GMs recomend changes (major trouble for the Devils)

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=71686

Look at the first change they asked for :rant:

I'm pretty sure Marty will adjust...
}:-)>

How is it fully trouble for the devils, yes marty can't play the puck but the goaltender gear will bring all other goaltenders levels way down.....marty's are allready good to use.

Pushing net back allows a fast NJ team more room to skate, our defense are mobile also.

I don't know how much trouble that would be. I don't think they could justify adding that rule anyway. It's such a small part of the game that the Board of Governors would probably ignore it and make a bigger change instead.

Unless you break the trap, that rule doesn't make a difference. So the goaltender can't come out and stop the puck for his dman on a dump in. The other dman will have to hustle and move the puck without the help of the goaltender. Throw a pick and you're there before the forechecker.

What? Like the refs are going to call the pick... :joker:

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

For the Devils - Terrible, Marty is the best puckhandler in the league, and this would have a real impact.

IMO - I think they should compromise, in the NFL, you are allowed to hit the quarterback, but there are stiff penalties for doing it outside the rules. I would support making the golaies fair game outside the crease, but doubling the penalty minutes for all infractions against golaies. Example: Brodeur plays the puck, Domi boards him with a late hit:4 minute double minor.

- The width of goalie pads will be reduced to 10 inches from the current limit of 12 inches;

For The Devils: Excellent. Marty is probably the only goalie that already conforms to this. The only effect it will have on The Devils is to make it easier to score.

IMO - A lot more needs to be done. Goalies should not be a walking pile of pads.

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

For The Devils: Good. NJ is a speedy team, more room in front of the nets is a good thing, I really don't think it's a huge deal though.

IMO: :dunno:

- The tag-up offsides will be brought back;

For The Devils: Bad. Not horrible, but it negates some of the advantages of having skilled puck handlers on the blueline like Niedermayer, Rafalski, and Martin.

IMO: Fantastic. I'm so sick of stoppages every minute. The game really seems to have lost it's flow, and I think this will be a help.

- 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.

For The Devils: Neutral. It would theoretically hurt the Devils because they play a lot of close games, and only getting 1/3 the credit of a win for a tie, and 2/3 the credit of a win for an OTW would reduce the number of points the Devils got relative to the league average. But since the Devils main rival, the Flyers win the same way, I don't really think it will have an effect.

IMO: I think awarding an extra point to win in regulation is the right thing to do. Right now teams are rewarded for getting into overtime (since it guarantees them a point and still allows them to recieve credit for a win) and that's not good.

...Throw a pick and you're there before the forechecker...
Throw a what?
}:-(>
You mean an ice pick or a guitar pick?

I know that's a term I've heard when blasting past basketball games with my remote, but I haven't heard it used too often in association with hockey.
Exactly what is a "pick" in this context?

How is it fully trouble for the devils, yes marty can't play the puck but the goaltender gear will bring all other goaltenders levels way down.....marty's are allready good to use.

Pushing net back allows a fast NJ team more room to skate, our defense are mobile also.
Your right about the goalie equipment, some of them are in for a real awakening, and good call on the goalies not playing the puck, you've been calling that one for a while.

Throw a what?
}:-(>
You mean an ice pick or a guitar pick?

I know that's a term I've heard when blasting past basketball games with my remote, but I haven't heard it used too often in association with hockey.
Exactly what is a "pick" in this context?
A pic is just when you cut off off the path or obstruct the forechecker so your dmen partner will have more time to gather the puck.

PEli, their is one defensmen, unless he wants to cross on the other side of the ice (where the puck would end up) then I don't think there will be much of that going on.

Throw a what?
}:-(>
You mean an ice pick or a guitar pick?

I know that's a term I've heard when blasting past basketball games with my remote, but I haven't heard it used too often in association with hockey.
Exactly what is a "pick" in this context?

A pick is like obstructing a player from getting to the puck or to an open area to receive a pass. If you watch an NHL game you'll see it all the time. The refs never call it.

I don't think restricting the pad width is enough. They will still have an extra foot or three on top to block the five-hole, and some will still wear shoulder pads that protect the especially vulnerably body part that invisibly floats on either side of the goalies head. But we wouldn't want to hurt them. And the goalie puck-handling rule was clearly designed by the majority of GM's that have a goalie that can't handle a puck worth ****.

- The width of goalie pads will be reduced to 10 inches from the current limit of 12 inches;

For The Devils: Excellent. Marty is probably the only goalie that already conforms to this. The only effect it will have on The Devils is to make it easier to score.

IMO - A lot more needs to be done. Goalies should not be a walking pile of pads.


Are you sure Brodeur already wears 10" wide pads? He has always worn 34" long pads which were well below the 38" threshold that the NHL put in place this year. Off the bat, I think Brodeur wouldn't have much difference with the 10" pads just because he typically doesn't butterfly.

I could be wrong but I think that I read that his pads were skinnier as well as shorter. I think that the reason is that he stacks his arms on top of his shin pads when he goes down into his split (not a traditional butterfly, knees straight, and pointed up) also the skinner pads allow him to skate esier to play the puck.

BTW, if a skater from team x dumps the puck in, couldn't goalie y just play the puck by skating parrallel to the red line on the opposite side?

Just wait for tons of faceoffs to slow the game down to a snarl. Guy's like Marty keep the play going by constantly moving the puck. But if the NHL, believes that watching faceoffs all-night is exciting, that's bad news for the game!

Yes......thats why they they have the tag up rule implimented, to slow the game. Why would there be more faceoffs BTW, I would really like to know the explentation for this.

I fully disagree that the rule changes spell trouble for the Devils.

Yes, it will hurt a bit becasue Brodeur is very good at moving the puck. IMO the player it will hurt the most is Stevens.

This rule will help teams that have speedy forwards that can get in on the forecheck and pressure the other teams defenseman. Something the Devils have in abundance.

This will also put a premium on defenseman that are good skaters and can move the puck quickly. Niedermayer, Rafalski, and eventually Martin.


Teams that this will hurt the most are teams with big lumbering defenseman.

Just wait for tons of faceoffs to slow the game down to a snarl. Guy's like Marty keep the play going by constantly moving the puck. But if the NHL, believes that watching faceoffs all-night is exciting, that's bad news for the game!

How will there be more face-offs ??? A puck dumped into a corner that a defenseman and winger are chasing after it will not cause more face-offs.

I fully disagree that the rule changes spell trouble for the Devils.

Yes, it will hurt a bit becasue Brodeur is very good at moving the puck. IMO the player it will hurt the most is Stevens.

This rule will help teams that have speedy forwards that can get in on the forecheck and pressure the other teams defenseman. Something the Devils have in abundance.

This will also put a premium on defenseman that are good skaters and can move the puck quickly. Niedermayer, Rafalski, and eventually Martin.


Teams that this will hurt the most are teams with big lumbering defenseman.

I totally agree with John 100%, but I'm interested on why Clarke pushed for this?

I totally agree with John 100%, but I'm interested on why Clarke pushed for this?

It's not just Clarke pushing for the rule changes, all GM's were there specifically to talk about ways that the game could be improved.

There were 12-15 rule changes that all the GM's were there to discuss.

The intent of the rule is to try and entice teams to forecheck more aggressively, because it does make for a more exciting product.

I'm sure it's been said before but the Devils don't have much to worry about.

Brodeur is the best goalie in the league & not being able to handle the puck won't affect him at all.

I'm sure it's been said before but the Devils don't have much to worry about.

Brodeur is the best goalie in the league & not being able to handle the puck won't affect him at all. It has and I agree with you. I'd take Brodeur with one bad eye, one bad leg, and one hurt hand over most of the goaltenders in the league today. I don't think the proposal will fly, but even if it did ,he would still win a boatload of games for the Devils even with said handicap.