Madferret
6-08-05, 9:24 PM
NHL group to recommend changes
Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) - Now we'll see what becomes of it all. The three-day NHL research camp was full of interesting experiments on how to spark more offence, and now a select group of club executives will mull over the proceedings and recommend changes.
Use of shootouts during the regular season, reintroduction of tag-up offsides, stiffer obstruction rules and smaller equipment for goaltenders have the strongest chance of being implemented.
Some of the wilder tests, including bigger nets and pass lines allowing puck movement all over the ice without offsides calls, probably will be deemed in the end to be too radical to apply. But minds were opened to new possibilities, which was what the camp was intended for.
''The process now will be to evaluate all of this,'' said Bryan Murray, head coach of the Ottawa Senators. ''There's a variety of things that could be considered to put into our game to add a little spice and to get a new look when the (collective bargaining agreement) is resolved.''
It was the first comprehensive on-ice attempt towards altering the NHL product, and for that director of operations Colin Campbell and right-hand man Mike Murphy have to be congratulated.There's some things you can discard, and there's some things you can say, " Hey, let's take another look at this,'' said Murphy.
The operations department brought in a main group that included general managers Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens, Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers and Darcy Regier of the Buffalo Sabres to closely watch the experiments. All other teams were invited last month and about one-half of the league's GMs were in attendance. Others sent coaches or staff members. As many as nine U.S. teams were not represented.
''I don't think it was detrimental,'' Murphy said of the absentee rate. ''A lot of general managers are very busy at this time. ''This is the time of year you prepare your scouts for the draft and prepare your draft list and I'm sure a lot of them are going through that process. But a lot of them had people here. I can't believe what a good turnout we had.''
The main group will evaluate what was viewed during scrimmages put on by undrafted juniors and college players at an airport-district rink. ''We'll probably have a round table at some point to determine what everybody felt and sort out all the ideas,'' said Murphy. A report would be drafted. Many hope a new competitions committee with teeth will be formed to then study it and recommend changes to the board of governors.
Murray doesn't advocate radical change but isn't opposed to tweaking things. ''I don't know that a lot is necessary to fix our game,'' he said. ''We hear about the (neutral zone) trap and we hear about not enough goal scoring but we've got a terrific game. A session like this, though, looking at things that at one time or another we've all talked about, I believe will result in something more being added.''
While he's not a fan of the shootout, Murray concedes it's time might have arrived for the NHL. ''I personally have never seen anything wrong with a tied hockey game but it seems that there is a real push to settle games and that's obviously one way of creating excitement at the end of a game,'' said Murray. ''There is an element of excitement there for the fans. I think that will be very seriously considered.''
The smaller goalie equipment used this week - egads, one could actually see netting behind the trimmed-down pads and sweaters - is subject to debate with the NHL Players' Association. But Campbell is sure he'll get it through. '' The smaller goaltender equipment has really got a chance to happen,'' said Boston Bruins president Harry Sinden.
It's important that the three days doen't result in a pile of papers gathering dust on a shelf, said Regier, putting in his two cents for a strong competitions committee. ''I think it's critical that the rigth process is in place,'' said Regier. ''It has to be a collaborative effort including players, coaches, general managers, and people like Harry Sinden who have the historical perspective.
''Colie's challenge is going to be to put the right process in place to achieve the things we need to do to be effective custodians of the game.''
SOURCE (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=127367)
Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) - Now we'll see what becomes of it all. The three-day NHL research camp was full of interesting experiments on how to spark more offence, and now a select group of club executives will mull over the proceedings and recommend changes.
Use of shootouts during the regular season, reintroduction of tag-up offsides, stiffer obstruction rules and smaller equipment for goaltenders have the strongest chance of being implemented.
Some of the wilder tests, including bigger nets and pass lines allowing puck movement all over the ice without offsides calls, probably will be deemed in the end to be too radical to apply. But minds were opened to new possibilities, which was what the camp was intended for.
''The process now will be to evaluate all of this,'' said Bryan Murray, head coach of the Ottawa Senators. ''There's a variety of things that could be considered to put into our game to add a little spice and to get a new look when the (collective bargaining agreement) is resolved.''
It was the first comprehensive on-ice attempt towards altering the NHL product, and for that director of operations Colin Campbell and right-hand man Mike Murphy have to be congratulated.There's some things you can discard, and there's some things you can say, " Hey, let's take another look at this,'' said Murphy.
The operations department brought in a main group that included general managers Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens, Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers and Darcy Regier of the Buffalo Sabres to closely watch the experiments. All other teams were invited last month and about one-half of the league's GMs were in attendance. Others sent coaches or staff members. As many as nine U.S. teams were not represented.
''I don't think it was detrimental,'' Murphy said of the absentee rate. ''A lot of general managers are very busy at this time. ''This is the time of year you prepare your scouts for the draft and prepare your draft list and I'm sure a lot of them are going through that process. But a lot of them had people here. I can't believe what a good turnout we had.''
The main group will evaluate what was viewed during scrimmages put on by undrafted juniors and college players at an airport-district rink. ''We'll probably have a round table at some point to determine what everybody felt and sort out all the ideas,'' said Murphy. A report would be drafted. Many hope a new competitions committee with teeth will be formed to then study it and recommend changes to the board of governors.
Murray doesn't advocate radical change but isn't opposed to tweaking things. ''I don't know that a lot is necessary to fix our game,'' he said. ''We hear about the (neutral zone) trap and we hear about not enough goal scoring but we've got a terrific game. A session like this, though, looking at things that at one time or another we've all talked about, I believe will result in something more being added.''
While he's not a fan of the shootout, Murray concedes it's time might have arrived for the NHL. ''I personally have never seen anything wrong with a tied hockey game but it seems that there is a real push to settle games and that's obviously one way of creating excitement at the end of a game,'' said Murray. ''There is an element of excitement there for the fans. I think that will be very seriously considered.''
The smaller goalie equipment used this week - egads, one could actually see netting behind the trimmed-down pads and sweaters - is subject to debate with the NHL Players' Association. But Campbell is sure he'll get it through. '' The smaller goaltender equipment has really got a chance to happen,'' said Boston Bruins president Harry Sinden.
It's important that the three days doen't result in a pile of papers gathering dust on a shelf, said Regier, putting in his two cents for a strong competitions committee. ''I think it's critical that the rigth process is in place,'' said Regier. ''It has to be a collaborative effort including players, coaches, general managers, and people like Harry Sinden who have the historical perspective.
''Colie's challenge is going to be to put the right process in place to achieve the things we need to do to be effective custodians of the game.''
SOURCE (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=127367)