04/20/24
September 15, 2006
NHL Sticks: Now With 50% More Curve!: Not only has the Rules Committee decided to up the allowable stick-curve from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch, they've updated the shootout rules and are upping the penalties for diving to include fines and suspensions.
Given how the new rules went over last year, this could be interesting.
posted by chicobangs to hockey at 12:52 PM - 13 comments
I realize that higher scoring is a catalyst that is bringing more fans to the games, but who is on the goalie's side. First they decrease our pads, limit us to a trapazoid, and now they are going to increase the curve. Being that most goals are scored on the ice I don't know how the curve increase will help percentage wise. Most goalies stop 80-85% of the shots above the waist. It will def make the shootouts more interesting. Maybe now Jagr won't be called for the illegal stick he has been using forever, causing him to be constantly challenged by the opposition. (yes i am a goalie and a huge ranger fan) What are they going to do next make goalies play without a stick? In regard to diving...good thing ulf samulsson is no longer in the league. :)
posted by NYRBeeker16 at 01:44 PM on September 15, 2006
"Actually, I don't remember anyone calling for a stick measurement in the shootout before" Down in Atlanta in March Jagr was called for an illegal curve. He was removed and the Rangers lost by 1 goal
posted by NYRBeeker16 at 01:46 PM on September 15, 2006
Good. More scoring means more passive, mostly uninterested American fans. Actually the curve thing is a no brainer. That rule was some kind of derelict of the 70s or something. It won't make too much of a difference. (Remember kids, Gretzky's stick had virtually no curve and was as big as a tennis racket.)
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:07 PM on September 15, 2006
"What are they going to do next make goalies play without a stick?" How about the increasing the width of the goal....... Makes me shutter thinking about it! I'm all for the diving rule..... Stick curve yea whatever.....
posted by skydivedad at 02:17 PM on September 15, 2006
Who's on the poor goalie's side? I think its more that they're trying to restore something like the former state of affairs where hockey scores didn't resemble soccer scores. Goalies and their equipment have steadily gotten better and better over the last 20 yrs or so. I'm for giving some sort of edge back to the guys trying to score. Even with the greater excitement and increase in scoring chances last year I don't think there was a significant increase in goals scored. Any time they want to widen the ice or give 4 on 4 hockey a trial would be fine with me too.
posted by hb74147 at 02:23 PM on September 15, 2006
I love the diving fines. Let's hope they're strict with that. Especially the oh-my-god-I'm-dead-lie-on-the-ice-writhing-in-pain-peek-at-the-ref-to-see-if-he-made-the-call-then-back-on-the-ice-next-shift kind of stuff. You know, like Darcy Tucker. Goalies back when they had to move to make a save. Goalies now. Yes, yes we know sticks are composite now. But they didn't have light weight materials like kevlar back then and they survived. It's about time the league cracked down on pad, waffleboard and trapper sizes . (I'm not a goalie, can ya tell?)
posted by SummersEve at 02:24 PM on September 15, 2006
I personally witnessed Illya Kovalchuk called for illegal curves on a couple of occassions last season.
posted by trox at 02:37 PM on September 15, 2006
Wasn't that a Brett Hull pickup line?
posted by fabulon7 at 02:50 PM on September 15, 2006
You know, like Darcy Tucker To be fair, Tucker doesn't writhe on the ice in pain when he's fouled/touched. He just falls down and tries to draw the call. He isn't the type to fake an injury or exaggerate one. There is a Montreal player that is notorious for the "my limb has been cleaved in twain!" exaggeration, but his name has slipped my mind. Ribeiro?
posted by grum@work at 04:26 PM on September 15, 2006
They should make the goal the same dimensions as a soccer goal, and remove the goalie during shootouts.
posted by joromu at 07:37 PM on September 15, 2006
They should basically call the curve rule the Jagr rule, he cost the Rangers a couple of games last year being called for illegal sticks. And that game he got bagged for in OT was the 2nd of the game, the 1st was like 5 minutes prior.
posted by donnycouchpotato at 08:26 PM on September 15, 2006
Ah yes, Montreal, I recall Kovalev taking a slash in a pivotal game of the playoffs and he clutched his arm in fake agony, turned the puck over, and the OT goal scored. But Ribeiro might also be an acceptable answer (game 3 of that same series - 2004 vs the Bruins - Habs win in 7 after being down 3-1, Thornton admits to being injured after the fact).
posted by gspm at 09:34 PM on September 16, 2006
Who is going to call for a stick measurement in a shootout now? Actually, I don't remember anyone calling for a stick measurement in the shootout before. At least they put down some rules for it though. Last season there were none, and then about 3/4 of the way through the season they just automatically started measuring sticks before the shootout. I remember some announcers were complaining that it was delaying the shootout to long. The home team having the choice to shoot first or second should be interesting though. Who do you want to put more pressure on, your goalie or your shooter?