he game has been around since the late 1800's, and since then a lot has changed.

Goaltenders are allowed to go to the ice to stop the puck, forward passing is permitted, there is a red line, we place with five (not six) skaters, and there are boards around the outside. In fact, the game now would hardly seem recognizable to One-Eyed Frank McGee or Joe Malone or other legends of the early days of hockey. Will the game seem unrecognizable to Joe Thornton some day?

Change or die

Hockey, like anything else, can move forward or backward, but it cannot stay where it is. We can be sure the game will change. But will it go back to its rugby-on-ice roots, or will it progress to a faster version of lacrosse? Frankly, I have no idea, but I do know that some things are bound to change in the coming years.

Fighting be gone

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has lost over 50% of its value in the last three years. The NHL is struggling to maintain a US television presence. Are those connected?

Continued...