NHL is back...better rules?

I`ve been a hockey fan since I was a kid, so it gave me great pleasure to learn they`d settled the labor dispute and it was "Game ON" for the NHL. I`ve seen maybe 4 games with the new interference penalties being called often, and the reconfiguration of the blue lines, goal lines, and elimination of the face-offs for two-line passing. I see a dramatic increase in scoring chances, and more wide-open games. I have to say the "new" NHL is more exciting than ever. Goal-tending has gotten to be more pivotal than before as there are more odd-man rushes. If you`re a speedfreak sports fan the new game is a must-see. I`ve always been a fan but it`s faster paced now and more exciting. Any comments?

 

Yes i've been watching hockey since '92... The new rule changes are great. The increased interference calls will take some getting used to. Hopefully 30 games in the players will have adjusted and there will be less calls.

What I especially like about the new NHL is the abolition of the 2 line pass. It's creating a lot more scoring chances and odd man rushes. But more importantly, the addition of the new icing rule (can't change your line when you ice the puck) and the change back to the old style tag up rule for offsides, has created far less stoppages. I'm finding the periods run thru much quicker.

My favorite aspect of the game (aside from goals) is the checking and fighting and unfortunately my team hasn't done any of that, 4 games into the season (NY Rangers)... We signed Peter Worrell (he's a beast) to our minor league team, I'm hoping they start calling him up.

 

The local cable Comcast, has all of the hockey “pay per view” games on for free, the rest of the month………..never was much for the game, and still haven’t watch one…….wobbles

 

Hey, Sasquatch. You probably don't want to hear my opinion, but don't worry I won't say anything to make you angry.

What I like:

I like most of the new NHL and think that it makes the game better. I'm glad all the clutching and grabbing with the sticks are being called as penalties. I'm glad scoring is up because it was getting soooooooo boring to watch games that ended up being 2-1 or 2-0. I like that the goalie equipment is smaller and think it should be even smaller. I hear that the jersey size is going to get smaller too. I like the icing rule.

What I don't like:

I don't like the shootout at the end of tied games. I wish they kept the win, loss, tie structure. I don't like how a team gets a point for losing in overtime or at the end of a shootout. I wish the redline was still in the game.

I can't think of anything else right now.

 

The red line IS still excistant(sp?)...for icing,but I`m glad they eliminated the two line pass infraction, that, along with the enforcement of the interference rules, is making the game faster. And hey man,the entire reason for the posting is to get a grip on what other hockey fans think....fishing for different opinions, as it were. I heartily agree that 2-1 or 1-1 games are BOOOOOOOOOOOORING...if I wanna see a soccer score I`ll watch soccer(gag). I grew up watching the french connection in Buffalo...Gilbert Perreault, Richard Martin and Rene Robert. There was a plethora of skilled players in the game then....Montreal, Toronto, Boston....and I even enjoyed watching Marcel Dionne in those horrendous yellow/purple Kings uni`s. Goal scoring puts fannies in the seats...and anything the NHL does to increase scoring is gonna fly well with me....nothing like seein` the red light and hearing the horn...

 

The red line is still on the ice. It's still used to determine when it's icing or not. You mean you don't like 2 line passes? I think that rule change was imperative because one of the reasons hockey was getting so boring was because of the defensive trap that so many teams were implementing. Essentially they were forcing you to make a big breakout pass ahead of the red line and it was shuting down offenses. The NJ Devils perfected this. They could/would get a 1 goal lead in a game and effectively shut down the other team for the entire remainder of the game. Making hockey very boring just seeing a bunch of defensive zone/mid ice turnovers and cutting down on odd man rushes and breakaways. I'm very happy about them allowing 2 lines passes now. I haven't seen any players cherry picking either because they have too much responsibility in the defensive zone.

 

I know the redline is still there. I don't like the 2-line passing. It's good that the neutral zone trap is gone but I'd still prefer the old rules for the redline. I'll probably change my mind as the NHL season progresses.

It looks as though we'll be seeing some 50-goal scorers and 100-point getters this year and that's good. Once that happens I don't think anyone will have a problem with any of the new rules.

 

Delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass has to go. I haven't seen much of the goalie handling the puck change, but it doesn't look like it will affect much. No red line is good, tag up is good. I watch quite a bit of WHL junior hockey because we have the "Kootenay Ice", and I haven't seen a large increase in penalties for obstruction yet. Just for the stupid puck over the glass.

 

I thought it was the Florida Panthers that first perfected the trap?

 

They may have used it but they sure as hell didn't benefit from it... Aside from that one year they made that playoff run (with all the rats being thrown on the ice), I don't remember them having many successful seasons. I believe the Devils were much more successful in implementing the trap... Having won 3 cups since '95.

and Angus, it was the elimination of the 2 line pass that was/is instrumental in defeating the boring neutral zone trap. Most times a breakout starts from behind the net in your defensive zone. The trap is designed to force your passes early and doesn't allow you any room to carry the puck up ice to make a long pass, which you couldn't do in the past because you risked passing over 2 lines, and hence committing a 2 line pass (offsides). If you made the pass and it didn't connect, you risked icing the puck and thus having a face off in your defensive zone.

 

It WAS the Devils that perfected the "trap". The trap was the worst thing that ever happened to the NHL...but give credit to Jaques Lemaire...the Devils coach...he just fine-tuned what he learned as a player in Montreal under the legendary Scotty Bowman. And before we get on the "Scotty Bowman Bandwagon" I must point out that the first time he was GM as well as coach it was in Buffalo where he was an abject failure. He had great success in Montreal as a coach(and in St. Louis before that)and didn`t really achieve success as both coach and GM until he was given the carte blanche(unlimited cash) in Detroit. He coached the trap in Montreal despite having players the like of Guy LeFleur and Larry Robinson and the RoadRunner and many others...not to mention the great Ken Dryden in the pipes. They shoulda erased that freakin` red line 20 years ago.

 

Sabres just tied it up....3-3 with 8:47 left in Tampa

 

Rangers just beat the Devils 4-1 tonight. I'm going to sleep well tonight =]

My team went from a bunch of lazy, underachieving, overpayed vets to a team of young, hardworking players. Pretty pleased!

 

Sabres just beat the Tampa squad 4-3 in a shoot-out. Thank the Hockey Gods for doing thier best to do away with tie games. It had gotten to the point where soccer scores were prevelant. Dammit 3 hours of back and forth to a 1-1 tie just doesn`t make it. Thankfully the powers that be(NHL Rules Comittee)saw ennui killing the sport much like soccer and did thier best to save the fan interest in the fastest game in the galaxy. I`m a Buffalo Sabres fan, have been since 1971...but even if my team doesn`t show themselves as the best in thier league, HOCKEY ROCKS and if ya havnt actually played it must be difficult for you to appreciate the speed, stamina, and skill level needed to play competitively.

 

I've been watching since '92 (was only 10 then). Played inline (roller) hockey for about 12 years... I like how much faster the periods run thru now. So many fewer stoppages with teams icing the puck less and the touch up offsides rule.

 

Gosh....back to the "How Old?" thread again...I received my Honorable Discharge from the USMC(OOOOOOOOOOOOORRAAAAAAHHHHH)in 1982

Oh yeah....forgot to mention...my boys are 4-1...and in case you didn`t know...defeated, tonight, the defending Stanley Cup Champions on thier own pond.

 

in case you didn't know about it you can download windows media player clips of all the fights from each night at:

http://www.hockeyfights.com/videos/

 

I like how the players get a penalty if they put the puck over the glass to clear it out of their zone. Makes sense to me. I also like how the goalies are limited on how they can handle the puck outside of the net. And I have to admit that the 2-line pass thing is better. I never liked the neutral zone trap. I was just hoping that hockey could get rid of the trap and keep the redline in (I know the redline is stil there... you know what I mean).

How many points do you think the learding scorer with end up with at the end of the year? The Art Ross winner.

 

It's hard to tell for me... Last year (or 2 years ago =] ), no one broke 50 goals. Highest was 42 I believe. Hard to imagine that some players have had 76+ goal seasons in the 90's.

I'm guessing that someone will break the 100 pt mark and finish with around 110 (60 goals 50 assists). Just my guess though, depends totally on the player.

I feel bad for the goalies stats =]

 

There`s this kid playing for the Sabres named Tomas Vanek, an Austrian...he`s one to watch...major skills and a high RPM motor.

 

Rangers won again tonight... our rookie goaltender from sweeden, Lundqvist got his first NHL shutout and his 3rd win of the season (3-0-1)... Ranger fans are so excited to say the least... we haven't seen this kind of hockey for nearly a decade... in our last 3 games we outscored opponents 13-2.

the Ranger forums are out of control with happy fans... i'm one of them =]

 

Toronto has won 4 straight. The gamble of Allison and Lindros has paid off so far.

 

glad you guys like Lindros... hopefully no one hits him hard

 

Sabres beat the Rangers last night..at 6-2 off to the best start in thier history.