NHL rule changes

[Guynemer]

Some long rumored rule changes in the NHL have become official. Here's a list, with my thoughts:

Move goal line back two feet: Increases size of offensive zone, and forces the play to the front of the net. Definite

Allow two-line pass (elimination of red line): Opens up the neutral zone, get some more offensive flow.

Blue lines move four feet towards center ice: Again increasing the size of the offensive zone.

Tag-up offsides: Never understood why they took this out in the first place.

Goalies can only puckhandle in trapezoid behind net: Meh. Never really got worked up about goalies puckhandling; I'd rather they be allowed to puckhandle anywhere, but be fair game for checking outside the crease.

Shootouts: The most radical change, by far. Teams will still get 1 point for an OT loss or a shootout loss. I just don't like a tied athletic competition being settled by a completely different competition or stripped down version of it. Sure it'll be exciting, but it won't be hockey, you know?

Smaller goalie pads: Are you kidding me? What took so long?

Crackdown on obstruction: Oh, this old chestnut again? I'll believe it when I see it. If they actually do it, fantastic.

No line change for a team that ices the puck: Intriguing. Hadn't heard of this one before, but I like the idea. It seemed to easy for a desperate team to get fresh people out there; now they only get a 15 second blow, and have to start fighting for their lives again.

Defensemen will get a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the boards: Puzzling. If you're going to expand the penalty beyond goalies, why stop at defensemen? Plus, it's not always entirely clear just who is the defenseman at any given time. Either apply the penalty to all skaters, or none.

Instigation: Now players will get a game misconduct and a one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the final five minutes; for each additional incident, the suspension will be doubled. The coach is also fined $10,000, and the fines doubling as well. Doesn't go far enough--outlaw fighting, period. Any fighting ought to be an automatic game misconduct and suspension.

[Guynemer]

DOH! I must have double-clicked the multiple choice button!


ATTENTION MODS! Could you please make this a multiple choice poll, s'il vous plait?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Move goal line back two feet

Allow two-line pass (elimination of red line)

Blue lines move four feet towards center ice

Tag-up offsides

Goalies can only puckhandle in trapezoid behind net

Shootouts

Smaller goalie pads

Crackdown on obstruction

No line change for a team that ices the puck

Defensemen will get a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the boards

Instigation

7 and 7 -- it's a push.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Crap! PM Ming. They'll never find it on their own.

About all the moving of the lines and stuff, I have no big problems with it. If they want to increase the attacking zone, that's fine, but I'm not thinking it's going to create attractive hockey by itself.

Ignoring the red line for two line passes is a great idea and should open things up.

Tag up offsides is GOOD!

Restricting Goalies puckhanding in the new 'trapezoid' (making the hockey lines even more silly) is dumb.

Shootouts after tied OT is just DUMB, DUMB, DUMB! There is no need! Just end in a tie, for ****'s sake!

Smaller goalies pads is a very good idea.

Instigation rule is a good first step. You have too many Canadians who think fighting is part of the game, sadly.

[Ben Kenobi]

Move goal line back two feet: Increases size of offensive zone, and forces the play to the front of the net.

No more cycling.

Allow two-line pass (elimination of red line): Opens up the neutral zone, get some more offensive flow.

I'm mixed on this one. This will have a big change, and they may be forced to reverse this decision.

Blue lines move four feet towards center ice: Again increasing the size of the offensive zone.

This counterbalances the earlier change so

Tag-up offsides:

Goalies can only puckhandle in trapezoid behind net:

Martin Brodeur is a real talent, and ought to be allowed to showcase his talents. I mean, you don't see folks making rules to curtail Wayne Gretzky, do you?

Shootouts: The most radical change, by far. Teams will still get 1 point for an OT loss or a shootout loss.

There was nothing wrong with ties during the regular season. 4 on 4 was a great success, and they should have stuck with this.

Smaller goalie pads:

Crackdown on obstruction:

This is the most needed change.

No line change for a team that ices the puck:

I'm mixed on this one.

Defensemen will get a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the boards: Puzzling. If you're going to expand the penalty beyond goalies, why stop at defensemen? Plus, it's not always entirely clear just who is the defenseman at any given time. Either apply the penalty to all skaters, or none.

I agree with your analysis. Delay of game for throwing puck over the glass, regardless of the skater.

Instigation: Now players will get a game misconduct and a one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the final five minutes; for each additional incident, the suspension will be doubled. The coach is also fined $10,000, and the fines doubling as well. Doesn't go far enough--outlaw fighting, period. Any fighting ought to be an automatic game misconduct and suspension.

Disagree with you vehemently. Fighting has always been a part of hockey, and should stay a part of hockey. It seems to me that you want to pretty up hockey, and that's really not in the spirit of the game.

[OzzyKP]

I don't understand hockey rules at all.

They actually goign to play this year?

[Guynemer]

I don't want to pretty it up. It's just that fighting does absolutely nothing to advance the game itself. The international and college versions of the sport ban fighting outright, and are more exciting to watch in large part because of the lack of scrums and fights that slow down the momentum of the game.

[Asher]

Americans who prefer to bomb foreign countries instead of fighting like men on the ice make me sick.

[Guynemer]

Touche.

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't want to pretty it up. It's just that fighting does absolutely nothing to advance the game itself. The international and college versions of the sport ban fighting outright, and are more exciting to watch in large part because of the lack of scrums and fights that slow down the momentum of the game.

It isn't the fights, it's all of the clutching and grabbing that slows down the professional game. I've been a fan of the Canucks for a long time, and I'm also pleased that they choose to play an open style of hockey that showcases the speed of hockey. They still have a fight or two on occasion, which only adds to hockey rather than detracts from it.

[Asher]

Have you ever watched an NHL game in Canada?

When a fight erupts the arena gets on its feet and cheers loudly.

Why would you get rid of that? Because the impressionable Americans prefer not to see violence on TV? That doesn't even make sense...

[Lawrence of Arabia]

they need to make the rink WIDER by a coupla feet. make it olympic size.

[Asher]

And get rid of the lousy American teams like the Sharks.

[Ben Kenobi]

A bigger field doesn't make things more exciting. Look at soccer.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

and with that new instigation rule, all the thugs on the flamers will get tossed, and then they wont be able to hurt other teams through cheap shots. only those who cant play need to take cheap shots.