycott, they know you'll be back. Might not be right away, but you will be. You know you will.

You see, boycotts are siege warfare, and I haven't seen very many trebuchets around downtown St. Paul. The secret to winning a siege is that you have to be willing to wait out the other guy, and hope that they don't have the supplies to outlast you, and your open supply lines.

Guess what? These are millionaires and billionaires. They can last longer than everyone who reads this site put together and still come out and empty your wallet while it rests on your dead boycotting body.

Harsh? Absolutely. True? Absolutely.

The only ones you are going to hurt by not attending an NHL game is the people who get paid by the hour who suffered right along side you (likely more than you) during the lockout. The players aren't going to know you aren't there, and the owners really don't give a crap if you are or not.

You can call all you want for free NHL Center Ice, it isn't going to happen. Want lower ticket prices? Check out your local National Lacrosse League team. Want a free hot dog and a ice cold Coke to wash it down? Enter a contest at your local grocery store, because it isn't going to happen in an NHL building.

You want the NHL to win you back? They already have, you just haven't admitted it to yourself, yet. You can be as bitter as you want, but you won't give up the game. And they know it. Judging by traffic numbers here yesterday and today, they're right.

Final secret? There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You love NHL hockey. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing you should feel you need to fix. Feel lucky to have a passion for something, regardless of how stupid the power players may behave.

Now, if you really feel the need to boycott, and have convinced yourself you matter to someone inside the league, there are a few ways you can "boycott" without actually boycotting. Feel free to add to the list below.