HabWest calling & the "New Look" NHL
Aug 8, 2005 21:16:11 GMT -5
Post by habsask on Aug 8, 2005 21:16:11 GMT -5
Hi all. I used to be here as HabWest but couldn't re-register using the same name so here I am as HabSask...one of the main reasons that I used the main forum for this post so's everybody would know I was back in case some of the old timers wanted to take pot shots again. 
Moderators please feel free to move this if warranted.
Anywhooo.... I just wondered what everybody thought about Bertuzzi getting reinstated in the NHL after getting, what, a 13 game suspension?
My own opinion is based on the following. To revive my almost extinguished interest in the NHL I felt that the League had to make big changes and set 4 criteria:
1) some kind of revenue system that would allow any team to be playoff and Cup competitive;
2) a serious effort to bring back the game to the point where talent and not tackling decided games, ie excitement;
3) a serious effort to increase the safety of players and deal with unnecessary violence in the game.
WRT #1, I am somewhat optimistic although the proof will be in the eating of the pudding, ie we won't know for several years how this CBA works out.
WRT #2, I am pretty skeptical because of past history. Maybe the rules changes will mae a big difference but again I want to wait and see.
And maybe the Competition Committee will have a real effect on ensuring that the rules are actually called as written, including in the playoffs. The inclusion of 4 GMs from young teams built on talent and speed (I think on the latter but I might be wrong here) might just be enough to make this hapopen. On the other hand the geezer player reps might want to protect there own kind and ally themselves with Snyder to ensure it's the same old story in the calling of the rules, ie they're not called.
WRT #3, I am already disappointed and believe that the NHL and NHLPA have missed a golden opportunity to set a new standard:
a) changes could have been made in the rules for example to try and cut down on head injuries
- make the head out of bounds in any checking? Or knees?
- how about mandatory visors?
- better helmets? I seem to recollect seeing something on university testing that concluded that the existing helmet designs were fairly useless and could stand much improvement.
- change pads from the plastic armor now worn which apparently causes many injuries to softer pads which still provide prtection.
The NHLPA could have taken a stand on player safety. It hasn't.
b) Bettman could have used the Bertuzzi ruling to send a powerful message that unecessary violence would simply not be tolerated in the NHL as the AHL has done.
In other words suspend him for, say, the full 2005/2006 season based on the Perezhogin precedent. He didn't.
Again the NHLPA could have taken a stand but didn't.
The NHL owners refused to completely change the icing rules, apparently prefering to risk further serious injuries to players (or am I misunderstanding the change that was made to icing?) also sending a message that they really have wised up about protecting their costly assests if nothing else. They didn't.
So....conclusion. Is this going to be a "New Look" NHL as Bettman claims or the same old same old?
Right now I'm still pretty negative
- I think both the League and NHLPA have failed completely on the safety and violence issues.
- the new CBA looks good now but I'm still waiting to see how it works.
- will we have hockey or tackle? I really don't know and remain to be convinced that anything will really change.
So I would really be interested in reading other folks views on the topic if this already hasn't been hashed to death. If so sorry but I haven't been here for a year so am out of touch.
Sooo....I'm taking in the NFL and the NBA (already working on refamiliarizing myself with the Celtics) and will check back on the NHL in February. If it really is "New" great!
If it's the same old, will follow with March Madness and the NBA playoffs by which time the NHL playoffs will be done.
Cheers.
Moderators please feel free to move this if warranted.
Anywhooo.... I just wondered what everybody thought about Bertuzzi getting reinstated in the NHL after getting, what, a 13 game suspension?
My own opinion is based on the following. To revive my almost extinguished interest in the NHL I felt that the League had to make big changes and set 4 criteria:
1) some kind of revenue system that would allow any team to be playoff and Cup competitive;
2) a serious effort to bring back the game to the point where talent and not tackling decided games, ie excitement;
3) a serious effort to increase the safety of players and deal with unnecessary violence in the game.
WRT #1, I am somewhat optimistic although the proof will be in the eating of the pudding, ie we won't know for several years how this CBA works out.
WRT #2, I am pretty skeptical because of past history. Maybe the rules changes will mae a big difference but again I want to wait and see.
And maybe the Competition Committee will have a real effect on ensuring that the rules are actually called as written, including in the playoffs. The inclusion of 4 GMs from young teams built on talent and speed (I think on the latter but I might be wrong here) might just be enough to make this hapopen. On the other hand the geezer player reps might want to protect there own kind and ally themselves with Snyder to ensure it's the same old story in the calling of the rules, ie they're not called.
WRT #3, I am already disappointed and believe that the NHL and NHLPA have missed a golden opportunity to set a new standard:
a) changes could have been made in the rules for example to try and cut down on head injuries
- make the head out of bounds in any checking? Or knees?
- how about mandatory visors?
- better helmets? I seem to recollect seeing something on university testing that concluded that the existing helmet designs were fairly useless and could stand much improvement.
- change pads from the plastic armor now worn which apparently causes many injuries to softer pads which still provide prtection.
The NHLPA could have taken a stand on player safety. It hasn't.
b) Bettman could have used the Bertuzzi ruling to send a powerful message that unecessary violence would simply not be tolerated in the NHL as the AHL has done.
In other words suspend him for, say, the full 2005/2006 season based on the Perezhogin precedent. He didn't.
Again the NHLPA could have taken a stand but didn't.
The NHL owners refused to completely change the icing rules, apparently prefering to risk further serious injuries to players (or am I misunderstanding the change that was made to icing?) also sending a message that they really have wised up about protecting their costly assests if nothing else. They didn't.
So....conclusion. Is this going to be a "New Look" NHL as Bettman claims or the same old same old?
Right now I'm still pretty negative
- I think both the League and NHLPA have failed completely on the safety and violence issues.
- the new CBA looks good now but I'm still waiting to see how it works.
- will we have hockey or tackle? I really don't know and remain to be convinced that anything will really change.
So I would really be interested in reading other folks views on the topic if this already hasn't been hashed to death. If so sorry but I haven't been here for a year so am out of touch.
Sooo....I'm taking in the NFL and the NBA (already working on refamiliarizing myself with the Celtics) and will check back on the NHL in February. If it really is "New" great!
If it's the same old, will follow with March Madness and the NBA playoffs by which time the NHL playoffs will be done.
Cheers.
