Once again I have to diagree. maybe a fair % of the fans don't care about who's on ice and who's not as long as their team wins, but personally I feel the complete opposite. This is a pro league - you go in arenas to see the very best in this World. And considering the very high prices of the tickets, I think it's rather fair for the one buying to know who's gonna play and who's not.
Back 10 years ago, when the Colorado Avalanche were still the Quebec Nordiques, I used to go see a good amount of games. I think it was in 1990-1991 when I was at "Le Colis?e" for half of the regular season games. I don't remember the result of each of these games - but I do remember to have been astounded by Mario Lemieux' magical hockey playing, I do remember having booed Patrick Roy like hell calling him all the ugly names imaginable, and I do remember being impressed by Ray Bourque's imposing presence on the ice. That's what I remember. Not the scores - the players - the ones having that little thing we'd all love to possess to play whatever sport in the major leagues.
[This message has been edited by katts (edited 11-17-2001).]