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The Impact of NHL Rule Changes

EagerBeaver

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Jul 11, 2003
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As NHL goalies get prepared to face a new set of perils that almost all of them have never been through in their careers, I had a debate with a friend of mine on the impact of these rules changes on GAA (goals against average). He thinks the GAA will only go up .50. I say it is going up a lot more than that, in part because of the trauma factor on goalies having to deal with new sources of stress and having to devise new strategies to cope with attacks not previously allowed on them.

In addition to goalie padding being reduced 11%, goalies will be required to keep their asses parked in a trapezoid shaped area, which is not only going to create more scoring chances in front, but they are not going to be able to leave the trapezoid and intercept dumped in passes. Note that Ron Hexthall, former Flyers goalie, made a name for himself handling pucks in these situations and now these situations don't even arise. If a goalie leaves the trapezoid, it's a penalty!

Not only that, but with the removal of the red line, two line passes may be completed. The goal scorers can now camp out at the opposing blue lines for long passes that previously would have been whistled offsides. Goalies will have to watch for these plays developing, rather than ease up when they see an attempted two line pass.

On top of this, linesmen will have DISCRETION to wave off icing if the puck is sent from one zone across the opposite goal line because a home run pass missed its target. Players will still have to touch the puck on the traditional icing call, but the goalie cannot leave the trapezoid. Teams called for an infraction will not be able to change lines prior to the next faceoff. Meaning that goalies simply cannot relax anymore in these situations, especially if someone hustles on the other team and is able to get to that puck before the goalie's teammate. There will be terrible stress on these goalies.

The one thing I don't understand is if you are going to have a shootout, why bother with the overtime. If regulation ends in a tie why play an overtime? Go right into the shootout.......there is no point in having an OT.

Anyway, my predictions is that individual GAAs will go up by well over a goal, possibly as much as 1.5 goals per game.

The sarcastic Bettman was quoted as saying "We are going to let our offensive players, our skilled players, do what they do best." He didn't say anything about Brodeur and Theodore showing off their talents. It does seem like goalies are being treated like shit, both by the rules changes and the league's official comments. I interpret this as a response to the infamous Sport Illustrated cover story before the last NHL season which exposed how goalies were exploiting league indifference to the amount of padding and how the league officials were not calling penalties for obstruction and other rules violations that were making games unwatchable clutch and grab exhibitions.

I compare these NHL rule changes to Major League Baseball lowering the pitching mound after the 1968 season when Denny McLain won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers and Bob Gibson had a 1.12 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals. In the lower pitching mound era, nobody has approached McLain's 31 wins nor Gibson's 1.12 ERA.
 
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steak

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Oct 24, 2004
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Why the OT

My theory for the overtime period before the shootout is that players seem to be in majority against the shootout. Despite the spectacle factor, they are the one working all that time and seeing the whole game gone in a shootout is a slap in their face after all the efforts. People want to avoid the OT from what I gathered. But I think they left it there for the players.
 

Gambling Fool

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Apr 3, 2005
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Ot

As far as OT is concerned, I would rather a game be decided by the final score than a shootout. I like the idea of the OT to try and make this happen. IF it doesn't then they go to the shootout. I like this change. Are they going for a 4 on 4 period, then a 3 on 3 period and then OT ? Can someone confirm this ?

Gambling Fool
 

Doc Holliday

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Before going to a shoot-out system, i would have extended the overtime period to 8 minutes. First 4 minutes would be 4-on-4, then 3-on-3 for the final 4 minutes. A 5 minute overtime period simply wasn't enough.

I wonder if the goals scored in the shoot-out will count in the player's stats. If so, not fair for the players not being chosen to shoot...and absolutely not fair for the goaltenders.
 

HockeyFan4MSOG

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Hello and ... I want endless games!!

Howdy board...

This post in this thread is coincidental to my registering here. (About me, I am planning on checking out Montreal Scene in the next 8 weeks, thanks to you all for posting your findings and adventures.) It doesn't feel too overwhelming to do this trip solo. :D

I think goalies can handle the MSOG unless they have a complex about letting goals go. Alot of them do :/ .... but I am going to miss the long multilple periods of OT 2x, 4x 6x!!
These goals from the shotout should be counted differently against GA.

No Redline .... I can't speculate how this is going to help skating skill, and the action. European skaters have shown they have the ruleset that lends to better conditions to improve the skating skill. We will have more fighting due to offensive players staying back with the defensive players and not moving around as much? Less forechecking due to this? Possibly more "chasing" and spearing... One less line to keep an eye on but now alot more "action in neutral ice to observe?"

Now not letting the goalie move... huh!? So a goalie can't leave the net to challenge the angle of attack nor stop a dump in!? I didn't hear about that one!! :mad:

Did you read the Mercy rule? So the game is going to be made more high-scoring and only really played to 6.

Bah... if they kill hockey (again) there will not be anything else to look forward to watching on sports.

HockeyFan
 

ManAboutTown

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To be fair, considering the size of the goalies and their equipment, it is much easier to be a spectacular goalie now than it use to be.

Shrinking their equipment and actually making them work to make more of the saves will not only improve the number of goals scored overall, but will also make the saves they make much more important.

THere has been way too much 1-0 hockey in the last 5 years, and that is just not acceptable from a marketing standpoint, especially not in the US where people are more tuned to football and basketball scores.

A few more goals, a few more chances for goals, and maybe a little less random stick work from hack players... the game will improve dramatically.
 

HockeyFan4MSOG

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Jul 23, 2005
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ManAboutTown said:
A few more goals, a few more chances for goals, and maybe a little less random stick work from hack players... the game will improve dramatically.


I like double 00 buckshot on the playoff scoreboard after 3 periods and 2 OT's. Its my opinion that both teams are evenly matched and playing their hearts out. Especially in a game that a score can happen in 30 milliseconds. :confused:

Hell if you want a high scoring game... just remove the defense men and just have offense against the solo goalie. (just let his blocker be the same size)
But then its not hard hitting...

The butterfly stance is still going to be used, so big spectator goalies will work if they can get into the stance.

Very few are standup and reflex only (5 hole is vulnerable.)
Fuhr stands out as a good example with his bad knees...

"The classic stand-up goalie. Plays his angles well, challenges and he has that unbelievable athleticism. Just look at his record. He's made more big saves than any goalie over the last 15 years. He really has no weakness." (Mark Messier, ESPN Sportszone, April 1998)


Fuhr "The future Hall-of-Famer is entering his 19th, and possibly his final, season in the NHL. After a series of injuries and setbacks, Fuhr rebounded for yet another superb playoff performance last season. He's perhaps the greatest reflex goaltender ever. His agility and glove hand are legendary, but it's his ability to bear down when his team needs him most that sets him apart. Fuhr will ride off into the sunset following one more season of highs and lows. He's still capable of stealing a game, if not an entire playoff series, by himself." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 169)

http://hockeygoalies.org/bio/fuhr.html

My 2.50 worth :)
 
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eastender

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Jun 6, 2005
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New NHL Rules

GOAL HOGS
Unless a team is behind late you will not see
a forward hang at the other teams blue line
because you will be playing 4 against 5 hockey
in your own end - a sure way to lose.

THE LONG PASS
If you look at the stats of today's defencemen
you will see that once you get past the top
two on each team the numbers are very
weak - Doug Harvey,Bobby Orr,Denis Potvin,
Paul Coffey recorded more points in a game
than some of today's defencemen do in a
season.Even in junior some of them could
not rack up points.Reason being that they
cannot make a forehand pass let alone a
backhand pass.The new rules do not have a
magic wand that will transform these stiffs
overnight into quality passers.If you could
not learn a basic skill from the age of 5 then
it is doubtful that you will learn the skill
during one training camp.

EXTRA SPACE
The new rules provide app. 340 sq.feet of extra
room in the offensive zone.This may reduce
some aggressive penalty killing,change angles
and create room in the slot but it will not
increase the skill level.Most forwards cannot
take a backhand shot or make a backhand
pass so they will not be able to take full
advantage of the extra ice.These skills
will not appear overnight.The defence will
still worry about taking away the forehand
and will virtually ignore the backhand.
 

spin

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A couple of thoughts/comments in no particular order:

- Some of the best hockey I have ever seen ended 1-0, 2-1, 1-1, more goals will not magically make the game more exciting (I played Lacrosse in high school and division 1 college, great game to play, lots of scoring, boring as hell to watch)

-Should have left the red line, makes the game more difficult (if the game is played properly hard, fast, tough, the amount of puck movement required to go end to end without making a 2 line pass is a thing of beauty)

-One of the reasons they left in overtime before shootouts is (and the reason a lot players don't like shootouts) only 3 guys on each team get to play. (I rode the bench at a very high level & wouldn't have been one of the 3 chosen - actually didn't see much ice team in overtime either)

-Shootouts will be fun to watch, just keep them out of the playoffs.

-Great that they brought back the tag-up offside

-Now you will see the difference between truly elite goalies and guys who were just making a lot of money

-As a league I think the GAA will go up close to 1.00 - BUT I don't think you will find very much change for the top 3-5 golies in the league (the rest of them are in some trouble)

- I HATE A SALARY CAP (this one won't be popular) I know palyers make too much money etc... BUT I don't want parity, 30 mediocore teams with players moving around every couple of years is not for me. Build a dynasty and lets watch them go (I feel this way for all sports by the way) Cap the maximum you can pay each player but if a team wants to load up let them, and don't even start about not being fair for the small market teams this is elite level proffessional sports NOT "everyone plays 6 outs and gets 1 at bat" little league.

-Is anyone else out there tired of people like ESPN grouping the NHL in with the WNBA, MLS, etc... It's not a second tier sport, it never was, stop making the puck glow, with fighting robots and try to appreciate it!

-Why don't the American TV networks try showing the Canadian feed for a change - When I watch Monday Night Football here in Canada I get to hear John Madden, etc... not some goofy Canadians explaining the rules of the NFL to me like I'm 6. How knows it just might work

-Vincent Lecavalier would look great as a Hab (just in case Mr.Gainey is out there)

- The color TEAL should no longer be allowed on any uniforms

GAME ON!
 

HockeyFan4MSOG

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Jul 23, 2005
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spin said:
-Why don't the American TV networks try showing the Canadian feed for a change - When I watch Monday Night Football here in Canada I get to hear John Madden, etc... not some goofy Canadians explaining the rules of the NFL to me like I'm 6. How knows it just might work

The media still thinks that Hockey is too difficult for the American public to understand... could it be our public school system? :eek: Rebroadcast rights probably force American TV to exclude them. American sports is dominated by Football, Baseball, and Basketball. Hockey is a Canadian Sport, and doesn't get any real attention until Playoff time. Sometimes I feel that it is a "grass-roots" campaign... getting the TV schedules from the local teams website, passing them around at work.
Soccer a Worldwide sport (known as football to everyone but USA) is another one that gets pushed over. (Spoken like talking to a 6 yr old. :rolleyes: )

My cable company has the NHL SEASON on special order.. its like $200.00 a season. Its the only way I can watch a lot of the games on USA West Coast besides what ESPN airs and watch Canadian teams go at it. Normally it seems that on the cable, the Hockey games get pushed off ESPN for women's national basketball association, WNBA or car racing NASCAR.. If I didn't have the season pass or basic cable;I could only watch 12-15 games on public television airwaves.

NHL Season Pass has a problem though.
The local broadcasters in the area are the commentary, but the halftime shows/discussion are not... it goes into the "screensaver mode showing the game, score and who is playing".

I believe alot of people myself included will agree with you about the Canadian commentary.. and Coaches Corner. :cool:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/comment/zillgitt/2001-06-08-zillgitt.htm :D
 
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