Looks like the NHL lockout is finally over

[CanadianChris 0]

I have a question, since I am not familiar with the NHL's minor league system.  Is there a possibility that Crosby could log some time with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre?

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It's possible, but the normal route for underage draftees is for them to be sent back to their junior team. In the unlikely event that Crosby doesn't make the Penguins, he would probably go back for a final season with the Rimouski Rampartes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

[Red Baron 0]

LeClair and Amonte?

 

Quick someone call Detroit or Toronto...wait salary cap.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I hate shootouts. They've never appealed to me, and they're such a cheap way to win a game.

 

I've never had a problem with ties and I've never felt letdown by a game ending in a tie. Two of the best games I've seen live were ties.

 

I hate that the NHL is doing all these rule changes to increase scoring. I love hockey the way it was pre-lockout. I like the low scoring defensive games. High scoring games don't do anything for me.

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Sorry, Bob, you lose this one, FUCKING EVERYBODY to 1.

[Guest Ether]

I hate shootouts. They've never appealed to me, and they're such a cheap way to win a game.

 

I've never had a problem with ties and I've never felt letdown by a game ending in a tie. Two of the best games I've seen live were ties.

 

I hate that the NHL is doing all these rule changes to increase scoring. I love hockey the way it was pre-lockout. I like the low scoring defensive games. High scoring games don't do anything for me.

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Sorry, Bob, you lose this one, FUCKING EVERYBODY to 1.

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Agreed.

 

I see your point regarding sloppy 7-6 games, but the problem was too many games were of the 1-0, 2-1 variety that were just clutch-and-grab trapfestswith goalies using oversized equipment. Games that you knew were over if someone took a 2-goal lead. A 2-1 can be great if great goaltending is the cause. Problem was, most 2-1 games nowadays are not of that variety. And, for a sport that needs some mainstream attention, 7-6 games will appeal to mainstream fans far more than the 1-0 soccer scores.

 

Look at the most sucessful league, the NFL. It's rules changes are almost always to increase offense. Why? Because that's what the majority of people want to see.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Soon they'd change it so that there isn't a defense on the football field.

[Fartsauce 0]

I hate shootouts as well but a majority of the people in hockey want to see it happen so if it's good for the league and its what people want, do it. I'll tough it out.

[the max 0]

Hockey's back, and they have to do whatever they have to in order to get casual fans back. I'll deal with shootouts.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Shootouts are better than ties. Its not replacing OverTime or anything, so no biggie.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Shootouts are better than ties. Its not replacing OverTime or anything, so no biggie.

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Yep.

 

I'm just happy that it takes a little getting to, not just an outright "ok, we're tied after 60, let's go to a shoot-out."

 

Anyone else know if this will effect Pro-Line?

 

I can live with the shootouts in the regular season, but thank God it's still overtime in the playoffs.

[bob_barron 0]

Sorry, Bob, you lose this one, FUCKING EVERYBODY to 1.

'

 

Winning on a shootout is such a cheap way to win a game. Plus, penalty shots don't usually go in from what I've seen.

 

I know I'm in the minority, but I hate watching shootouts in soccer and don't want to see them in the NHL.

 

I see your point regarding sloppy 7-6 games, but the problem was too many games were of the 1-0, 2-1 variety that were just clutch-and-grab trapfestswith goalies using oversized equipment. Games that you knew were over if someone took a 2-goal lead. A 2-1 can be great if great goaltending is the cause. Problem was, most 2-1 games nowadays are not of that variety. And, for a sport that needs some mainstream attention, 7-6 games will appeal to mainstream fans far more than the 1-0 soccer scores.

 

I never minded those games. In the NFL I like high scoring games, but in baseball and hockey I love games where there's little scoring and each goal really means something.

 

I was always a fan of the neutral trap and I enjoyed defensive struggles and I don't like that the NHL is changing this to try to appeal to people who probably will end up never watching hockey.

 

Shootouts are better than ties. Its not replacing OverTime or anything, so no biggie.

 

I disagree. A shootout is a cheap way to end the game, while a tie means that it was a close game throughout, just no one could get the advantage.

 

Like I said, I know I'm in the minority here but the fact that they're eliminating ties really pisses me off and is hurting my excitement for the season.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Simplifying the standings is a good idea. I couldn't stand the four columns, and I know they confused the shit out of casual fans. I'm glad shootouts are here just for that.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Well considering that the regular season doesn't matter for too much I can endure the shootouts also. I only really care about OT anyway when it's in the playoffs due to the big emotion that comes from seeing teams try to scurry around for that last goal.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Soon they'd change it so that there isn't a defense on the football field.

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Now we're talking! I mean, the offensive line and the defensive line just cancel each other out anyways!

[The Czech Republic 0]

I never minded those games. In the NFL I like high scoring games, but in baseball and hockey I love games where there's little scoring and each goal really means something.

Hey, I love a good duel in baseball too, provided it is the result of two excellent pitchers shutting down their opponents' lineups, not just shitty hitting. Likewise, a low-scoring game is only exciting to me when it there are scoring opportunities that are denied by excellent goaltenders. All too often, low-scoring games in hockey are not full of heart-stopping saves, it's just 57 minutes of fucking around on the ice and then something happens because the laws of probability demand that something HAS to sooner or later.

 

I was always a fan of the neutral trap and I enjoyed defensive struggles and I don't like that the NHL is changing this to try to appeal to people who probably will end up never watching hockey.

NO. They want to get the old fans back that left when they couldn't enjoy the game any longer.

 

A shootout is a cheap way to end the game

The neutral zone trap is a cheap way to win the game.

 

As for shootouts in the postseason, I don't think anybody ever wanted that. Sudden death cannot be replaced. Ties can go, however.

[the max 0]

Personally, I agree with Bob in that I like ties and defensive hockey.

 

HOWEVER, they have to think about the health of the sport and bringing back fans who felt alienated and stabbed in the back. Shoot-outs, rule changes and more offense don't guarantee this happening, but they at least give the NHL a better shot of getting more fans back than returning the same crappy product that they had before.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I'll tell you what isn't gonna get fans back: that weird-ass silver shield with the letters going the wrong way.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Personally, I agree with Bob in that I like ties and defensive hockey.

 

HOWEVER, they have to think about the health of the sport and bringing back fans who felt alienated and stabbed in the back. Shoot-outs, rule changes and more offense don't guarantee this happening, but they at least give the NHL a better shot of getting more fans back than returning the same crappy product that they had before.

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I've been very vocal about hating the idea of a shootout so I'll skip rehashign what I've said repeatedly in the past ... but I don't think that they're adding the shootout to win back old fans ... they're adding it to win over new fans, who really weren't hockey fans in the first place.

[the max 0]

Maybe not the die-hards, who will come back eventually, but the casual fan. You know the one that asks you what icing is, what a slash is, why they just stopped playing, etc. Casual fans like high-scoring games.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Here's why more scoring doesn't necessarily make for more exciting hockey.

 

Let's say you're watching a game with two teams you're indifferent to.

 

Team A gets a two on one rush.

 

Forward A passes it past Defenceman B to Forward B.

 

Goalie B either:

 

1) Lets in the one timer goal.

2) Stacks the pads to rob forward B.

 

Scoring chances are more exciting than goals. Thus, two line passes, tag up offsides and what have you are not bad. Bigger nets are no good.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Yeah, but the neutral zone trap doesn't even allow for exciting chances. Nothing happens.

[Red Baron 0]

Whats the point in having OT in the first place then if we are going to shoot-outs.

 

And why does Bettman still have a job? Brett Hull could run the league better than Bettman could.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Bettman has a job because he not only saved the owners millions of dollars by skipping a season, he followed that up with absolutely DESTROYING the Goodenow and the PA, getting the owners pretty much everything that they wanted.

 

Even though pretty much every hockey fan hates him, the owners love him, and they're the ones that choose if he stays or goes.