2008-2009 NHL Offseason Thread

[Shane Does Art]

3 minor rule changes made today at the BOG meeting.

-After a penalty is called the ensuing faceoff will take place in the offending teams zone.

-A shot off the post or crossbar that goes out of play will result in a faceoff that takes place inside the zone.

-Unnecessary contact on a icing race could result in a penalty.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241045&amp...s=headlines_nhl

Why must the NHL change and add rules on a regular basis?

If the rule changes are better for the game, why would you be opposed to them?

I agree with the first one. If you take a penalty the faceoff should be in your defensive zone. If you do not want a faceoff in your own zone, do not take a penalty.

Yah but the only problem with that is, say there is a horrible call then the team who shouldn't have gotten the call in the first place also has to start from their own zone, it makes the chance of a "crooked" game much more likely.

[Eye]

3 minor rule changes made today at the BOG meeting.

-After a penalty is called the ensuing faceoff will take place in the offending teams zone.

-A shot off the post or crossbar that goes out of play will result in a faceoff that takes place inside the zone.

-Unnecessary contact on a icing race could result in a penalty.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241045&amp...s=headlines_nhl

Why must the NHL change and add rules on a regular basis?

If the rule changes are better for the game, why would you be opposed to them?

I agree with the first one. If you take a penalty the faceoff should be in your defensive zone. If you do not want a faceoff in your own zone, do not take a penalty.

Yah but the only problem with that is, say there is a horrible call then the team who shouldn't have gotten the call in the first place also has to start from their own zone, it makes the chance of a "crooked" game much more likely.

That team should suck it up then. Good and bad calls are part of the game.

[Brass]

3 minor rule changes made today at the BOG meeting.

-After a penalty is called the ensuing faceoff will take place in the offending teams zone.

-A shot off the post or crossbar that goes out of play will result in a faceoff that takes place inside the zone.

-Unnecessary contact on a icing race could result in a penalty.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241045&amp...s=headlines_nhl

Why must the NHL change and add rules on a regular basis?

If the rule changes are better for the game, why would you be opposed to them?

I agree with the first one. If you take a penalty the faceoff should be in your defensive zone. If you do not want a faceoff in your own zone, do not take a penalty.

The second one is the only one I disagree with; if you (an offensive player) shoot the puck off of the post or crossbar and it goes out of play (it is your fault the puck went out of play) the faceoff should be outside the zone.

The third rule will prevent injuries.

The rules that the NHL had, pre-lockout were fine. The refs were just too busy not calling them. Then all of a sudden, they make, in my opinion, stupid rules like the one with the lines behind the net. Goalies have stick-handled out of the years, so why ban it now? The NHL wants more goals, but making a rule like that is counter-productive. The more rules you make like that, the more the goalies will stay in the net and make less aggressive-moves and then, no more goals.

Let's go over the new rules, though.

Rule 1) Seems like another punishment rule for players/teams who play too aggressive. So if you get a call that could go either way, you have to suffer and have the faceoff in your own zone?

Rule 2) Isn't this a rule anyway? Whenever I've played, they have the faceoff in the zone that the puck left.

Rule 3) "Unnecessary conduct" is a far too way vague term to use. How do you know if a player has crossed the line from "necessary" to "unnecessary"? If I'm chasing a could-be icing call, I'm going to put a little body into the defenseman to throw him off. So I now get a penalty for being a smart hockey player?

Overall, these are very unnecessary rules that didn't need to be added, similar to most of the post-lockout rules anyway. In my opinion, this doesn't make the game better. Want to make the game better? Have the refs call the rules from before.

[Gordie]

Rule 3) "Unnecessary conduct" is a far too way vague term to use. How do you know if a player has crossed the line from "necessary" to "unnecessary"? If I'm chasing a could-be icing call, I'm going to put a little body into the defenseman to throw him off. So I now get a penalty for being a smart hockey player?

Kurtis Foster rule.

Probably not intended to penalize incidental contact between players racing for the puck, but to deter forwards from running, pushing, or otherwise endangering defensemen from behind. Purposely vague so that it can be called at the discretion of the referee, who may not be 'smart' like you, but is probably a lot more objective.

"Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck," the league said in a statement.

In other words - 'putting a little body' into the defenseman (or forward) is probably alright as long as you're actually in position to win the race for the puck, and not behind the other player, trying to blast him through the zamboni entrance.

[Neon_Matrix]

Killer will soon be in the Hall, I will bet on it!

[Gordie]

Killer will soon be in the Hall, I will bet on it!

Already is.

Brian 'Killer' Kilrea

[Brass]

Rule 3) "Unnecessary conduct" is a far too way vague term to use. How do you know if a player has crossed the line from "necessary" to "unnecessary"? If I'm chasing a could-be icing call, I'm going to put a little body into the defenseman to throw him off. So I now get a penalty for being a smart hockey player?

Kurtis Foster rule.

Probably not intended to penalize incidental contact between players racing for the puck, but to deter forwards from running, pushing, or otherwise endangering defensemen from behind. Purposely vague so that it can be called at the discretion of the referee, who may not be 'smart' like you, but is probably a lot more objective.

"Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck," the league said in a statement.

In other words - 'putting a little body' into the defenseman (or forward) is probably alright as long as you're actually in position to win the race for the puck, and not behind the other player, trying to blast him through the zamboni entrance.

That comes along with common sense on defensemen, too. Never hit from behind.

[Shumway]

Prospal's back to Tampa for a 7th rounder.

[pollux]

Rule 2) Isn't this a rule anyway? Whenever I've played, they have the faceoff in the zone that the puck left.

I don't know where you've played, but the play resumes depending on which team touched the puck last. So before a post, if a defenseman or the goalie touches it, then it should be in the offensive zone. Otherwise, if it's a clean shot on the post, it should be in the neutral zone.

I can't remember if it was any other way in the NHL, and I've never played with another set of rules concerning this.

[Corvus]

An award I would like to see is a "comeback player of the year" or "most improved" which I think would be great to award those who had some down years and brought their game back up to their old level or surpassed it. Like Chris Osgood would have won it had the award existed. I don't know, I'm just throwing out ideas here.

I'd rather see them bring in the Bobby Orr Award for the defencemen whom leads in scoring, that way the Norris can get back to it's true meaning which is just straight up best defencemen, and has nothing to do with points.

"Come Back" is sort of what the Masterson award is for, but its more dramatic, for lack of a better word, sort of comeback than just reviving a career after having mediocre or poor seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy

Amazing looking at that list, five guys in the last 16 years or so have won that for coming back from cancer. Tells you something about how much more common cancer seems to be, or how much better we are catching it than in the past.

[Neon_Matrix]

An award I would like to see is a "comeback player of the year" or "most improved" which I think would be great to award those who had some down years and brought their game back up to their old level or surpassed it. Like Chris Osgood would have won it had the award existed. I don't know, I'm just throwing out ideas here.

I'd rather see them bring in the Bobby Orr Award for the defencemen whom leads in scoring, that way the Norris can get back to it's true meaning which is just straight up best defencemen, and has nothing to do with points.

"Come Back" is sort of what the Masterson award is for, but its more dramatic, for lack of a better word, sort of comeback than just reviving a career after having mediocre or poor seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy

Amazing looking at that list, five guys in the last 16 years or so have won that for coming back from cancer. Tells you something about how much more common cancer seems to be, or how much better we are catching it than in the past.

'Sort of' doesn't fit what it is I'm suggesting. I'm talking about someone who was a solid 80 point producer for a few years then drops off for a year or two only to rebound later and get back up to that level of production. Thats what I am looking for as a "come back".

[Corvus]

An award I would like to see is a "comeback player of the year" or "most improved" which I think would be great to award those who had some down years and brought their game back up to their old level or surpassed it. Like Chris Osgood would have won it had the award existed. I don't know, I'm just throwing out ideas here.

I'd rather see them bring in the Bobby Orr Award for the defencemen whom leads in scoring, that way the Norris can get back to it's true meaning which is just straight up best defencemen, and has nothing to do with points.

"Come Back" is sort of what the Masterson award is for, but its more dramatic, for lack of a better word, sort of comeback than just reviving a career after having mediocre or poor seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy

Amazing looking at that list, five guys in the last 16 years or so have won that for coming back from cancer. Tells you something about how much more common cancer seems to be, or how much better we are catching it than in the past.

'Sort of' doesn't fit what it is I'm suggesting. I'm talking about someone who was a solid 80 point producer for a few years then drops off for a year or two only to rebound later and get back up to that level of production. Thats what I am looking for as a "come back".

I realize that. I'm just not sure a "Hey, you stopped sucking" trophy is a good idea.

[Neon_Matrix]

An award I would like to see is a "comeback player of the year" or "most improved" which I think would be great to award those who had some down years and brought their game back up to their old level or surpassed it. Like Chris Osgood would have won it had the award existed. I don't know, I'm just throwing out ideas here.

I'd rather see them bring in the Bobby Orr Award for the defencemen whom leads in scoring, that way the Norris can get back to it's true meaning which is just straight up best defencemen, and has nothing to do with points.

"Come Back" is sort of what the Masterson award is for, but its more dramatic, for lack of a better word, sort of comeback than just reviving a career after having mediocre or poor seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy

Amazing looking at that list, five guys in the last 16 years or so have won that for coming back from cancer. Tells you something about how much more common cancer seems to be, or how much better we are catching it than in the past.

'Sort of' doesn't fit what it is I'm suggesting. I'm talking about someone who was a solid 80 point producer for a few years then drops off for a year or two only to rebound later and get back up to that level of production. Thats what I am looking for as a "come back".

I realize that. I'm just not sure a "Hey, you stopped sucking" trophy is a good idea.

If the MLB can make it work, why can't the NHL?

[Don]

An award I would like to see is a "comeback player of the year" or "most improved" which I think would be great to award those who had some down years and brought their game back up to their old level or surpassed it. Like Chris Osgood would have won it had the award existed. I don't know, I'm just throwing out ideas here.

I'd rather see them bring in the Bobby Orr Award for the defencemen whom leads in scoring, that way the Norris can get back to it's true meaning which is just straight up best defencemen, and has nothing to do with points.

"Come Back" is sort of what the Masterson award is for, but its more dramatic, for lack of a better word, sort of comeback than just reviving a career after having mediocre or poor seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy

Amazing looking at that list, five guys in the last 16 years or so have won that for coming back from cancer. Tells you something about how much more common cancer seems to be, or how much better we are catching it than in the past.

'Sort of' doesn't fit what it is I'm suggesting. I'm talking about someone who was a solid 80 point producer for a few years then drops off for a year or two only to rebound later and get back up to that level of production. Thats what I am looking for as a "come back".

I realize that. I'm just not sure a "Hey, you stopped sucking" trophy is a good idea.

If the MLB can make it work, why can't the NHL?

no, in the MLB its a "hey, you can hit without roids!" trophy.

[jkrdevil]

Vinny Lecavier is apparently close to signing a "lifelong" contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241165&amp...os=secStory_nhl

[OMMF]

For those of you with Verizon Wireless, you can receive text updates from the draft.

http://draft.mynhlmobile.com/

[FiddySicks]

An award I would like to see is a "comeback player of the year" or "most improved" which I think would be great to award those who had some down years and brought their game back up to their old level or surpassed it. Like Chris Osgood would have won it had the award existed. I don't know, I'm just throwing out ideas here.

I'd rather see them bring in the Bobby Orr Award for the defencemen whom leads in scoring, that way the Norris can get back to it's true meaning which is just straight up best defencemen, and has nothing to do with points.

"Come Back" is sort of what the Masterson award is for, but its more dramatic, for lack of a better word, sort of comeback than just reviving a career after having mediocre or poor seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton_Memorial_Trophy

Amazing looking at that list, five guys in the last 16 years or so have won that for coming back from cancer. Tells you something about how much more common cancer seems to be, or how much better we are catching it than in the past.

'Sort of' doesn't fit what it is I'm suggesting. I'm talking about someone who was a solid 80 point producer for a few years then drops off for a year or two only to rebound later and get back up to that level of production. Thats what I am looking for as a "come back".

I realize that. I'm just not sure a "Hey, you stopped sucking" trophy is a good idea.

[HedleyLamarr]

Thrashers hire John Anderson as head coach.

For those that don't know, Anderson was the coach of the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers "affiliate" (those that know the connection between the Thrashers and Wolves will get the use of quotations) in the AHL that just won the league title this past season.

Positives: He knows a lot of the young players on the team and they know his system.

Negatives: He's coached as many NHL games as I have....

[NJTank]

Pens shopping Malkin to Kings?

The Penguins are trying to make a blockbuster move before tomorrow night's NHL draft at Scotiabank Place.

League sources say Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero offered all-star centre Evgeni Malkin to the Kings for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft and a player, possibly centre Mike Cammalleri.

While many NHL executives refused to believe the Penguins would trade the 21-year-old Malkin because he has one year left on his entry-level contract at a bargain $984,000 (all terms US), the indications are that Shero wants to sign winger Marian Hossa before he becomes an unrestricted free agent -- a deal that could cost Pittsburgh upward of $8 million a year.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Draft...923271-sun.html

[maz]

Pens shopping Malkin to Kings?

The Penguins are trying to make a blockbuster move before tomorrow night's NHL draft at Scotiabank Place.

League sources say Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero offered all-star centre Evgeni Malkin to the Kings for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft and a player, possibly centre Mike Cammalleri.

While many NHL executives refused to believe the Penguins would trade the 21-year-old Malkin because he has one year left on his entry-level contract at a bargain $984,000 (all terms US), the indications are that Shero wants to sign winger Marian Hossa before he becomes an unrestricted free agent -- a deal that could cost Pittsburgh upward of $8 million a year.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Draft...923271-sun.html

I dont believe he will.