His rather tame kinda boring half-effort of an article did however get me thinking about what I would have written if given the same topic. So, that is what follows. Feel free to respond and/or post your own!
Minty's Resolutions For The NHL in 2007
Three-for-one: Fans continue to vote for Rory. Rory Fitzpatrick don't cave to the silly pressure from people that you should remove yourself from consideration because of the "sanctity and reputation of the game". Complainers about Rory possibly making it realize there IS no such thing as "sanctity and reputation of the game" it is only important from a monitary angle as a showcase and money maker.
Those who might need more explanation on that third point? Read this: Consider that the game was skipped entirely for two years recently, once due to the stupididty of the lockout and then again because the year after was an Olympic year. While they'll willingly compress/ruin the entire year's worth of schedules to go to the Olympics they won't take three days off to have the All Star Break. So... If you want to say being named means something then why did every skater in the league toil for an entire season without anyone being bestowed with this sacred honor? No game means that nobody gets named to the supposedly merit-based only all-star team? If you STILL think it's NOT all about money then tell me why a corporate sponsor for this year's game was allowed to superceed the league name in the upcoming officially named "Cold-FX NHL All-Star Game" brought to you be 2k Sports?
In other words those of you who think Rory is the "shocking travesty" marring the game here? You should resolve to look around, get your facts straight and/or have your head examined.
Billionaire Owners lose the darn renegade egos already, it is NOT good for the game. Out in New York, Charles Wang should never negotiate directly with the team's players and put every other team into wierd contract situations by using you as example because you feel a need to sign players by decade instead of by year. Bill Wirtz I give you two words: Just Sell. If not that at least allow those in the home market who care to be tortured by the rubbish product you put on ice to at least see games on TV.
Speaking of owners, Mario nobody is going to hand this to you obviously. This should be something you are used to and welcome, not complain about. You should resolve to do what is the best for the team once and for all and not leave it in limbo as it's been since you became associated with it.
Speaking of legacies and being associated with a franchise, Wayne you were an amazing player who was undisputably the best ever at many many things having to do with hockey. You were so good at so many aspect of the game that nobody else may ever be as good at as many things as you were. So it's okay to admit that one of those things you may not be so good at is being a Coach (or a GM for that manner).
An open call to all fans attening game to resolve to realize that your team does sometimes deserve penalty calls. And every time the other team touches one of "your" players they don't. Cheer for your team and NOT against the refs, your team doesn't need a stadium filled with negative energy. Also on broadcasts it's embarrasing. Or, in the immortal words of Randal from the movie Clerks: "Listen to yourself... you sound like an a-hole."
Speaking of the home team, they should resolve to NOT install one of these obnoxious LCD screen rink-board display screens. It's not as if you don't have enough ad space all the way around the boards I guess? I make an official call to the league to resolve to step in on this matter before the rink boards within a few years look like the "ribbons" around the seating areas that fill with 360 degrees of ads every time play stops.
Having these glowing blue distractions inside the boards isn't exactly helping game watchability. If necessary (which they aren't but should a compomise need to be made) make sure to only allow the "roll over" displays like basketball and baseball which are flat non-lighted ads which could have the proper safety level added in front of them. I also fear for what could happen should a player break through wearing metal skates into one of these electrified LCD boards. 
To all teams considering a name and/or uniform change there should be a process by which if more than say a third of your fans respond to a poll and unveiling of a "new look" negatively you will be required to go back to the drawing board and put together three options, one of which will need at least 50% favorable reaction before being allowed to be used officially with the team. Buffalo I'm looking at you, ditto for Milwaukee of the AHL.
I want all hockey players to resolve to dive more to block shots and to keep pucks from clearing the zone. Other than for those purposes however you should all resolve to realize you are becoming a part of the problem if you dive to get calls. Have a little pride fer crizakes.
I want all players to resolve to stop hitting when you know you are putting a player in a position that has a high potential to end up in an injury. Respect other players and know when to pull up. This one is a two-parter though; as a player you should also resolve to not, like the divers, become a part of the problem by turning your back to hits/the boards placing yourself in potential danger to get a call. You and the divers are only muddying the waters.
Related to the above players, previous players and fans alike should all resolve to make your voice heard loud and clear that you simply will NEVER allow a substantive change like making nets bigger which disprespect and make in degrees irrelevant the great records and history of the game.
The above of course involves a resolution to respect the defensive game and this resolution should be taken on by anyone who feels that all the game's ills come down to there not being enough scoring. Last I checked the game is still played on TWO sides of the ice. This includes creating a defensman's defenseman trophy at the year's end, I suggest to name it for recently retired Scott Stevens as the measure of his worth to his team was more than could be measured by his statistical output. It would be good to say to everyone that all contributions aren't easily measured in statistics.
Tying in with the above... Gary Bettman should resolve to step down. Admitting that he's a puppet and lucky to still have a job and/or a scalp is optional. This is then followed up by a key hockey-knowledgable individual like a Ron Francis, Pat LaFontaine, Steve Yzerman or Scotty Bettman (to give out a few potential candidates) need resolve to fill the now vacant slot and boldly steer the game empahisizing most what is good about the game and the league instead of continually trying to find a way to fashion it into something it isn't/shouldn't be.
I guess that's enough
out of me... so to end on a positive note... every hockey fan should resolve two things: First to take a friend who has never been to a live game out to one and get them hooked. You want to grow the game? Start there. Secondly you should do yourself a favor and resolve to find a way to tune into the "Hockey Day In Canda" broadcast coming up on I beleive it's the 13th of Janaury on CBC. It does the hockey-lover's soul a world of good.And here's one last suggestion: Other TBL Users should resolve to let us know what your Hockey Resolutions would be.
It was a follow up on my "I want more diving" point... my point was about repsect for your opponent NOT about lowering the amount of hitting.
on your point about the Southeast Division. Minty is right, it's one thing to say you don't think those teams should be in the league, but to say their fans don't care is just bogus.
