The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

[RealmK]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

You're not going to get any of the above stuff. You're just not.

Just institute something similar to the backcourt rule in basketball. Was 10 secs., not I believe it's 8. Though hockey is a much faster sport. Do something like once you show full possession, you have 5 secs. to advance it over center ice. If you pass it back behind your blue line, it's delay of game and the face off comes all the way back. Watch how fast players stop this nonsense.

Just call a Delay of game and they'll stop, though to be fair I've never noticed it to be much of an issue before watching Philly players stand in the zone for 30+ seconds, at least move the puck in your own end to open up a seam. No need to put in stupid new rules. So what happens if no forward is open? Oh hey you dump the puck in anyway or risk a penalty for passing to an open Dman? How does that even make sense?

[daflyboys]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Just call a Delay of game and they'll stop, though to be fair I've never noticed it to be much of an issue before watching Philly players stand in the zone for 30+ seconds, at least move the puck in your own end to open up a seam. No need to put in stupid new rules. So what happens if no forward is open? Oh hey you dump the puck in anyway or risk a penalty for passing to an open Dman? How does that even make sense?

But call a delay of game when? You still have to define the terms. God knows there's enough subjectivity in calls in hockey.

College bball did this years ago when pro was the only level that had shot clocks. I remember the old "4 corners" crap where teams would just stall for almost an entire 20 minute half. You would literally end up with some college games with single digit scores.

In basketball, when the other team throws a full court press against you, you design plays to advance it past the midcourt line. (You actually see this in hockey now when the PP team tries to advance it across the blue line because they want to gain the full amount of time during their advantage.) It's even tougher with college and pro bball being there's a shot clock that starts immediately as you gain possession, not once you're past the midcourt line. Should hockey institute something like this, you should actually see more open play and strategy without having to expand the ice to Olympic size (which I'd love, but they won't do). The two-way Dmen would be more of a commodity and the goons without actual skills would suffer. But, then again.... it is a sport.

Just because there would be a clock demanding that a team advances past the center ice line, doesn't mean the other team will press. Strategic plays in the offensive zone would still occur and need to be managed.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

If I'm Holmgren, I start taking offers for Bryzgalov yesterday. What a fraud that guy is.

Hahaha. Even Luongo got to enjoy a honeymoon.

[Money99]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

But call a delay of game when? You still have to define the terms. God knows there's enough subjectivity in calls in hockey.

College bball did this years ago when pro was the only level that had shot clocks. I remember the old "4 corners" crap where teams would just stall for almost an entire 20 minute half. You would literally end up with some college games with single digit scores.

In basketball, when the other team throws a full court press against you, you design plays to advance it past the midcourt line. (You actually see this in hockey now when the PP team tries to advance it across the blue line because they want to gain the full amount of time during their advantage.) It's even tougher with college and pro bball being there's a shot clock that starts immediately as you gain possession, not once you're past the midcourt line. Should hockey institute something like this, you should actually see more open play and strategy without having to expand the ice to Olympic size (which I'd love, but they won't do). The two-way Dmen would be more of a commodity and the goons without actual skills would suffer. But, then again.... it is a sport.

Just because there would be a clock demanding that a team advances past the center ice line, doesn't mean the other team will press. Strategic plays in the offensive zone would still occur and need to be managed.

The only problem with this is, you know there would be coaches that would say "Just pass them the puck in the neutral zone".
Every time they pass, the shot clock resets. You'd have two teams playing pong for 65 minutes.

You can give coaches all the tools to try and open the game up, but every rule change, every innovation is used for defensive purposes.

There's so much skill and talent in this league, but every coach wants to put it towards defensive measures.
Got a 50-goal scoring player? Great! Have him play behind his blueline until we get a PP.

I really believe the only way to stop this crap is to make the rinks and nets bigger.
Perhaps if teams are so willing to give up 50' of ice, and then teams are able to score goals from 20-feet out, then suddenly teams will be forced to press more.
But playing a 1-3-1 and then the Turtle Defense is way too effective.
Phoenix has no offensive stars on it's roster and yet they're a contender.
In today's NHL, inflated goalies and stiffing defensive schemes trump natural talent every day of the week.
You can't say the same in MLB, the NBA or the NFL. There's still defense, but essentially if the stars are on, it's more about damage control, not an overall shutout.
And to me, THAT'S what makes defenses exciting. When you're not expected to completely shutdown an awesome running-back or shooting guard but manage to do so.
But in the NHL, getting a shutout, or keeping an Art-Ross candidate off the scoresheet is old-hat and quite expected.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

rant rant rant

Heh, I knew that game would draw a Money response.

As someone just as old-school (I still remember obscure details from 1981 playoff games), I'm more or less with Money on this one. I miss the days of "shadows" (defensive specialists), skinny pads, and most coaches/D-men not having a clue what a "system" meant. But those days aren't returning.

What I'd like the NHL to do is reward teams who try to, you know, score goals. Unfortunately, most of the suggestions are impractical. Olympic-sized ice is just never going to happen: too much money involved. I still don't think it would work in producing more offence, anyway, unless it was accompanied by significant contraction. Reducing goalie equipment has its limits due to safety issues and the greater size and athleticism of today's goalies.

So. What to do? Here are my suggestions:

1. Money has won me over. It's time to make the nets bigger. Four inches wider, two inches taller, angle the posts/crossbar slightly so most shots that hit them go in. I doubt they'd look any different to the naked eye on TV.

2. Get rid of the 3-point game. Soooo many teams (especially on the road) are happy to keep things close and come away with the one point. Anyone who's followed my posts during the years knows what's coming next:

2 points for a regulation/OT win
1 point for a shootout win
0 points for any kind of loss

No fuss, no muss, no 3-on-3 extra OT needed, no 3 points for a regulation win (the whole idea is to get rid of the loser point and unnecessary shootouts!!!), no more teams playing conservatively at the end of games, because the shootout (where even the winner will only receive one point) is looming. Coaches will hate this, fans will love it.

3. Speaking of the points system, here's a radical one, something that I wouldn't necessarily endorse at this time, but it's something to think about if you really want to increase offence. Take a page out of rugby's book, and award an extra point in the standings for teams that score 5+ goals in a win. The NHL would have to institute a rule to prevent teams from doing stupid things (ie, the extra point doesn't count if any of those goals were scored by pulling the goalie when you're tied or winning). This would radically change how coaches would approach games: the emphasis would shift from worrying about how to prevent the other team from scoring to worrying about how to get your team to score more. So long, trap.

Obviously, points 2 and 3 would only apply to the regular season, but the entertainment value of playoff games isn't really the issue, is it? (Plus there'd still be the bigger nets).

Thoughts?

[daflyboys]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

But like in basketball, if the puck would PURPOSELY be passed back behind, say your own blue line, it's a delay of game and have the face off come back as if it was an icing. No team would want that. Teams could adapt, they already have with the elimination of the 2 line pass. My guess is something like this will be instituted by next year and it won't involve doing things like spending money on equipment or rink alterations... especially ones that have to do with taking away seats!

Now if they'll only do away with the dumb *** floating off-sides rule in soccer.... excuse me, FUTbol...... I'd actually watch a game.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to the Dr Jones Point System^TM. He even turned this stubborn shootout abhorrer into a believer.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Hope the Islanders embarrasses us, maybe Sherman will fire Sacco then. Scratching our best PKer tonight for useless Kevin Porter

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Now if they'll only do away with the dumb *** floating off-sides rule in soccer.... excuse me, FUTbol...... I'd actually watch a game.

Sigh. I thought the hockey forum was a refuge from the "when in doubt take a shot at soccer" routine.

[FlyingFinn]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Sigh. I thought the hockey forum was a refuge from the "when in doubt take a shot at soccer" routine.

Off Topic but here goes any way: If soccer would just say there is no offside once the ball entered the box the game would be so much more exciting. Teams would actually have to mark their man and play defense instead of running forward for a cheap offside.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Off Topic but here goes any way: If soccer would just say there is no offside once the ball entered the box the game would be so much more exciting. Teams would actually have to mark their man and play defense instead of running forward for a cheap offside.

I'm with you there. I understand the necessity for the floating offside rule in general, but if the ball is struck/passed/touched within the 18-yard-box, no offside.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I don't know, that would really change the game a lot. And I don't necessarily think it would be for the better. The reasons are long-winded and not for here.

OT, the Wild play tonight, but not until 9:30 my time.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

There are 8 games on the docket tonight but none on NHLN or VS. Damn!

[l3ulvl]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to the Dr Jones Point System^TM. He even turned this stubborn shootout abhorrer into a believer.

I like it, too. Playing for overtime bothers me, the game should get more intense and exciting near the end of games, not slowed down just to ensure a point.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: The Official 2011-12 Regular Season Talk Thread

Holy crap, Barrett Jackman has hair? The guy has rocked the bald look since coming into the league. I just figured he was a natural. Maybe he got hair plugs?