Hockey Night In DSP

[Feanor]

I think it's worth considering, but I don't buy the complaints about how increasing the size of the nets means you'd need asterisks in the record books.

The REAL size of the nets is based on how fat the goalies are, and they're still swollen sumo wrestlers compared to the skinny netminders of the 80s and early 90s. I wonder if the people who don't realize this, also think it's a good deal to get a 5% pay rise when inflation is running at 8%.

[Feanor]

SI grades all the Eastern teams for the first half of the season. Guess what grade they gave the Flyers.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

[Naples39]

I love how the Flyers "head of the class" group is Gagne, Knuble and Alex Frolov. Fitting that they could only find 2 players actually on the team who were worthy of positive grades.

[10spro]

VERY interesting idea floated by Minnesota GM Doug Risebrough to increase scoring in the NHL without increasing the size of the nets or changing equipment:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... wsptduha12

I think it's worth exploring. Your comments?

Take care,
PK

I am in favour of limiting the equipment size of all players especially the Goalie. Leave the nets and ice size as it is, I don't think the game is suffering from a goal drought, since the new rules were enforced a couple of seasons ago.

One idea I like contemplating is disallowing icing during a PK. Make a penalty count when you have the extra man. At one time, the defending team had to skate, pass, or dump the puck out of the zone. They could not send it the full length of the ice. Bring that rule back and it will make power plays much more effective and feared.

And one suggestion for D. Risebrough: Get a coach that likes to play a more open style than the one you hired, and perhaps the game will be better for all of us to watch.

Another personal idea. Get rid of some teams where people just don't care about Hockey, then the talent pool will be more evenly spread. In the 80's they were only 21 teams and everyone was scoring. All three lines were hitting, banging and skating at a high level...

[pk500]

One idea I like contemplating is disallowing icing during a PK. Make a penalty count when you have the extra man. At one time, the defending team had to skate, pass, or dump the puck out of the zone. They could not send it the full length of the ice. Bring that rule back and it will make power plays much more effective and feared.

James:

You're just saying that because you have the Sedins!

Seriously, I'll respectfully disagree. I think the game is tilting too far toward the specialty teams, as it seems that only a handful of teams can score regularly in 5-on-5 play these days. Everything is geared toward the PP or PK because of the increased number of penalty calls.

That said, I like the stricter enforcement that Stephen Walkom is mandating. But I think a further reduction in goalie equipment and a possible implementation of some sort of zone to clear traffic in front of the net could increase the amount of 5-on-5 scoring.

Another personal idea. Get rid of some teams where people just don't care about Hockey, then the talent pool will be more evenly spread. In the 80's they were only 21 teams and everyone was scoring. All three lines were hitting, banging and skating at a high level...

Good point. But the proverbial genie is out of the bottle, and contraction never is going to happen. Just look at the Penguins' situation.

Kansas City is NOT a hockey market, but there are some rich egos there who think they can do it better than Pittsburgh. That's the case in a lot of major U.S. markets right now. I laugh my ass off when I read that Oklahoma City is ready to make a bid for the Pens if KC falls through.

Okie City? Those people don't have a f*cking clue about hockey and don't give a stuff about it. Send a team back to Quebec or Winnipeg before going to Okie City.

Speaking of Winnipeg, I don't get the complaints about the size of the building there. Its capacity is 15,000, slightly smaller than the average NHL rink now.

So f*cking what? At least it will be filled every home game. What does the NHL want? A full house of 15,000 in Winnipeg or 9,000 bodies in a 17,000-seat building in Nashville or 11,000 bodies in a 17,000-seat building in Phoenix?

Take care,
PK

[10spro]

James: You're just saying that because you have the Sedins!

Seriously, I'll respectfully disagree. I think the game is tilting too far toward the specialty teams, as it seems that only a handful of teams can score regularly in 5-on-5 play these days. Everything is geared toward the PP or PK because of the increased number of penalty calls.

That said, I like the stricter enforcement that Stephen Walkom is mandating. But I think a further reduction in goalie equipment and a possible implementation of some sort of zone to clear traffic in front of the net could increase the amount of 5-on-5 scoring.

PK, I think that penaties need to be called definitely when there's grabbing, clutching, holding and all the other infractions that impede the advancement of a skilled player. Having said that I am a traditionalist and I do prefer more 5 on 5 Hockey. I didn't watch the 'Nucks game on Saturday since I am out of town, but from what I heard it was a festival to the sin box and being an important game as part of Saturday's Hockey day in Canada, it was poorly reffed. Apparently, there was no flow to the game whatsoever. Some Zebras are starting to make calls even when they are uncertain of what just happened and maybe that pressure, is coming from Bettman & Walkom.

And the league has to be careful. With no flow in a game, you see no emotions, no fights, no hits, but PP's after PP's. I wonder if this is one of the reasons the attendance dropped across the league.

Speaking of Winnipeg, I don't get the complaints about the size of the building there. Its capacity is 15,000, slightly smaller than the average NHL rink now.

So f*cking what? At least it will be filled every home game. What does the NHL want? A full house of 15,000 in Winnipeg or 9,000 bodies in a 17,000-seat building in Nashville or 11,000 bodies in a 17,000-seat building in Phoenix?

Good point. Not even in Hockey Town Detroit you see a consistent 15.000 attendance this season, but as we all know, Bettman thinks that the only way to make Hockey more popular in the States is to support it there. Too bad not many fans agree with him.

[tjung0831]

I laugh my ass off when I read that Oklahoma City is ready to make a bid for the Pens if KC falls through.

Okie City? Those people don't have a f*cking clue about hockey and don't give a stuff about it. Send a team back to Quebec or Winnipeg before going to Okie City.



Take care,
PK

Don't knock OKC for hockey support, they have had a long history of supporting hockey starting back in the 70's. The OKC Blazers are currently one of the top draws in minor league hockey with a hardcore fanbase of around 9500. Also don't forget that OKC was also the runner up to Nashville the last time the league expanded and you can bet that the league is now wishing they would have chosen OKC instead of Nashville. Also don't be suprised if the Predators end up relocating to KC or OKC.

[pk500]

Tim:

There's a big difference between paying $15-20 for a minor-league hockey ticket and $40-100 for an NHL ticket. I just don't see the NHL working in Kansas City or Oklahoma City at all. It will be an immediate fad and fade, just like what is happening in Nashville.

Take care,
PK

[Sudz]

the cheapest tix in NC are $10.

u can see from anywhere...

especially when u move down.

[tjung0831]

the cheapest tix in NC are $10.

u can see from anywhere...

especially when u move down.

and only $8 in St. Louis.

[10spro]

the cheapest tix in NC are $10.

u can see from anywhere...

especially when u move down.

and only $8 in St. Louis.

I hear they are even giving free drinks and hot dogs to the fans in St Louis. Go to any game in Canada and a cost of a pop and dog will cost you near $10 bucks.

Anyhow, Murray is the key to the resurrection of the Blues as they seem to play with more confidence, they are thriving, while the Hawks are diving after a quick start with Savard as head coach. What confidence does in this game...

[pk500]

the cheapest tix in NC are $10.

u can see from anywhere...

especially when u move down.

and only $8 in St. Louis.

Yet they're still last in NHL home attendance this season unless Dave Checketts is offering a free lunch. What does that tell you?

Shame, too, as Murray has revitalized the team while greater St. Louis yawns.

Take care,
PK

[tjung0831]

the cheapest tix in NC are $10.

u can see from anywhere...

especially when u move down.

and only $8 in St. Louis.

Yet they're still last in NHL home attendance this season unless Dave Checketts is offering a free lunch. What does that tell you?

Take care,
PK

Well technically the $8 tickets are all sold out. The ticket prices aren't the issue here in St. Louis. Before the lockout, a Blues ticket was tough to get. If the Blues had 60pts right now every game would be sold out regardless of the ticket prices. The fans weren't happy with the lockout and they sure as hell weren't happy with the Pronger trade. Management realizes this and that's why they made some changes. As long as they keep winning the fans will start coming back more and more.

[10spro]

With the AS game coming up in a couple of weeks, trade rumours are starting to flow. LA Kings are hurt in the all important keeper position with both Cloutier & Garon out, a good fit there would be R. Esche. Another team that's having goaltender issues is Colorado.

And as Philly is going nowhere, the sooner they trade Forsberg the better chances of getting a higher draft pick and/or other players but Peter is not helping the club with his constant nagging injuries.

Need a D-man? A. Aucoin is available as he sits in Savard's dog house.

Interesting situation in NAS:

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index ... s_id=54098

[Feanor]

Forsberg has a no-trade clause in his contract, which will makes things interesting.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports ... 461915.htm

[Naples39]

Excellent article making the case for bigger nets;
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

The case is simple really. Goalie pads are unlikely to get smaller anytime soon, so the only way to restore the balance to the shooter that the shooters had for 80 years is to make the nets bigger. I tend to agree with the article.

From a purely mathematical standpoint, I wonder if increasing the size of the goals by 20% is even enough to balance things out. A simple photo comparison between Martin Brodeur and Bernie Parent, as I tried to find similar poses.

[Feanor]

\0/

Me too. I'm shocked at how tiny Parent's glove looks. I knew it was smaller than the gloves of today, but it barely looks bigger than his hand.

[pk500]

I respect and agree with the column, especially when it comes from E.M. Swift.

As Swift said in his column, he played collegiately. He also has covered it for 30 years and is one of the few writers at SI who actually gives two sh*ts about the game.

Good column. Thanks for the link.

If the NHL isn't going to reduce goalie equipment size to 1970s dimensions, then increasing the size of the net is the only answer. I remember watching Lafleur and Bossy streak down the wing on "Hockey Night in Canada" in the 70s -- our cable system used to get CKWS from Kingston, Ontario -- and blast slappers to the far corner, low or high.

That kind of goal is extinct now in the NHL, as Swift said. Every long goal is either a one-timer or deflection. Every other goal is a rebound or quick snapper from in close.

I love Ken Dryden's point that the NHL traditionalists can get stuffed -- my opinion; the classy, erudite Dryden never would say that -- because if tradition meant something in hockey, goalies never would have been allowed to put on such oversized padding. So true.

It's pretty damn ironic that the NHL is putting so much energy into its new, tight-fitting jerseys but is only paying lip service to its three most crucial issues -- scheduling, lack of scoring and lack of a strong TV package in the U.S.

Take care,
PK

[Feanor]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I see that photo in the article of Garth 'Michelin Man' Snow.

The other thing in the article that really stood out to me was the bit about Dryden wearing a size 48 jersey, and Glenn Healy wearing a size 60 despite being six inches shorter.

[Sudz]

Big name trades are tough due to the salary cap. Who can absorb that type of contract?

and big nets? f*** THAT.

[Feanor]

Great argument.

[Sudz]

Great argument.

i'm a purist...what else do i need for an argument?

a good 1-0 games is better than a shitty 7-3 game.

rink time is already a ton of $$$. where are all the parents who pay $$ for gear, equip, leagues, going to get the extra $100 a year that will go into the rink getting new nets?

bettman already took out the div/conf names....

stripping the history.

i was ALL for taking out the redline for 2 line passes....goalie equip being regulated....

but f*** that.

[pk500]

Sudz:

Here's the point that many of the proponents of larger nets, including myself, are making.

How many of the low-scoring games that we're seeing now are due to great, agile goaltending compared to 25 years ago? Not many.

Games are low scoring now for these reasons:

1. Oversized goalie equipment tilting the balance far away from the shooters.
2. Use of the trap and left-wing lock.
3. Collapsing defenses causing rugby scrums regularly in the crease and low slot.
4. Better equipment eliminating skater's fear to drop and block shots.

When Grant Fuhr shut out the Islanders, 1-0, in the first game of the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals, that was a thing of beauty. It proved the wide-open Oilers could play a strong defensive game, and Fuhr made some fine saves.

But now 1-0 games are due more to Michelin Men filling the nets and to thickets of 12 to 14 legs regularly filling the shooting lanes, crease and slot.

In my above list, I have no problem with No. 4. I love to see the courage of the players who drop to block shots. But larger nets will neutralize the effectiveness of the first three on that list.

I know it's a big step, and it tinkers with tradition. But as Dryden said, if tradition meant so much, then goalies still would be maskless and wearing cricket leg pads instead of the inflated suits of armor we see today.

Take care,
PK

[Naples39]

a good 1-0 games is better than a shitty 7-3 game.

I see this argument time and time again, and I don't get it. Yes, a good 1-0 is better than a shitty 7-3. Likewise, a good 7-3 game is better than a shitty 1-0 game. Throwing that line out is utterly meaningless.

The whole point is if your AVERAGE 3-1 game is more exciting than your AVERAGE 5-3 game.

Personally, I think higher scores are essential, not because goals in and of themselves are exciting, but it is simply too easy to hold a now. The percentage of games won by the team that scores first, or leads after one or two periods is simply too high thanks to a multitude of reasons (probably with dominant goaltending among the leading causes), and it necessarily leads to many dull, monotonous games.

As sports gamers, we always talk about the sign of a good game being that you play through a season, and every game feels different. One game will be low scoring, the next will be high, and the third something in between. Not every NHL game needs to be a 7-6 shootout, but it would be nice if it happened more often than once a month league-wide.

[pk500]

This is exactly why I think you might see Kevin Lowe and Dean Lombardi play "Let's Make A Deal" very soon:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... d=..DUHA17

Duhatschek kicks ass, as usual. The guy is plugged in.

Take care,
PK