It's Here! The Thread For the 2003-04 NHL Regular Season!

[bbor]

Bigger ice surface.It really is the most unobtrusive change that can be made.IMHO>

[Draft Dodger]

I say get rid of the rule against the 2-line pass...

[sachmo71]

I have no problem with bigger nets, but if you want to get rid of the "clutching and grabbing", get rid of it. I'll bet it wouldn't take too long at all.

While we're on the subject, I think they should make the powerplay last the full 2 minutes. It would be an easy way to chip in 40-50 more goals per year.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

While we're on the subject, I think they should make the powerplay last the full 2 minutes. It would be an easy way to chip in 40-50 more goals per year.

I suspect this would lead to more diving, and possibly even less penalties called, as refs are already loathe to call penalties in certain situations.

but, more importantly, this might inflate the scores, but it wont make the games that much more exciting for me. The powerplay isn't usually the most exciting part of hockey.

[Draft Dodger]

gotta love that Bobby Clarke guy...

gives up a good prospect and two picks to get Mike Comrie...and trades him 2 months later for Sean Burke. Why did he need to trade for Sean Burke? Because he'd already run Brian Boucher and Roman Checmanek out of town to go with Robert Esche and Jeff Hackett (who retired today).

then he trades Eric Weinrich to St Louis for a draft pick. and why did he trade Weinrich? because he has a glut of defensemen...this coming just 2 weeks after the knee-jerk reaction trade of Justin Williams for Danny Markov because they were desperate for defensemen.

Do Flyers fans think this man is sane? I mean, lately he's been making Mike Milbury look like Pierre Lacroix

[bbor]

Well...at least Clarke finally fixed the problem correctly by getting Burke...instead of stop gaping it again.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by bbor

Well...at least Clarke finally fixed the problem correctly by getting Burke...instead of stop gaping it again.

he's 37. how permanent of a fix do you think he is?

I've never been a big Burke fan - he's only had 4 winning seasons in his career, and in two of those he played in 13 and 22 games respectively. I think Phoenix did extremely well to get Comrie for him.

[bbor]

I like Burke a hell of a lot more than i liked Esche or Hackett.I think Comrie was a steep price to pay,but really,what other choice did he have?Mind you...he painted himself into this corner so he hasno one else to blame but himself.He could have had Cujo or Richter a few years ago,but he cheaped out.

[k0ruptr]

bah the NHL blows. well that is until the playoffs, cause thats when i start watchin

[Karim]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

bah the NHL blows. well that is until the playoffs, cause thats when i start watchin

Great. Thanks for coming out.

[bbor]

LOL

[k0ruptr]

anytime!!! oh, as long as its playoffs

[Honolulu_Blue]

I totally missed this Danny Markov trade. Freakin' Belgium. Burke is definitely an upgrade, especially given Jeff "Scottie" Hackett's retirement. Comrie didn't seem to mesh in Philly. Though he had sat out for a while, so I am sure he would come around. Philly also got two prospects, they I have no idea who they are or what type of potential they have.

At least Burke is traded. The "where will Sean Burke go" stories have been going on and on and on for the last two or three years. I'm glad it's done.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

bah the NHL blows. well that is until the playoffs, cause thats when i start watchin

*grabs leather pouch full of pingpong balls*

LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!
sleep!
LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!

[k0ruptr]

lmao. hahahaha sleep

[sachmo71]

Yikes.

[klayman]

You can't cast that many lightning bolts!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by klayman

You can't cast that many lightning bolts!

I have a wand. I have a wand of lightning bolts with unlimited charges. No casting time. Just simply point and...

LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!

[klayman]

oh...ok then. carry on.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by klayman

oh...ok then. carry on.

Will do.

[Ksyrup]

Hasek's out for the season.

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Hasek's out for the season.

You know what, this may be a blessing in disguise. You know that as the playoffs would draw closer, there would be another round of discussion/debate over who should be playing in net, and after every loss, you will hear arguments against the losing goalie, regardless of the situation. Cujo will be just as good if not better than Hasek would have been if he had come back from injury; lets not forget he was just beginning to get back to his playing form when he went down with the injury. It would take him a while to get back into shape and they still would be giving minutes to Cujo to keep him sharp just in case. At least now the situation is stabilized and Cujo and Legace will know where they stand heading into April.

[chrisj]

Hmm... no posts about NHL rule changes?

- Goalies can no longer handle the puck behind the back-end red line (behind the net);

- The width of goalie pads will be reduced to 10 inches from the current limit of 12 inches; also, the league's head office will act as a clearing house for goalie's equipment before they can wear it;

- The nets will be brought back to 10 feet from the back boards from the current 13 feet;

- The tag-up offsides will be brought back;

- AHL will try out three points being awarded for a victory in regulation time with NHL possibly going to that format in 2005-06 if it works well in the minors; that would also include two points for an overtime win, it may also include two points for a penalty shootout win.

[Pyser]

Originally Posted by chrisj

Goalies can no longer handle the puck behind the back-end red line (behind the net);

my beloved brodeur will continue to be a fantastic goalie...but this would severely hurt his game.

therefore, i am opposed to it.

just make the damn rink bigger. stop shrinking everything else.

[Draft Dodger]

Goalies can no longer handle the puck behind the back-end red line (behind the net);

My first reaction is that this is dumb...it's my second and third reaction as well. So, essentially, we want to encourage the dump and chase?

The width of goalie pads will be reduced to 10 inches from the current limit of 12 inches; also, the league's head office will act as a clearing house for goalie's equipment before they can wear it;

definitely a good idea. I swear, Dwayne Roloson looked like a tank at the all-star game. I still have to chuckle that Patrick Roy recommended this idea...

The nets will be brought back to 10 feet from the back boards from the current 13 feet

moving the nets up never had the impact they thought it would, and now that Gretzky's retiring and Forsberg's days are numbered, no one needs that space back there anyway.

The tag-up offsides will be brought back;

I don't know what this is - can someone fill me in?

- AHL will try out three points being awarded for a victory in regulation time with NHL possibly going to that format in 2005-06 if it works well in the minors; that would also include two points for an overtime win, it may also include two points for a penalty shootout win

no, please no. this is a TERRIBLE idea. I wish they'd stop fucking around with the point system. The stupid point for overtime losses is dumb enough. I don't even want to think about a shootout.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I don't know what this is - can someone fill me in?

A delayed offside where if the offensive team retreats from the zone, the offside is cancelled and they can go back in to forecheck.

[corbes]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

Do Flyers fans think this man is sane?

No, most definitely not. We gave up on that issue a long time ago. Now it's kind of a science experiment about the effects of insane people running a hockey team, except we're the experimental group, not the control group.

Mike Comrie was obviously unsuited to play in Philadelphia. The question is not so much why did we trade him to Phoenix, but why did we trade for him in the first place? (That Clarkie is obsessed with centers is, while correct, not a valid answer. You must be more creative than that.)

And also, we were really hurting for future 5th round draft picks, which is why we traded Weinrich. That should be obvious.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

My first reaction is that this is dumb...it's my second and third reaction as well. So, essentially, we want to encourage the dump and chase?

I'd just like them to put goalies on par with everyone else outside the crease. If they're inside the crease, they're still the protected goalie and you shouldn't mess with them. But if they want to go chasing the puck down, they're fair game. If you're the keeper and you're out far enough that you have to worry about being taken down and not being able to get back, then you probably shouldn't go out that far. I'm sure you'll get your ass beaten in on the other side of the ice with the refs conveniently not watching after you take out the goalie which will cut down on the cheap shots but this should cut out on the egregious net leaving.

SI

[bbor]

I think goalies should still be alowed to handle the puck...i just don't think they should be able to make a forward pass...unless their team is on the PP.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I'd just like them to put goalies on par with everyone else outside the crease. If they're inside the crease, they're still the protected goalie and you shouldn't mess with them. But if they want to go chasing the puck down, they're fair game. If you're the keeper and you're out far enough that you have to worry about being taken down and not being able to get back, then you probably shouldn't go out that far. I'm sure you'll get your ass beaten in on the other side of the ice with the refs conveniently not watching after you take out the goalie which will cut down on the cheap shots but this should cut out on the egregious net leaving.

SI

As far as reverting to dump and chase, the dump and chase is an effective offensive strategy. It was used a lot in the 80's with great success. Remove the space from behind the net, and you remove the cycling behind the net that it creates, and as such the dump and chase becomes more alive as players make quicker passes into the slot or back to point, instead of freezing and cycling behind the net. Removing the goalies ablitity to stop the dump and chase removes the constant parade of dump, turnover, clear the zone, dump, turnover, ..., repeat for 58 of 60 mins. I think that is what the GM's are trying to do, although true to form, they only went at it half-assed (bigger nets or bigger ice surface would guarantee results).

[corbes]

No truth to the rumor that Clarke's looking to pick up Eric Weinrich from the Blues in exchange for Antero Niittymaki.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by corbes

No truth to the rumor that Clarke's looking to pick up Eric Weinrich from the Blues in exchange for Antero Niittymaki.

I heard he is willing to go as high as a 2nd round pick to get him back.

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by Pyser

just make the damn rink bigger. stop shrinking everything else.

Regardless of the positives or negatives of doing this, one thing to remember is that, if the owners decide to do this, it will eliminate a row or two of the most expensive seats in the rink. Seeing as many teams live and die by their ticket revenues, this may not pick up enough steam to pass through.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by ice4277

Regardless of the positives or negatives of doing this, one thing to remember is that, if the owners decide to do this, it will eliminate a row or two of the most expensive seats in the rink. Seeing as many teams live and die by their ticket revenues, this may not pick up enough steam to pass through.

Not to mention the costs with making the actual change.

If it costs each owner a million bucks to make the change to their arena, you can bet they'll look elsewhere. And some arenas physically can't accomodate bigger ice, because of the way they're built.

The NHL had it's chance to move to a bigger ice surface a few years ago when half the teams had new buildings on the way. They didn't do it. The opportunity is lost.

[bbor]

Leafs trade Rik Jackman to the Pens for Drake Berehowsky...who originally was a 1st round draft pick of the Leafs....funny how things work out.

We are still planning a parade

[Maple Leafs]

Hmm... when Berehowsky was first drafted, he was very popular with the female fans. Um... very popular.

Should be an interesting homecoming for him. If I were him, I'd start practicing the phrase "Um, yeah, of course I remember you..."

[Pyser]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

The NHL had it's chance to move to a bigger ice surface a few years ago when half the teams had new buildings on the way. They didn't do it. The opportunity is lost.

bingo. they blew it big time.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by bbor

Leafs trade Rik Jackman to the Pens for Drake Berehowsky...who originally was a 1st round draft pick of the Leafs....funny how things work out.

We are still planning a parade

Aw crap. I just picked up Berehowsky on the fofc fantasy hockey waiver wire since I was in need of a 4th defenseman. Is this good news or bad news? He'd been getting decent points regularly (and lots of power play points) but, of course, on the Pens, his +/- was awful. Is he about to lose a lot of his power play time (and thus points)?

SI

[bbor]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Aw crap. I just picked up Berehowsky on the fofc fantasy hockey waiver wire since I was in need of a 4th defenseman. Is this good news or bad news? He'd been getting decent points regularly (and lots of power play points) but, of course, on the Pens, his +/- was awful. Is he about to lose a lot of his power play time (and thus points)?

SI

I imagine this will help his +/- considerably...i can see him being on the 2nd PP unit for the Leafs.

[klayman]

Hahaha! Eddie Belfour is great. RE: Proposed Rule Changes:

"That is not even the worse one I heard. The worse one I heard was every time a goalie goes down in a butterfly, they will give him a two-minute penalty and one foul and you get three fouls you are out of the game. They are trying to change the game too much. It is ridiculous."

Just offer them 1 billion dollars, Eddie and it will all go away.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by klayman

Hahaha! Eddie Belfour is great. RE: Proposed Rule Changes:


Just offer them 1 billion dollars, Eddie and it will all go away.

That story is why Eddie is on of my favorite players ever. That and the 'hawks connection.

SI

[Travis]

Anybody watch the Oilers/Thrashers game tonight? If you didn't, check out the highlights. In the end, the Thrashers didn't have a choice but to play without a goalie, well, because they didn't have any left

[Travis]

Dola, we also got to find out just what kind of fighter Sutton is, when he turtles away from fighting Laraque, then ducks him again during the big melee, then grabs Brewer before Georges can find him. What a pansy.

The bit with Bishai in the Atlanta bench was great, as was the Conklin/Nurminen tussle. I'm curious if Conklin realized what getting Pasi to fight would mean for Atlanta, if so, head's up move Ty.

[sachmo71]

And Jackman was a first round pick of the Stars.

[Blade]

Originally Posted by Travis

Anybody watch the Oilers/Thrashers game tonight? If you didn't, check out the highlights. In the end, the Thrashers didn't have a choice but to play without a goalie, well, because they didn't have any left

All I can say is DAMN!!! I was at the game last night, and when all Hell broke loose, every fan in the building was on their feet. It felt like a playoff game out there! The air was electric!

Fun game to be at, that is for sure!

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Blade

All I can say is DAMN!!! I was at the game last night, and when all Hell broke loose, every fan in the building was on their feet.

You mean, "on their feet" so they could get up and leave the building, right?

I mean, hockey fans don't like fighting, right? Isn't that what the holier-than-thou types keep telling us?

[Blade]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

You mean, "on their feet" so they could get up and leave the building, right?

I mean, hockey fans don't like fighting, right? Isn't that what the holier-than-thou types keep telling us?

Oh, of course...I would never cheer very loudly during hockey fights...laugh as players get beaten to the ice...

Nothing like that...

[Draft Dodger]

tell that to the little guy sitting next to me at that Sabres game....

[klayman]

Hey, it's Honolulu_Blue's birthday today! Happy Birthday!

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by klayman

Hey, it's Honolulu_Blue's birthday today! Happy Birthday!

which one?