I really like the potential proposed rule that a team going offside can't make a line change. It's always seemed like a very minor drawback to me. You're 50% less likely to have possession, but you don't lose territory. And how many times are these offsides the result of scrub players making stupid decisions? This will force them to stay out there and deal with the consequences. The icing version of this rule has worked out well, why not build on it.
I've been thinking for a while now that I'm actually not a big fan of the icing rule. I like that faceoffs are an important and often deciding facet of the game but I want best on best out there. If a team has a couple of badass faceoff guys that they are so confident in that they feel they can ice the puck and win the ensuing draw in their zone, I'm all for it. I keep thinking back to that playoff series against Colorado in 03-04 where the Avs kept icing the puck against the Stars and we couldn't win a faceoff. It seemed like Andrei Nikolishin and Sakic just owned the Stars in the circle.
I can see the argument that the current rule discourages icing to a greater degree thus allowing a more fluid game but I could really care less about that. I'm interested in matchups of best-on-best moreso than I am on keeping things rolling. To that end, I don't really see the benefit to a rule like the one you mentioned about offsides. If anything I could see that leading to sloppier flow because half of the time guys go offsides because they are mentally and/or physically fatigued. I want as many players at their best on the ice at any given time as possible; human thoroughbreds at their finest.
I've been thinking for a while now that I'm actually not a big fan of the icing rule. I like that faceoffs are an important and often deciding facet of the game but I want best on best out there. If a team has a couple of badass faceoff guys that they are so confident in that they feel they can ice the puck and win the ensuing draw in their zone, I'm all for it. I keep thinking back to that playoff series against Colorado in 03-04 where the Avs kept icing the puck against the Stars and we couldn't win a faceoff. It seemed like Andrei Nikolishin and Sakic just owned the Stars in the circle.
I can see the argument that the current rule discourages icing to a greater degree thus allowing a more fluid game but I could really care less about that. I'm interested in matchups of best-on-best moreso than I am on keeping things rolling. To that end, I don't really see the benefit to a rule like the one you mentioned about offsides. If anything I could see that leading to sloppier flow because half of the time guys go offsides because they are mentally and/or physically fatigued. I want as many players at their best on the ice at any given time as possible; human thoroughbreds at their finest.
it would also sort of punish teams for trying to be offensively aggressive
I can see the argument that the current rule discourages icing to a greater degree thus allowing a more fluid game but I could really care less about that. I'm interested in matchups of best-on-best moreso than I am on keeping things rolling. To that end, I don't really see the benefit to a rule like the one you mentioned about offsides. If anything I could see that leading to sloppier flow because half of the time guys go offsides because they are mentally and/or physically fatigued. I want as many players at their best on the ice at any given time as possible; human thoroughbreds at their finest.
I'm interested in mismatches. Mismatches of talent, mismatches of energy. Those are what lead to offense, which is what I want to see.
I'm interested in mismatches. Mismatches of talent, mismatches of energy. Those are what lead to offense, which is what I want to see.
Fair enough. As a sports fan I'd just prefer to see a Josh Hamilton/Justin Verlander matchup rather than the any of the Rangers 3-6 hitters and say, Phil Coke. You're right though, those mismatches do lead to offense.
Tbh, I wouldn't give up 4 1sts and 7-8mil cap space for Doughty. He's had one good year and one meh year. I'm not sold on him yet, he could end up Phaneuf 2.0.
What do you guys make of the Langkow/Stempniak trade? Phoenix definitely needed a center, but it seems like they may have been better off trying to keep Belanger and Stempniak rather than trading for an aging, recuperating center.
I have a hard time seeing Phoenix being in the playoff hunt this year.
It's not at all a gamble for Calgary as far as I can see. If Stempniak doesn't pan out they're one step closer to sucking their way to the bottom, if he does maybe they'll be a borderline playoff team if they catch fire like they did last season. Maybe they can even flip him for a pick at the deadline if things don't go well for him.
The dark blue ones are nice. The whites are painfully bad. More of the perpendicular lines crossing over each other that Reebok seems to love. It looks like a soccer captain's armband that has come loose and slipped down to their forearms.
