[DerbyX]

Imust admit if I were not a Leaf fan I might be pissed off sometimes but he does support all CDN teams though.

[canadian1971]

Don and Ron are half the reason I watch HNIC....they will be the only reason this yr.

[Tman1]

DerbyX DerbyX:

Imust admit if I were not a Leaf fan I might be pissed off sometimes but he does support all CDN teams though.

True but I'm not sure I like his U.S cozyness. He did coach for Boston and played "ONE" game for the Bruins I suppose. He played one game and all of a sudden he's a coach and famous....

[DerbyX]

He didn't do so hot as coach of the ice dogs though.

[Hester]

it's time for Don to retire, I'm more than a little tired of listening to him

[Tman1]

canadian1971 canadian1971:

Don and Ron are half the reason I watch HNIC....they will be the only reason this yr.

Yep, the dynamic duo.

[canucker]

Hester Hester:

it's time for Don to retire, I'm more than a little tired of listening to him

Not me. I love him. He was on that stupid show "Off the Record" the other day....LOL.

And, of course, I also agree with Tman1 about fighting. It is indeed part of the game. That rule about no fighting in the last five minutes is stupid. I guess they just put it there because of Bertuzzi, but when you're team is down and you know you can't win, you need to entertain, or get out your frustrations some how. If it's the home crowd that's down, that is sure entertaining to watch. At least you go home entertained, even if you lost the game.

[Magnum]

I like most of the changes.

- Allowing the two-line pass (no red line) like international hockey;
This one I don't like. It's messing with the game as we know, the Canadian game, too much.

- Reduction in size of goalie equipment;
This one I applaud!! I couldn't believe it when the rumour was to make the nets bigger. Ridiculous!! Reducing the size of the goalie equipment was the only answer.

- Using the AHL crease and limits on goaltender puck handling;
I don't know how the AHL crease differs from NHL & I'm not crazy about the goalies having to stay in the net if that's what they're planning. Goalies are getting so good at handling the puck ie: Marty Brodeur, that it speeds the game up & makes it more interesting IMO.

- No tie games; using a penalty shootout after overtime; After a five minute overtime, three players will be selected from each team for the shootout. If still tied, it will then be a sudden death shootout;
Don't like this either. I have heard, don't know if it's true, that if tied & the losing team won't get any points & the winner gets 2. That sux for a team that fought hard to a tie & gets shit for there effort.

- No-touch icing;
This is another rule that has been a long time coming. I figured they'd wait until someone was killed racing to the puck.

- Bringing back tag-up offside;
Ya another return to old school. I like it!!.

- Move nets back two feet towards end boards;
Nets were moved up 2 feet a few years ago (what maybe 10 or so I guess) so just going back to old school which I like.

- Reducing the size of the neutral zone;
This should speed the game up & make for some wicked plays, although I would have rather they just did this & left the red line.

- A team that ices the puck cannot make a line change prior to the ensuing face-off;
I guess this is ok.

- Officials will have the discretion to wave off icing if it is deemed to be the result of an attempted pass;
Sounds good as long as it doesn't decide a game.

- A player that instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game will receive a game misconduct and automatic one-game suspension;
Yup like this one also. Although I do like a good scrap but it's pretty sleazy to attack someone just cause you're getting your ass kicked.

- Zero tolerance on interference, hooking and holding/obstruction.
Ya right!! This will last a month maybe.

- Delay of game penalties for any players shooting the puck over the glass in his defensive zone.
I don't know about this one. Have to see how it goes.

A rule I would have liked to see changed, although with this PC bullshit we have to live with these days I doubt we'll ever see it, is the 3rd man in rule. If a goon attacks a star there should be a price to pay. And that should be that the biggest guy on the ice, of the stars team, should be able to pull the goon off & kick his ass!!!

[Hester]

I couldn't disagree more with canuckers post... I go to the games for the hockey, not the other superfluous entertainment they provide. Like "the wave." Or internet access at your seats. I'm watching hockey, nothing else.
How badly is your team losing? A 1-0 game can be very entertaining, most games are good enough to watch on their own. If we lose a few, more than a few, US teams cuz of the strike, the quality of players left in the NHL will even be better. When I go to games and the wave starts, or a fight starts and the fans start to cheer: drives me nuts.

[canucker]

Hester Hester:

I couldn't disagree more with canuckers post... I go to the games for the hockey, not the other superfluous entertainment they provide. Like "the wave." Or internet access at your seats. I'm watching hockey, nothing else.
How badly is your team losing? A 1-0 game can be very entertaining, most games are good enough to watch on their own. If we lose a few, more than a few, US teams cuz of the strike, the quality of players left in the NHL will even be better. When I go to games and the wave starts, or a fight starts and the fans start to cheer: drives me nuts.

I'm not talking about a 1-0 game, I'm talking about blow-out games. I don't like the wave and such either, I just don't participate. I know alot of fans feel the way you do, I just think there are more that would disagree with you. You have a right to feel how you do regarding the game of hockey, my dad would totally agree with you.

[Tman1]

Yah the wave is kinda lame. Over here they toss two yellow water ropes across the arena and see who wins...but then thats kinda lame too but its fun when somebody acccidently gets hit in the head because they are not paying attention.

[US_Marine78]

I can see where some of you wouldn't like the fighting, but as long as its not a constant thing within the game I love it. I've seen some where they fight more than they play and that I don't like. But this new rule is only within the last 5 minutes and not the entire game so there will still be some blows here and there.

[Mukluk]

canucker canucker:

- No-touch icing;

The article that you posted states that icing remains 'touch', but that the officials have greater discretion in waving off the icing.

"- Touch remains in effect but linesmen will be given more discretion to wave off icing infractions if they are deemed the result of an attempted pass."

As for the instigator rule changes and fining the coach - I don't think this one will last long. How is it the coach is supposed to control a hothead from where he is sitting on the bench? I don't know, I think this fine for the coach will be around for one year MAX. Talk about a great way for someone to get back at the coach and cost him $10k. ouch!

m

[Richard]

Don should retire????? You don't like to here him ......

CHRIST I hope you don't want Howie Meeker back....lol

[canucker]

NEW RULES

Here's a look at some of the new rules and changes for the 2005-06 season:


Goalies will be limited in the size of equipment they can wear. Pads, gloves and blockers cannot exceed a specified length or width.

The elimination of the two-line pass, like international hockey.

A new overtime format featuring a shootout if the game is still tied after four-on-four hockey for five minutes and three-on-three hockey for another three.

Goal lines will be moved back two feet and blue-lines will be two feet wider, creating a bigger offensive zone.

Touch icing, which has caused many injuries to NHL defencemen over the years, is eliminated. Players only have to cross the icing line with his skate or stick to win the race for the puck.

The old tag-up offside rule is back. Players can leave the offensive zone to nullify a delayed offside call. Before, the play was instantly called dead.

A zero tolerance approach to obstruction and interference.


DIMENSIONS OF THE RINK


The neutral-zone edges of the blue lines will be positioned 64 feet from the attacking goal line and 75 feet from the end boards in the attacking zone. The addition of four feet in each of the offensive zones should encourage more offensive play, particularly on power-plays.

The goal lines will be positioned 11 feet from the end boards, two feet closer to the end boards than previously.

The size of the neutral zone will be reduced to 50' from 54'.

The blue lines and center line will remain at 12 inches in width.


FEWER STOPPAGES, INCREASED "FLOW"


Passes from behind the defensive blue line to the attacking blue line will be considered legal. The center red line will be ignored for purposes of the "two line pass".

"The Tag-up Rule" will permit play to continue if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone return to the blue line and "tag" it.

ICING THE PUCK


Icing the puck offenses still will be penalized by a face-off in the defensive zone of the team that ices the puck.

A team that ices the puck cannot make a line change prior to the ensuing face-off.

"Touch" icing will remain the practice, although the Linesman will have discretion to wave off apparent icing infractions if they are deemed the result of an attempted pass. Providing the discretion to the Linesman also should have the effect of reducing the number of situations in which a race for the puck might result in an injury to a player.


INSTIGATOR RULE


A player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game will receive a game misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension would double for each additional incident.

As well, the player's Coach will be fined $10,000 -- a fine that would double for each such incident.


LIMITS ON GOALTENDERS


The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent. In addition to a one-inch reduction (to 11') in the width of legpads, the blocking glove, upper-body protector, pants and jersey will also be reduced in size.

Goaltenders may play the puck behind the goal line only in a trapezoid-shaped area defined by lines that begin six feet from either goal post and extend diagonally to points 28 feet apart at the endboards.


OFFICIATING POINTS OF EMPHASIS


Zero tolerance on Interference, Hooking and Holding/Obstruction.

Goaltenders who play the puck behind the goal line but outside the designated puck handling area will be penalized for delay of game.

Goaltenders will be penalized for delaying the game if they "freeze" the puck unnecessarily.

Any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game.


SHOOTOUT


Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in the order the coach selects.

Each team takes three shots. The team with the most goals after those six shots is the winner.

If the score remains tied, the shootout will proceed to a "sudden death" format.

Regardless the number of goals scored during the shootout portion of overtime, the final score recorded for the game will give the winning team one more goal than the score at the end of regulation time.


UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT


In addition to the minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct/diving that may be assessed by the Referee during a game, Hockey Operations will review game videos and assess fines to players who dive or embellish a fall or a reaction, or who feigns injury in an attempt to draw penalties.

The first such incident will result in a warning letter being sent to the player.

The second such incident will result in a $1,000 fine.

The third such incident will result in a $2,000 fine.

The fourth such incident will result in a one-game suspension.

Public complaints or derogatory comments toward the game also will result in fines