The NHL is back

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:48 pm

After a 310 day strike, the NHL is back. . . .and with new rules. Predictably, all of the new rules (it seems) are geared to make the game more offense-oriented, dramatic, flashier, etc.

* I know that goalies have become much more central figures in recent years, but I'm still not happy to see their equipment size reduced. Anything to accelerate scoring always gives me a hard time, I guess. . .Also, I'm not sure I understand their reduced ability to move around and handle the puck.

* Personally, I was okay with the ties, and then playing (potentially) infinite overtimes in the playoffs. I loved the grit of it all. Adding shootouts is going to give a lot of weight to teams that have superstar players, rather than rewarding teams that (no matter their talent level) can execute things as a team.

* A 3-chance shootout almost seems incomplete to me--the standard 5-chance shootout would (in my opinion) have done better. It makes it more of a team effort. . .which the shootout is (in my opinion, see above) hurting anyway.

* As far as I can tell, the red lines aren't doing anything anymore. That I don't like. . .we could see a rise in cherrypicking.

Some of the rule changes that I do like are the new emphasis on sticking rules. While I generally favor rules that give defenses a chance to do their thing, these rule changes move the game away from the (as far as I can tell) American style of extremely physical hockey, and try to bring it closer to the agility / speed based game that drives international-rule games.

Any thoughts on the new rules? :feedback;

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:58 pm

A lot of purists aren't going to like the rule changes, but frankly there isn't a strong enough base of purists for the league to really succeed. They need to cater to the casual fan, and these rules, especially the shootouts will do just that.

I hate ties, in any sport. I understand why you don't want infinite overtimes in hockey or football, but come on, it's a sport. Let's get a winner.

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:02 pm

Just glad its back.

NBA basketball is so boring to watch.

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:56 pm

Yay!!! Hockey's Back!!!! :celebrate:

Go Leafs!

air_hog · Post by **air_hog** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:24 pm

Go ]DUCKS

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:33 pm

Was the reason for a lot of big name players changing teams because of the salary cap?

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:53 pm

Yeah -- I believe so.

They show hockey in Hawai'i? I wouldn't think it would have a big following! Kinda like Jamaica having a Bobsled team! :lol:

welch · Post by **welch** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:27 pm

- I don't mind a tie game. In fact, I was happy with the old rule, where a tie was a tie, one point to each team, end of game.

- If the new red-line rule makes the trap die, then that's good. Personally, I'd rather see the game played on the larger international ice surface, although that would mean taking out seats etc.

- Skating and passing are good. Clogging the ice with big guys is boring.

- The NHL needs to recognize that this is a regional game, that they can't continually boost revenue by selling franchises to US cities that are too far south to have much attachment to hockey. Recognize it, admit that they won't have infinitely expanding TV revenue, close down some teams, and live on a budget.

- What's the exact change in goalie pads? Why not go back to whatever goalies wore in 1990?

air_hog · Post by **air_hog** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:56 pm

YEAH DUCKS WON!!!

Sorry Taz, but at least the Leafs lost in the first shootout :oops:

But don't worry, Eric Lindros is a good player.

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:58 pm

tazlah wrote: They show hockey in Hawai'i? I wouldn't think it would have a big following! Kinda like Jamaica having a Bobsled team!

We basically get all the local sports from California.(lots of Niners and Raiders).

I'm from Woodbridge VA though. I've been living and going to school here for 3 years.

After football and baseball I think street-hockey is the next biggest youth sport out here.

SkinsFanInHawai'i · Post by **SkinsFanInHawai'i** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:18 am

Caps fan by the way.

Alex Ovechkin(first pick in 2004 draft) had two goals in his debut and a huge hit on some guy. It was pretty awesome.

Caps won.

Is there going to be a sticky for the Caps like there was for the Nats?

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:10 am

air_hog wrote:...Eric Lindros is a good player.

As long as he doesn't get bonked on the head!

Personally, I think a shoot-out is a lousy way to win a game. I prefer a tie after a hard-fought overtime. My 2 cents

(However, had the shoot-out been in the Leafs' favor, this opinion may be different! 8-[

)

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:18 am

Watched the Caps game last night. Good stuff. One of the London Knights (Fritsche I believe) had two goals in the second for the Blue Jackets, and Ovechkin became the first Caps rookie ever to score two goals in their NHL debut. He and Zubie and Halpie seem to have formed good chemistry already.

Like Leonsis said, that one was for all the people that said the Caps wouldn't win a game all year.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:31 pm

tazlah wrote:Yay!!! Hockey's Back!!!!

Go Leafs!

I knew it. I knew it. You are showing your TRUE colours:

White, Silver and Blue.

No doubt this site is generous to accept ANY fan of just about ANY team these days (as long as the Rules are obeyed). ROTFALMAO

The last time I posted a link to my favourite Hockey team, the admin took the unprecedented measure to remove it notwithstanding that they complied with the Rules. ROTFALMAO

I tell you when my habs are -lower- than the Pukes in your books, I promise not to stick around you guys in Hog Town when we play this season.

We wait eagerly for your guys in Montreal though. :twisted:

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:18 am

Two Words....

Habs SUCK.

It's too bad really, I used to have a lot of respect for you RiC. But, Hockey's back, Grapes is back, gloves are off -- and Habs SUCK. Monkey

Truthfully -- I am a hockey fan first -- so the Habs have ALWAYS been the bottom feeders to me, long before I even knew who the 'pukes were!

:twisted::twisted:

Oh, yeah, you're a Habs fan... so I will type slower...

H a b s ... S U C K .

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:16 pm

tazlah wrote:Two Words....

Truthfully -- I am a hockey fan first -- so the Habs have ALWAYS been the bottom feeders to me, long before I even knew who the 'pukes were! :twisted::twisted:

OK white, silver and blue fan, gloves are off indded. I, on the other hand, still respect you. Read below for an explanation.

So, you had two words. Well, I will respond with two -numbers- :

24 and 11

For an education, please read:

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/con ... 4937&Reg=1

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/con ... rdid=55409

The day ANY white, silver and blue fan can come up with numbers to quote anywhere near, although not even close, let's discuss who the LOOSERS really are.

Habs have traditions, history, class, success, and knowledgeable fans. The Leafs on the other hand have, well mmmmmm. :hmm:

Ah! yes. They play in Hog Town and they used to play for the stingiest owner in all of the world sports who loved to sell and backstab his best players every step of the way. Loyalty has a synonym in Toronto: Masochism.

My roomates and Leafs fans at the University of Toronto had the paper bags ready to wear whenevr we played when we were in school in the 80's. Poor guys they found them to be handy over their heads. I developed a great degree of compassion for less fortunate people ever since.

So, I still respect you. I do. As I do to all those that are far less fortunate than we Habs fans are. :twisted:

After all, it is the Canadian thing to be compassionate to the destitute masses even if they wear white, silver and blue in the NHL or the NFL.

IONTOP · Post by **IONTOP** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:21 am

All I can say is that the goalies with the save% and least amount of goals given up in a season can die in peace knowing that their records will stand FOREVER. I am tired of people in the south complaining about hockey. Their rules are obviously simpler than Football's rules and definatly simpler than the NASCAR points system, but they just go for the fights, because southerners love violence.

I am super happy that NHL is back and I expect a great season.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:54 pm

IONTOP wrote:All I can say is that the goalies with the save% and least amount of goals given up in a season can die in peace knowing that their records will stand FOREVER. I am tired of people in the south complaining about hockey. ... they just go for the fights, because southerners love violence.

Wrong on all counts. There will be more scoring. Only ignorant fans go to hockey for the fights regardless of the fact that they may come from North, South, East or West. The common denominator for bad fans is ignorance and not origin.

By the way, I did not know that NC was located North of the Dixie line!!! :shock:

SkinsLaVar · Post by **SkinsLaVar** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 3:44 am

Hockey's back???

I didn't even notice

GO KINGS

tazlah · Post by **tazlah** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:03 am

Redskin in Canada wrote:OK white, silver and blue fan, gloves are off indded. I, on the other hand, still respect you....

Okay -- knock it off with trying to confuse the Leafs with the Pukes -- Toronto's colors are Blue and White -- no silver! Oh, sure, there may be a little silver outlining the TML letters on some gear -- but that's new and won't last. The colors were, are and will always be Blue and White. :thump:

Yeah, okay, I still respect you, RiC, the person!!!

But as a Habs fan... :moon:

RiC wrote:They play in Hog Town and they used to play for the stingiest owner in all of the world sports who loved to sell and backstab his best players every step of the way. Loyalty has a synonym in Toronto: Masochism.

Ballard's dead -- get over it! :lol:

And, yeah, Masochism is probably a good word for it! No bandwangoners here -- we're in for the long haul, and it's been a long haul!

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:14 pm

I got a kick out of the time when the then Soviet Russians came to play at the Garden. Do you remember that Ballard somehow managed to make a political statement on the screen?

He was an anticommunist of the old school. He was very good and generous to charities though. I will give him that.

Also, I will give you more credit. I respect knowledgeable Leafs and Montreal fans the same, very often in the same family!

I was just trying to get to you with some of the silver added recently in some uniforms and items.

Interestingly, when proposals were invited from the people to select the new flag of Canada, a few Leafs fans proposed a blue Maple Leaf! There was also a green and red leaf. I am glad Canada ended up with red. Montreal Canadiens red. :lol:

welch · Post by **welch** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:42 pm

I got a kick out of the time when the then Soviet Russians came to play at the Garden.

I remember that game, because Iwas driving a taxi and picked up the fans afterward. They said things like "there seems to be something wrong"

For young ones, the Soviets won about 7 - 2, and had NHL stars falling down when trying to keep up with the Russian passing.

That was about the same season when Montreal (and a tip of the hat to LaFleur) did the same thing to the Philadelphia pro-wrestling team that dressed in Flyer uniforms.

But, no, I feel like it will be another season or two before hockey is back...in Washington. As Butch and Sundance asked, "Who are these guys?"

The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

The NHL is back

The NHL is back

Leafs

Re: Leafs