25 years ago today, the National Football League used replacement players in regular season games for the first time in its history. It was a groundbreaking move, one that the league had often threatened, but never reverted to until then. The strike lasted for three total weeks before finally coming to an end. So that begs the question, the NHL has canceled the first two weeks of the season, but could they possibly retain the rest of the schedule and bring in replacement players until the standoff with the NHLPA comes to an end?
The short answer is: probably not. Here’s my rationale.
First, when the NFL went through with their use of replacement players, attendance tanked. That first week, NFL games averaged an attendance of 16,947, compared to 59,824 with the real players. Those numbers prove one thing: the product matters. Would you pay good money to watch scab players imitate professional hockey? I most certainly have better ways to spend cash than that. To bring this back to a more modern comparison, sports fans saw the vitriolic reaction to the NFL using replacement refs, never mind replacement players. The NHL would truly be playing with fire.
Secondly, what quality of players would you be getting? Most European and Russian players would choose not to cross the pond to play for an indeterminate term in front of limited crowds. With a league like the NFL, there aren’t a whole lot of other options to play the game professionally. That is definitely not the case with professional hockey. In the US, it’s very easy for us to ignore professional leagues abroad, but there are dozens of other options for players. Even the current NHLers who are playing overseas during the lockout have gone to many different leagues. Talk about thinning the talent pool. I can’t skate without looking at my own feet, and I’m pretty sure that if the NHL were to use replacement players, I could at least make the Columbus Blue Jackets squad. Heck, I might be able to do that with or without the lockout.
All of this being said, there is one reason why this scenario could play out: when the NFL did it, it worked. The player’s union caved to the demands of the owners and returned to work after three weeks of the replacements. There is a difference, however. The NFL knew that their sport was so popular that it could withstand the use of the replacements. The NHL doesn’t share that luxury, as it continues to fight for mainstream relevance. NHL owners are many things, but dumb isn’t one of them. Their main concern is still the long-term health of the sport, no matter how long this lockout drags on.
I sincerely hope that the NHL chooses not to take this avenue. The integrity of the sport means far too much to its fans for it to be taken hostage by a reckless group of owners.
Photo Credits: Sports Illustrated
