Superfunkomatic - Observations of the Socially Inept

So attendance is up, ticket sales are up and fans have returned to our glorious game of hockey at the NHL level in droves, still there is an undercurrent of diehard fans that are less than enthused about the new rules and changes.

The NHL made several rule changes that were supposed to increase scoring, speed up the game and make all teams compete on an equal footing. Frankly, i think it’s been pretty hit or miss. Some of the rule changes and suggestions have dramatically changed the game - in my opinion not necessarily for the good.

Here are the changes and my comments -

1. Removing the centre line, no two line passes - great idea opens up long passing lanes in the middle of the ice, much better for transition. let’s go to olympic sized ice in all new arenas to really give players with skills room to move.

2. The new lines to prevent goalies from handling the puck - this is absolutely ridiculous. the goalies help move the puck out of their zone and keep the flow of the game going, why would they want to stop that?

3. Smaller goalie equipment - great idea. it was getting to the point where there was no visible net since most goalies looked like the michelin man.

4. Delay of game penalty for defensive zone clearing attempts shot over the glass - great rule change, a bit annoying if it’s obviously an accident. the zero tolerance nature of the change makes the rule change a bit strange, maybe if it was left to the referee’s discretion it would make more sense

5. Overtime and shootouts - Not sure who Gary Bettman chatted with but real hockey fans don’t like the shoot out. It sucks, it’s a shitty way to end a fantastic game - you tie, play overtime with no decision, then you have a shootout. why not just draw straws or diddle for the middle of the dartboard. stupid. it has no bearing on the game or flow of the game. plus it isn’t really even a win and the goals don’t count towards the players stats. utterly and completely a waste of time. here’s a suggestion - every game is played into overtime until there is a winner - who wouldn’t like that - calgary vs edmonton, or toronto vs montreal for 4 or 5 periods - now that would get fans into the games. A ticket is over $100, so give real value and let the game go on until the teams can decide it, not some ridiculous quick and dirty - “here’s our winner, and they get a special point, for special ties or sorta a win”.

6. zero tolerance on obstruction and stick offences - hey gary, look back at pictures of hockey players for the last hundred years, there’s a reason they are missing teeth. they are tough, rough and tumble athletes afraid of nothing, not even a stick. the little mamby pamby penalties for a light hook or a tug from behind are silly and kill the flow of the game. the refs should call obvious penalties - muggings, holding, interference not a light rap on the bum with a stick. get real, no one wants to watch a game where both teams are short-handed for the entire game - there’s a reason 5 players are supposed to be on the ice. a penalty is just that a penalty, a rarity when someone breaks the rules and these changes are not a rarity as teams rarely play full-strength at all.

Focus on hits to the head, hits from behind, low hits and things that injure players and ruin careers not on penalties where a guy has taken his hand off his stick to play the body on a man.

7. increase scoring through penalties - i don’t know why people want scoring to increase. some of the most exciting games are 1-0 or low scoring games. this means teams are evenly matched and have a tough time scoring rather than having the current power-play shooting gallery to increase scoring for scoring’s sake. the most popular game in the world - soccer has many games that are 1-0 or 0-0 and they are very exciting for fans.

it’s great to get a zillion points in hockey pools but it really doesn’t make the games any more exciting. a win is a win regardless of the score.

Hopefully when they make changes to the game next time they’ll consult real fans that understand and have played the game not a bunch of lawyers and consultants that work with Gary Bettman in New York.

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