Walking around with renewed enthusiasm, hockey fans are excited as the NHL preseason gets underway after a long summer absence. Despite all 32 teams returning to the ice, the excitement around these games remains questionable for some, including Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who advocates for eliminating the preseason altogether.
During his appearance on TSN’s Overdrive, Brind’Amour expressed his views saying, Guys just want to play. Guys just want to drop the puck and start for real. They don’t like practicing — nobody does.
Brind’Amour’s sentiments echo past attitudes shared by athletes like Allen Iverson, who famously criticized the focus on practice over real games.
The NHL recently adjusted its collective bargaining agreement, reducing preseason games from six to four while extending the regular season to 84 games. However, Brind’Amour believes these four games are still unnecessary, citing that the team’s roster is generally set before these matches begin. Further supporting his stance, he mentioned, It’s not like even I remember, there were always spots available. That doesn’t happen now, hardly ever. The team’s picked.
Despite Brind’Amour’s argument, preseason games could serve different purposes. They allow the NHL to hold neutral site games, reaching regions that wouldn’t typically experience NHL hockey. For instance, teams such as the Capitals and Flyers played in Hershey, Pennsylvania, while others played in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, offering fans affordable access to professional hockey.
Brind’Amour led the Carolina Hurricanes to their franchise’s second Stanley Cup title, highlighting his credibility. Still, while he advocates reducing or eliminating preseason games, others see potential benefits, especially in terms of marketing and fan engagement.
Matthew Reigle, a writer for OutKick, rounds up the discussion suggesting that while some preseason elements could be useful, perhaps it’s worth considering dropping a few more games.
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