Now that the NHL season has begun, what do you think of the new rules?

[Narci]

I think it's changed the game too much.

Last nights leafs/sens game was boring to watch. The van/coyotes game was also boring.

Legal 2 line passes? The way I saw it, it just allows forwards to not bother to hustle back to help on defense cause they rely on thier defensemen to much to shoot the puck back out so they can get a breakway. If the other team presses like the sens did against the leafs, it's going to make the defense role even tougher.

Too many penalties on hooking and slashing or whatever creative penalty the refs deem to be obstruction. Let the guys play and fight for space in frotn of the net.

Shoot out? GET RID OF IT, IT DOES NOT MAKE THE GAME ANY MORE EXCITING. Half the crowd left the leafs game before the shootout even started.

Growing up watching hockey back in the 80's, the game is so different now. I wonder if it has anything to do with trying to capture more American audiences. (Should be bring back the glowing puck too?)

[Yaowsers]

I thought the Leafs and Sens game was terrific. Had pretty good flow and no very many stoppages in play. Tag-up offside rule speeds up the game so much more. I thought the refs called a good game. Wellwood's penalty was a no brainer. If you take you hand off the stick you can use your free hand to grab someone. The shootout is ok. I'm on the fence with that. I personally think it's better if they had 5 on 5 for the shootout instead of 3 on 3. Also it would be better if they made players take off their helmets for the shootout.

[sportsfan99]

I thought the Leafs and Sens game was terrific. Had pretty good flow and no very many stoppages in play. Tag-up offside rule speeds up the game so much more. I thought the refs called a good game. Wellwood's penalty was a no brainer. If you take you hand off the stick you can use your free hand to grab someone. The shootout is ok. I'm on the fence with that. I personally think it's better if they had 5 on 5 for the shootout instead of 3 on 3. Also it would be better if they made players take off their helmets for the shootout.

The probleam with them taking there helmets off is if they fall.And it ha happned in europe.

[Kenny Blankenship]

I thought the Leafs and Sens game was terrific. Had pretty good flow and no very many stoppages in play. Tag-up offside rule speeds up the game so much more. I thought the refs called a good game. Wellwood's penalty was a no brainer. If you take you hand off the stick you can use your free hand to grab someone. The shootout is ok. I'm on the fence with that. I personally think it's better if they had 5 on 5 for the shootout instead of 3 on 3. Also it would be better if they made players take off their helmets for the shootout.

Ah, Wellwood didn't play, unless you were watching the Marlies game.

[Yaowsers]

The probleam with them taking there helmets off is if they fall.And it ha happned in europe.
Well that's their problem if they fall. They're suppose to be professionals. I think it's better for the fans especially new fans for the players to take the lids off when they're doing the shootout.

Ah, Wellwood didn't play, unless you were watching the Marlies game.
sorry I meant Steen

[NDman]

Of all the rules, the only one I didn't like about was the Shootout. It doesn't have the buzz that they meant to creat, nor the excitement. What is wrong with regular season tie? Ok, NHL may be the only one of the Big-Four pro sports that used to have a tie for regular season. But what was wrong with that?

The removal of the center line was awesome. Those outlet passes are very fun to watch.

The crack-down on the hooking and obstruction etc is great too. Sure there have been WAY too many penalties as we can see in the pre-season. But remember, this is a culture (in playing this style) and it takes time to correct it. Players will eventually learn and number of penalties will decrease. I hope the refs can really stick it up this time. It's the players that need to learn and adjust, not the refs.

The goalie area at the end board was dumb

Tag-up offside rule seems to have improved the flow so that one is great too

[Wildfire]

Anyone else surprised when they saw it was only 3 shooters and not 5?
If the shootout was done for increasing excitement then why not extend that a little longer?

The shootout overall is a ******** idea, you don't see the NBA breaking ties by having a 3 point competition at the end of the game?

[Ziggy007]

I think they need to work a better camera angle for the shootouts to get a better feeling for them. I would like to see the shootout angle start from the goalies perspective with the player coming straight down at you, and then maybe around the timem he gets in past the blue line/top of the circles cut to the 3/4 view.

It might also help if the goalie didn't look completely disenchanted like he was playing a bum street hockey game. (See Belfour, Ed)

[NDman]

Does anyone know how to decide which team shoots first in the shootout? Away team first, or coin-toss?

[yiggy]

away team shoots first.

Does anyone know how to decide which team shoots first in the shootout? Away team first, or coin-toss?

[Yaowsers]

Does anyone know how to decide which team shoots first in the shootout? Away team first, or coin-toss?
They should have a shootout to decide which team shoots first.

[Narci]

Shoot out is a ******** idea. Once a game is over and there was a shootout to decide the game...75% of the focus is on the shoot out, not on the hard working guys who played 60 min of actual hockey.

[krispy]

Yesterday's games were absolutely teriffic! Sure a lot of traditionalists will argue that too much has changed but when Dallas can come back from 4-0 to win 5-4, you know the game has changed for the better.

My only complaint is the amount of penalties but that will naturally decrease as players get used to the rules.

Regarding the shootouts, sure it's not the best idea but there's nothing more depressing than a tie game. I'll live with it.

By the way, anyone else watch the Oilers? Horcoff wins it late in the third, what a game!

[bluetroll]

loving the the new rules..... shoot-outs make for good TV highlight clips.... that's why it's there....

[wesleyw]

Watching the two games last night, the only complain I have is that shootout should be 5 shooters and not just 3. The removal of centre ice redline was awesome, created awesome flow and had great end to end action. The icing rule was also awesome, I think there was less than 10 the whole game? When normally there would be 10 per period if not more. I think the penalties will come down once the players adjust to the rules.

[Cafe_333]

I was at the Leafs opener last night, and honestly I have to say that the Leafs looked like the better team and seemed to be consistently on top of the game for much of the night. It was never really 'tight' for the leafs and we played a solid game - though we did let in a couple of goals. I agree, didn't like the shootout at all even watching it live. I knew if it went to a shootout Ottawa would have the better snipers - which is why I hugely disagree with shootouts. ie. an underdog team may do a better job throughout the night but as long as the other team brings it to a tie, the team with the better shooters will likely take the extra point from the shootout. What I mean is that last night I didn't feel we lost to the 'better' team, but to a couple of better shooters - because the boys in blue really did churn out a standup solid effort. imo we were the better team last night. Oh, and another inverse argument against the shootout, an underdog team with a worst goalie may be the better team of the night, but if it comes to a shootout situation, the team with the better goalie will likely take the extra point as well. Not fair if you ask me - when the underdog team was the better team of the night.

Anyway, as for the rest of the new rules, I don't like the goalie zone and the goalie not being able to play the puck. That rule was only favoured by GM's who had crappy goalies that can't play the puck well. If soccer lets goalies play the ball, why can't the NHL? I like the 2 line pass rule; it opens up chances and some breakaway opportunities. Prior to this rule, breakaways were extremely rare. This new rule won't make breakaways frequent either, but it will make the game more exciting. Oh and it can potentially open up some odd man rushes too.

[sixer]

Ties suck, love the shootout. Hockey was getting way too many ties and needed to do something about. Don't compare basketball to hockey, never ties in basketball.

The penalties will go down as players get used to it, they were spoiled and got away with too much before, ridiculous.


And I LOVE reading these leaf fans all complain about we lost the game to shooters we played better all night.
Booo hooo. If you played good all night you would have held onto the lead and won and it never would have gone to overtime.
If a team has a better goalie and shooters, they'll win the shootout. How is that not fair???
Better team wins. Period.

The leafs will be lucky to make the playoffs and can forget about even making them if belfour gets injured.

[Cafe_333]

Ties suck, love the shootout. Hockey was getting way too many ties and needed to do something about. Don't compare basketball to hockey, never ties in basketball.

The penalties will go down as players get used to it, they were spoiled and got away with too much before, ridiculous.


And I LOVE reading these leaf fans all complain about we lost the game to shooters we played better all night.
Booo hooo. If you played good all night you would have held onto the lead and won and it never would have gone to overtime.
If a team has a better goalie and shooters, they'll win the shootout. How is that not fair???
Better team wins. Period.

The leafs will be lucky to make the playoffs and can forget about even making them if belfour gets injured.The better team wins? Ottawa was not clearly the better team last night, the leafs for much of the night were. Yes Ottawa had a comeback in the end to tie the game - and it should have been left that way which is what I'm saying. I don't think it was fair that Ottawa gets the extra point just because they have better shooters on their roster. The game ended as a tie based on both of the team's efforts for the night. It should be left that way. Now with the shooutout, the team with more star power or better shooters the shootout will favour that team. My argument is that underdog teams that play well, end up losing out to better skilled teams in tie situations.

Take this hypothetical situation as an example. Say you have a team like the Hurricanes who one night play better defensively and offensively against a team like Tampa Bay - untill Tampa gets lucky with a couple of comeback goals in the last minute to tie it. Now it should be left as a tie. But now because of the new shootout rule, it will favour Tampa and they will typically take the extra point because they have better talent on their team. This new shootout rule would only be fair if it favours both teams equally. I say it should be left as a tie which is more fair than having a shootout that almost automatically favours the team with better shooters. How can you honestly think this is fair?

And I LOVE reading how delusional people think that better skilled teams should always get the win "period". By your logic, the best NHL teams should never ever lose to crappy teams and Detroit should have made it past Round 1 of the playoffs last season. What a joke. Because neither of this ever happened.

[Hulkster]

Only non hockey fans will say the shootout is good for the game. The shootout can be exciting at times but it doesn't belong in the NHL. Leave it to the international tourneys. Last night's example of a NHL shootout could not have been more anti climatic. You had two teams with so much emotion and energy. The 5 minute wait between the end of OT and the shoot out just killed everything! What did we get to see? Cameras peeking over the shoulders of coaches filling on a piece of paper who's going to be shooting. Wow that's exiciting!! Shootouts are meant to be seen on highlight reels? Did you see the 2 goals that were scored lastnight? Both goals were low shots that went below the glove. There was no creativity and was by no means worthy of any highlight. This is a team sport and the game should be left up to the team. Not to a couple individuals taking a penalty shots against the goalie.

[Cafe_333]

This is a team sport and the game should be left up to the team. Not to a couple individuals taking a penalty shots against the goalie.You've hit the nail right on the head. I couldn't agree more.

[krispy]

Only non hockey fans will say the shootout is good for the game...

No one is saying shootouts are the end-all solution but there is no other choice. There is no room for tie games in North American sports anymore.

[NDman]

In some local hockey tournaments, they play 4-on-4 OT. In case of a tie, it'll come down to 3-on-3, then 2-on-2 all the way down to 1-on-1 eventually. I'll take that over shootout.

[Narci]

Even if they kept the shoot out, they need rules about WHO CAN shoot. Like an example is that everyone on the team must have shot once in order for someone else to have a second one.

I.e.

Allison, O'Neil, Lindros cannot shoot again until the rest of the team has shot over multiply games. So if the leafs tie again in thier game against Montreal coming up, those 3 players are not allowed to shoot again till every last man on the roster has shot..yes including domi hehehehe. That would at least make it more interesting, especially when it comes down to mid year and crunch time before playoffs and during play offs.

[skanji]

Shoot out? GET RID OF IT, IT DOES NOT MAKE THE GAME ANY MORE EXCITING. Half the crowd left the leafs game before the shootout even started.


Thats because their limos were waiting and they all had a CEO meeting first thing in the morning... :lol:

The shootout sucks though - especially if your players have trouble hitting the net!

I don't like the shootouts - but the crowd does!

[NDman]

I don't like the shootouts - but the crowd does!
Not according to the crowd outside of the arena... ala here. :D

[Carnage]

What I'd like to see is instead of a shootout just have an endless sudden death overtime exactly like the playoffs(nothing is more exciting then playoff OT).

No ties, it's exciting, and it doesn't come down to a skills competition.

Though having that kind of OT would be physically grueling for the teams. If they did that they'd probably need to shorten the season to keep from killing half the players.

[NDman]

I still think there's nothing wrong with ties. Not for regular season anyway. A tie game can still be a hell of a game and I'm perfectly fine with that. Same for a decided game, which could also be a snooze fest. It's the quality of the game, not necessarily always the results of the game.

If I were to make one change on that aspect, I'd just make it a 3-point system. Keep the 5-minute OT period. Winner (regulation or OT) gets 3pts, loser gets nothing. Tie gets 1-pt each.

[Carnage]

If I were to make one change on that aspect, I'd just make it a 3-point system. Keep the 5-minute OT period. Winner (regulation or OT) gets 3pts, loser gets nothing. Tie gets 1-pt each.

That's just a typo right?

Win is 2 points.

[Yaowsers]

No way to 3 point point system.

[NDman]

That's just a typo right?

Win is 2 points.
No, not typo. Right now it's 2 points for the W. I was proposing a 3-point system. Winner gets 3 points instead. So a tie would cost both teams a little more than just a point. More incentive to win

[mingming]

Shootout - Hate it, teams that miss the playoffs by 1 point will be really bitter that they missed that point because of a stupid shootout. Also, a good team of less skilled players but better teamwork will not benefit if facing the shootout against a team of mostly selfish skilled players. From the TOR-OTT game, u can kind of feel Ottawa was gonna win it based on who'e shooting in the shootout.

Goalie Boundary - Another stupid idea. doenst make a difference. Puts to waste all the goalies that can play the puck well.

Other than that, the obstruction, 2 line pass, tag up, are all great idea. Good for the game.

[krispy]

Sudden death overtime with teams being reduced to 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, etc. would be ideal but find me the NHL Player rep willing to fly that idea by his players.

I still don't see the problem with the new overtime system. If you know your team has a disadvantage in the shootout that's just more of an incentive to try harder in overtime. In the old NHL, teams would sit back and wait for a mistake. On opening night there was one shootout and plenty of chances to end the game in overtime. A team like Ottawa has an obvious advantage in the shootout because of their speed and skilled players. I'm no Sens fan but is that bad that a team that build itself on quality goal scorers and a top goalie has an advantage?

[pandaharo]

I think the shootout is a good idea, but I think they should only be able to pick 1/3 of the shooters and the other 2 is selected randomly by a computer. :)

[rc51]

I guess I'm a traditionalist...or it's waaayy to early in the season to come to any conclusion about the rule changes.

I watched 3 games, the Cgy vs Minni, Van vs Phnx and TO vs Ott.

I didn't find any to be very entertaining. Sure there was flow and the pace was good but I personally think the 'toughness' of the game has been taken away.

Time will tell if the 'physcial aspect' of the game will survive and thrive.

Nothing wrong with a well play entertaining tie..I'd rather have that than a fluke goal winning/losing a well played game. I think the shoot out is bush league. If anything, than just play a sudden death overtime until someone scores.