36 replies to this topic

[DropThePuck]

On removing the red line:

"I am liking this more and more as a way to open up the game," U.S. player Doug Weight said after that game. "I'd probably be chasing [NHL star] Rick Nash a lot, but I would enjoy this."
...
"I won't be happy giving up more goals, but it affects everyone," Esche said. "This is where goalies who are very athletic are going to come into play. I'm for anything that makes the games more exciting for the fans."

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Possible Rule Change Summary:

The red line will not be used to determine two-line passes.

In overtime, teams will play four-on-four, followed by three-on-three, and then a shoot-out.

There will be no ties; standings will show wins, losses, overtime losses and shoot-out losses.

Tag-up offside. This enables players already inside the offensive zone before the puck crosses the blue line to peel back and touch the blue line to become onside.

No-touch icing. Defensive players need not touch the puck for an official to call icing.

The size of the goalie equipment will be drastically reduced.

[Dark Knight]

Now if we just had a ... game...

Why not go two-on-two, then one-on... nevermind

[DropThePuck]

NHL: Extreme Makeover

A brave new hockey world?? You're exactly right DK ... Let's get the game back on the ice already!

[M T]

I heard the new slogan will be " A Whole New Game"

[Dark Knight]

I heard the new slogan will be " A Whole New Game"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For the Ducks or the League?

[M T]

THe league. Bob McKenzie mentioned it on one of the TSN.ca clips. He said after the last lockout it was "Game On!!", this time it will be " A Whole New Game".

[Francaise]

DK, forget two on two. How about the goalies try to score on each other in OT? hehehehehehheheh

[DropThePuck]

He said after the last lockout it was "Game On!!", this time it will be " A Whole New Game".

"A Whole New Game" (With apologies to Aladdin and Jasmine)

We can show you the game
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, players, now when did
You let your agents decide?

We can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a cool zamboni ride

A whole new game
A new fantastic point of view
Coaches to tell you so
And where to go
Or say you're always slacking

A whole new game
A dazzling place you've forgotten
But when you're way up here
It's crystal clear
That now you're in a whole new game with refs
Now you're in a whole new game with refs

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
On an icy, frozen rink

A whole new game
Don't you dare close your eyes
An enforcer bears down on you
Hold your breath - it gets better
You're like a shooting star
You've come so far
You can't go back to where you used to be

A whole new game
Shoot outs, wins, no more ties,
Shoot the puck at smaller goalies,
No-touch icing, no red line,
Refs calling obstruction,
Tag-up offsides,
Let us share this whole new game with you

A whole new game
That's where you'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me??

[Francaise]

Ah...the new duet, Celine and DTP......

....a whole new game.........

[ahtikullervo]

3 on 3 sounds crazy...

Dividing points 2 and 0 then again is a good thing. Clear winner and clear loser... I like that!

[DropThePuck]

"If we can reach an agreement and have a couple of months to prepare for a season, we can sell it as a different product instead of just saying, 'OK, we signed an agreement, the NHL is back,' " Colorado Avalanche defenseman Rob Blake said. "If it's going to be the same old thing, then we're going to have the same problems that we had before.

"If there was any one positive thing about a whole-year lockout, it's that both sides understand we need to create a better show. The structure of our game is great, but I do think there's some different things we can do to create a little more open ice and allow the exciting players to be more exciting."

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[DropThePuck]

Most of those recommendations are as TSN reported earlier this week, but the league memo provides a little more detail. Keeping in mind the recommendations could yet be altered, what was presented to the GMs for feedback is as follows:

- Smaller goalie equipment, including 11 inch pads.
- The reinstitution of the tag-up offside rule.
- Moving the goal lines back two feet towards the end board to create more room in front of the net instead of behind it.
- The calling of more penalties more consistently, specifically for obstruction on players with and without the puck and not just in the netural zone.
- The institution of a shootout to eliminate tie games in the NHL. Before going to the shootout, though, overtime would be modified to include one five-minute period of four-on-four overtime and, if still tied, a three-minute period of three-on-three. If, after eight minutes of overtime, the game is still tied, then it would go to a shootout.
- The winner of the game - in regulation time, overtime or the shootout - would receive two points for the victory. The loser, regardless of when the loss occurred, would receive no points.
- The blue lines would be made fatter, as per the American Hockey League experiment this season, to slightly increase the size of the offensive zones.
- The centre red line will be removed for the purposes of allowing two-line passes.
- Goaltenders will only be permitted to handle the puck in a designated area directly behind the goal net, as per the AHL experiment this season.
- A modified form of no-touch icing, where the first player to cross the goal line - not to touch the puck - will dictate whether icing is called. In other words, if the defensive player gets to the goal line first, icing will be called. If the offensive player gets to the goal line first, no icing will be called. Also, when icing is called, the team that iced the puck will not be permitted to change lines.
- Any player in the defensive zone that shoots the puck directly out of play will receive a two-minute minor for delay of game. In the past, only the goalie was penalized for shooting the puck out of play.
- Automatic fines to the coach and suspensions to the player for any fight with an instigator in the last five minutes of the game.

Some GMs Unhappy with NHL Committee

[Francaise]

Me likes the 11 inch pads. Who is that gonna hurt?

[Veca]

Maybe now we get to see what they look like??

[DropThePuck]

The Flyers staff is preparing for every possible scenario. "Our major thing is to put a major system of play with and without the puck based on what the rules are," Hitchcock said.

Asked if he favored the expected changes, Hitchcock was noncommittal. "For me, it's really not my focus," he said. "Whatever the rules are, they are. But I would like to know what they are as quickly as possible so we can spend time to put changes in place."

The coaching staff would need plenty of time to make adjustments. "If some of the rules are in there, it would dramatically change the way a team plays, so you want to start formulating a system as quickly as possible," Hitchcock said.

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The Ducks coaching staff will have to hit the ground running to catch up ...

[DropThePuck]

Skilled players like Gaborik, who played last season in Europe, say obstruction is the biggest obstacle to more offense on both sides of the ocean. Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn, who runs the team's AHL affiliate in Houston and watched about 35 Aeros games last season, said it is imperative that referees be empowered to call obstruction and supported when they do.

"Ideally, you want to improve the game five on five because if there is more scoring on the power play, there is going to be more pressure on referees not to call penalties because he doesn't want his call, if it's a 2-2 game with 10 minutes left, to affect the game," Lynn said.

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[Veca]

I just hope that in trying to improve the game, they don't go overboard with the rules and just make it even slower, more confusing and duller.

[DropThePuck]

"All of our rule recommendations have gone public," Campbell said. "They weren't meant to go public. But various media have taken them public either from a management source or a player source. Which is fine, but people should know these are not written in stone."

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[DropThePuck]

Avalanche veteran Rob Blake is a defenseman, so you wouldn't think he would be bullish on potential rules changes to increase scoring in the NHL. But Blake, one of nine people on the league's new competition committee, is all for seeing more pucks go in the net.

"It's time to let the top players be the best players they can be," Blake said. "Don't hinder them. They're the ones that are going to sell the game."

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[DropThePuck]

The league already has mandated smaller goalie equipment. If goaltenders are restricted on how much they can handle the puck, DiPietro could lose one of his greatest assets. At the World Championships last spring, DiPietro was outstanding for Team USA and showed what his passing skills can do in a game without the two-line-pass rule, which is another option the NHL has under consideration.

"It's just my luck, you know?" DiPietro said. "Finally get a chance to make that long pass and it could be taken away."

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[DropThePuck]

The obvious fix is to the rules that govern the game. Yet, the NHL faces a quandary there. Does it make massive changes in an effort to appeal to a new audience, and risk alienating its remarkably loyal core fans? In its eagerness to reposition itself as new and improved, like a detergent or toothpaste, will the Whole New NHL sell what's left of its integrity and its soul?

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{username: allducks@allducks.com, password: allducks}

[Jezz]

Here's a proposed new rule i haven't heard about yet

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2106971&num=4
Teams will not be allowed to ice the puck during a penalty (the faceoff will return to the penalized team's zone and they will not be allowed to make personnel changes)

[Dark Knight]

Here's a proposed new rule i haven't heard about yet

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2106971&num=4
Teams will not be allowed to ice the puck during a penalty (the faceoff will return to the penalized team's zone and they will not be allowed to make personnel changes)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't like that one. I know they're trying to have more goals but... Why not just remove the goalie during a penalty and everyone just takes pot shots at the empty goal

[Arse McKnob]

Here's a proposed new rule i haven't heard about yet

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2106971&num=4
Teams will not be allowed to ice the puck during a penalty (the faceoff will return to the penalized team's zone and they will not be allowed to make personnel changes)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love that. I love the no tolerance for obstruction idea, too.

[DropThePuck]

There will be shootouts and the league will embark on the mother of all crackdowns on obstruction, with and without the puck. The red line will be removed for the purpose of allowing a two-line pass. And the goalies will be wearing smaller equipment and restricted from handling the puck in certain areas.

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But it appears they are not recommending the rumored 20-team playoff format, 3-on-3 3 minute OT between the 4-on-4 5 minute OT and shootout, nor the loser gets no point in a regulation tie.