YES!!!!!!!!!!
It will be interesting to see how the rule changes affect the game. I'm a little skeptical when they start tinkering with the game. But, "good hockey" is good hockey. The clutch-and-grab stuff can get a little boring. Hopefully, the rule changes will open the game up some.
YES!!!!!!!!!!
Guess where going to see how long they call it the way they say they going to. I am all for the obstruction calls. But they might have took it a step to far in not letting defensemen move players from in front of the net. Maybe Dino Ciccarelli should come back out of retirement.;)
From what I've seen in exhibition, the new rules are hurting more than helping. It's not unusual to see 15 penalties called in the first period, so that the game has become nothing but power plays.
Naturally, some of this is the result of the learning curve and the sub-quality play of some of the minor leaguers trying to make the team. The argument is that such things will sort themselves out, but I have grave doubts. Some of these rules are so vague in their interpretation and application that it's going to be painful to watch for quite some time.
What's incredible about this is that most of the "rookies" trying to make teams now played with these rules in the AHL and Canadian junior leagues last seasonand they can't get them right, either.
Again, Gary Bettmann is destroying anything he touches.
While we now have more open ice and the chance to see more speed and skill, it's a game in which the European style of play will prevail, which means less phyical play. With obstruction being called in every conceivable form, the players are afraid to hit each other. With the importance now being attached to "position" players are not taking the opportunity to line an opponent up for a big, legal hit.
Once again the goaltenders got picked on with the new restrictions on handling the puck and the increased size of the offensive zone.
The automatic icing rule took away one of the more exciting plays in the game. It was exciting to watch players race to touch the puck first,ocassionally throwing shoulders into each other.
The shootout is lame.
Defensemen are not allowed to push a player away from in front of the net nor tie up their sticks. They are now expected to stand in front and simply get hit with pucks while gaining position on an oppoenent. No more battles in front of the net.
Yes, Bettmann strikes again: first he ruined the game with expansion, then he ruined it with free agency, petty rules changes (instigator rule, goalie equipment nonsense, moving the nets out from the boards, etc) and finally with a strike.
Unfortunately, I'm a hockey freak and will still watch on the remote chance that someone will figure out how to bring old-time hockey back into a Europeanized game. It's going in this direction probably because Europeans work cheaper in the NHL (except Jaromir Jagr, of course).
Sidney Crosby will not rescue it. Mario Lemieux scoring 100 goals this season will not rescue it. Shootouts will not rescue it. Giving teams only capable of scoring 2 goals a night the artificial chance to score 4 will not help at all.
PS- John Davidson has become nothing but the biggest cheerleader for what has become a watered-down product. He should be ashamed of himself.