swflyers25
7-08-05, 2:09 PM
As Ken Hitchcock preps for a season, questions linger about the roster and rule changes.
By Marc Narducci
Inquirer Staff Writer
He doesn't quite know what the makeup of his team will be, or the rules the game will be played under. But those uncertainties haven't stopped Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock from preparing for a hockey season.
The NHL denied a published report yesterday that it has reached a tentative agreement with the NHL Players' Association that would end the lockout that has been in effect since Sept. 16. But the sides are expected to come to an agreement soon.
Always meticulous in his preparation, Hitchcock isn't waiting for the fine points of the collective-bargaining agreement to be announced. He already is preparing for what will likely be a more wide-open game.
Hitchcock has been meeting regularly with assistant coaches Terry Murray and Wayne Fleming to formulate a strategy for the upcoming season, despite the uncertainty about the roster and the rules.
The salary cap will be a major factor in assembling the Flyers' roster. Reports have indicated that the salary cap will be in the $37 million range. The Inquirer has reported that the Flyers will have a payroll commitment of $33.5 million - assuming that there is a 24 percent rollback in salaries - with up to nine players still to sign.
"One of the problems we have, is we don't really know the makeup of our team and won't know for a while, which isn't a big issue for the coaching staff, from our standpoint," Hitchcock said yesterday. "Whatever management is able to do, we will work with."
The bigger problem, Hitchcock said, is formulating a strategy to deal with some of the expected rule changes, which are designed to add offense to the game. They include:
The red line will not be used to determine two-line passes.
In overtime, teams will play four-on-four, followed by three-on-three, and then a shoot-out.
There will be no ties; standings will show wins, losses, overtime losses and shoot-out losses.
Tag-up offside would enable players already inside the offensive zone before the puck crosses the blue line to peel back and touch the blue line to become onside.
No-touch icing. Defensive players need not touch the puck for an official to call icing.
Size of the goalie equipment will be drastically reduced.
"Our bigger issue is what are the playing rules," Hitchcock said. "There is talk of all kinds of stuff."
The Flyers staff is preparing for every possible scenario.
"Our major thing is to put a major system of play with and without the puck based on what the rules are," Hitchcock said.
Asked if he favored the expected changes, Hitchcock was noncommittal.
"For me, it's really not my focus," he said. "Whatever the rules are, they are. But I would like to know what they are as quickly as possible so we can spend time to put changes in place."
The coaching staff would need plenty of time to make adjustments.
"If some of the rules are in there, it would dramatically change the way a team plays, so you want to start formulating a system as quickly as possible," Hitchcock said.
NHL players and coaches usually are on vacation in July and early August. But the prospect of hockey returning has changed things this summer. Hitchcock is confident the labor dispute will be resolved soon, despite numerous false alarms during the length of the lockout.
"We feel there will be a deal and it is a little calmer than before, when you didn't really know," he said. "We are going to be playing hockey."
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
Inquirer (http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12079864.htm)
By Marc Narducci
Inquirer Staff Writer
He doesn't quite know what the makeup of his team will be, or the rules the game will be played under. But those uncertainties haven't stopped Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock from preparing for a hockey season.
The NHL denied a published report yesterday that it has reached a tentative agreement with the NHL Players' Association that would end the lockout that has been in effect since Sept. 16. But the sides are expected to come to an agreement soon.
Always meticulous in his preparation, Hitchcock isn't waiting for the fine points of the collective-bargaining agreement to be announced. He already is preparing for what will likely be a more wide-open game.
Hitchcock has been meeting regularly with assistant coaches Terry Murray and Wayne Fleming to formulate a strategy for the upcoming season, despite the uncertainty about the roster and the rules.
The salary cap will be a major factor in assembling the Flyers' roster. Reports have indicated that the salary cap will be in the $37 million range. The Inquirer has reported that the Flyers will have a payroll commitment of $33.5 million - assuming that there is a 24 percent rollback in salaries - with up to nine players still to sign.
"One of the problems we have, is we don't really know the makeup of our team and won't know for a while, which isn't a big issue for the coaching staff, from our standpoint," Hitchcock said yesterday. "Whatever management is able to do, we will work with."
The bigger problem, Hitchcock said, is formulating a strategy to deal with some of the expected rule changes, which are designed to add offense to the game. They include:
The red line will not be used to determine two-line passes.
In overtime, teams will play four-on-four, followed by three-on-three, and then a shoot-out.
There will be no ties; standings will show wins, losses, overtime losses and shoot-out losses.
Tag-up offside would enable players already inside the offensive zone before the puck crosses the blue line to peel back and touch the blue line to become onside.
No-touch icing. Defensive players need not touch the puck for an official to call icing.
Size of the goalie equipment will be drastically reduced.
"Our bigger issue is what are the playing rules," Hitchcock said. "There is talk of all kinds of stuff."
The Flyers staff is preparing for every possible scenario.
"Our major thing is to put a major system of play with and without the puck based on what the rules are," Hitchcock said.
Asked if he favored the expected changes, Hitchcock was noncommittal.
"For me, it's really not my focus," he said. "Whatever the rules are, they are. But I would like to know what they are as quickly as possible so we can spend time to put changes in place."
The coaching staff would need plenty of time to make adjustments.
"If some of the rules are in there, it would dramatically change the way a team plays, so you want to start formulating a system as quickly as possible," Hitchcock said.
NHL players and coaches usually are on vacation in July and early August. But the prospect of hockey returning has changed things this summer. Hitchcock is confident the labor dispute will be resolved soon, despite numerous false alarms during the length of the lockout.
"We feel there will be a deal and it is a little calmer than before, when you didn't really know," he said. "We are going to be playing hockey."
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
Inquirer (http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12079864.htm)