Scott's Soapbox

Monday, November 21, 2005

The New NHL

Quick Hits:

New Rules-

No 2-line pass
Good (More breakaways)
Tag-Up Offsides
Never Notice (But good as players get used to it)
Smaller goalie equipment
Good (Looks normal again)
Goalies restricted where they can lay the puck
Dumb (Why penalize those who have the skill to do it?)
Shootout
Mixed (It's not hockey, but the fans love it)
Interference Penalty Crackdown
Mixed (Very inconsistent, but the players WILL adjust!)

Around the League-

Columbus- so, so bad. No heart, no courage, no effort, no talent. What a job Doug Maclean has done here as GM. Not only are they bad now, but the future is not even bright. At some point last year, they should have just surrendered and let the kids play. As it stands, they have nothing. There are maybe 4,5 guys on the roster with true NHL talent, and the rest do not seem to want to work hard. They lost 2 games (both at home) back to back against Detroit by a combined score of 12-2. The response? An off-ice workout session at the crack of dawn - 10:30 in the morning! That's it? That's the punishment? Not exactly old-time hockey. Awful.

Anaheim - Nice to see Teemu Selanne among the league leaders again- couldn't happen to a nicer guy- ask any kid he's ever visited in the hospital. Scott Niedermayer makes more small brilliant plays that the casual fan wouldn't notice than anyone besides Nicky Lidstrom.

Ottawa - They look like world-beaters right now, but their playoff hopes are only as strong as Dominik Hasek's 40-year old body. If he is healthy, both they and Philadelphia are better than anything coming out of the West.

The Rookies -
Sidney Crosby's vision is just amazing. Like no one since Gretzky. He lit up the junior ranks and could have done more with teammates who can see the game as well as he does. I remember watching him last year in the World Juniors and just being amazed.

Alexander Ovechkin might be the most exciting player in the league. Not someday, but right now! My hometown Caps may not have much to see this season, but this kid alone is worth buying a ticket. Him flying in on a breakaway wearing number 8 reminds me of nobody more than of the aforementioned Teemu Selanne. Same fake wrist shot with shoulder shake move- then to the backhand or high glove. It's uncanny when you watch them. Selanne scored 76 his first year, Ovechkin will top 50 with a much worst supporting cast and win rookie of the year thanks to his amazing highlight-reel goals.

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