I don't know if they will actually be able to call that many penalties. Fans will revolt. Which is a shame, because the game will be better because of it. I found it interesting that St Louis's goal against the islanders, which was on the highlight reels for a long time, was used as an example. I don't recall ANYONE ever saying that St. Louis got away with one when he scored that goal. In fact if a ref would have called that a penalty 2 years ago you would have heard the complaining for months. Secondly the no tolerance of cross-checking just lowered Chris Pronger's worth significantly.
That Stephen Walcom dude is a real fucking firecracker! I can't imagine anyone else saying the phrase "speed, quickness, skill, intelligence and hard work" and making it sound like "doing homework, waiting in line, counting ceiling tiles, watching Murder She Wrote and reading the Yellow Pages." Sheesh. Anyway, I really like these rule changes, and I'm glad they're talking about them like they're for real this time (oh wait, they did that last season and the season before, too). We'll see, I guess. If they do enforce these rules seriously, B's defenseman Hal Gill is going to be a 6 foot 7, 250 pound useless turd of a pylon on the ice. I can't think of too many defensemen whose skill set will be as diminished as Hal's by these new rules. I bet when he sees this video, he'll be crying enormous tears for days. Better work on that poke check some more, Hal!
If they do enforce these rules, then Oliwa on the power play/forecheck will be unmovable. More so. Most of these I agree with, but the face-off ones seem a bit extreme. I would think in a situation like that, some physical coverage would be tolerated. So is this the end of McCabe's "Can Opener"?
So is this the end of McCabe's "Can Opener"? He's supposedly working on new material.
Yep, these rules are going to make the game even faster and more exciting, with many 2-man down power plays. It should have my heart pumping thoughout the game with all the scoring opportunities. I don't think the players that have been around for a long time will grasp these rules because they, according to the league, they've been getting away with murder. And, yes, Pronger will suck with about 500 PIM because he's so thick that he will cross-check on every play and be called for it. So he's even (if it's possible) more worthless than ever.
Holy crap. My thoughts:That is both exciting (to see what they are going to call) and boring (he's almost as bad as Ben Stein in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"). I really hope the "battles on the boards" don't get diluted TOO much in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers are going to be screwed after blowing so much money in the off-season on their giant defencemen. Unless they have the lateral movement Scott Stevens or Luke Richardson, they are going to be absolutely useless. What good is size if you can't use it? There are going to be a LOT of 3-on-3 situations in the first month of the season. They'll need to knockout the backwall of the penalty boxes and expand the benches to hold all the guys that will be sitting in there. They'll need to expand all the scoreboards to keep track of all the penalties (active or delayed). They'll need to buy an extra supply of whistles as the old ones will burn up from overuse. So is this the end of McCabe's "Can Opener"? He wasn't using that play much near the end of the last season as he was getting called for it a lot. Usually a "tripping" penalty.
You know I don't care much about the rule changes, I just want to see some hockey. Drop the Puck and lets get started already !!!!!!
Kovalchuk with 60 goals? Sure, maybe, if he actually signs a contract...
We're bound to see some players out of a job, that's for sure. Count on this being Chelios' last season. Still, I think a lot of obstruction is just positioning. It's great to see them cracking down on hooking and other stick infractions, but I'm not convinced this will lead to significantly better hockey. Teams will still trap, and speedsters will still have to earn their open ice. There's only so much the league can do in this regard. Defensive hockey will only disappear when playing defensively is no longer the best way to win, and I'm not so sure the new rules are going to change that. But as everyone says...we'll see. And, hurry up and drop the puck! October 5th can't get here soon enough.
i agree with succa, i think some of us are forgetting the fact that you still have to "come into the other teams zone" to score. Face up hitting and checking the person who has the puck is "still" legal.Even if the person gets rid of the puck quickly im sure the NHL will call these hits the way a hit on an NFL QB is called (after he gets rid of the ball)he is still fair game for a split second,if the hitter was "already in progress". No matter how the "clutch/grab" rule is dealt with remember this, Speed is made null and void if there is no "room" to skate. I think a team like philly will actually be better off than most.They will plant those huge defensemen along the top of the circles during transition and they will basically stack them in front of their own goal on a penalty kill (giving them virtually 2 extra "goalies") There were 2 type of teams thru the 80's before the "clutch grab trap"era of the 90's. You had the oilers (fast small quick)and you had the Flyers(big bigger biggest)and it made for one of the best stanley cup series ever(was it 87'?). I think you will see alot of position playing and offensive players(carrying the puck)getting stood up at the top of the circles vs. getting "harassed" from behind.Which will make for even more "dump/chase" hockey then anything(with even more room to dump and chase since the goalie will be limited to playing the puck in a smaller area).Clarke (in philly)has stuck to the dump/chase for 20 years. It finally might come in handy.
Web_Spiner, did you know that if you read your last comment out loud and supply air quotes when appropriate, it is the most awesome post ever?
Thanks!Thats funny. I actually watched game 6 between philly/oilers (i forget the year)87 or 88 on espn classic about a month ago. It was so crazy watching people skate with the puck and not get touched/clutched/grabbed "HELD"!! The game was so much faster back then. Then along comes detroit and new jersey with this trapping/left wing lock australian rules hockey crap.Yes it was winning hockey,however you could probably win if you parked a zamboni in your net and hung a goalie mask on it. Ever year the powers that be say the calls will be made for holding/hooking.We'll have to wait and see.
