some GM’s unhappy with NHL committee

TSN.ca – NHL – Canada’s Sports Leader:

A number of GMs told TSN said they’re “frustrated” and even “angry” at effectively being replaced as the body that recommends rule changes to the NHL board of governors.

Gee, some GMs are upset because the players have been given a voice in rule definition in hockey, and they aren’t being allowed to, well, filter those recommendations before being voted on. I can guess some of the GMs that are unhappy — and I think this is great for the sport. wow. imagine that — not being able to rewrite the recommendations before passing them on. horrors.

If you read the article, it describes some of the rumored rule changes. Most of them I support strongly (I’m unconvinced about removing the red line — I think that’s a much more minor thing in practice than in theory, and I hate shoot-outs, but if it’s after 8 minutes of OT, I’ll take it) — but one that’s in there as kind of a throwaway is that if a team ices the puck, it won’t be allowed a line change. Combined iwth fast faceoffs — this is a huge strategy change, since a major reason to ice the puck is because your line got caught on and is exhausted, so you throw it for the whistle to get fresh legs on.

Now, instead of fresh legs, your tired legs stay on and THEY get fresh legs. That’s HUGE. of course, I can see defensemen practicing accidentally clearing pucks into the crowd already instead… So next year, let’s extend the goalie delay-of-game rule to ANY puck that leaves the surface without touching anything…

Make ‘em tick the glass, or you’ll see zillions of pucks in the stands and the safety netting….

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