There are no excuses for players, coaches and general managers when it comes to the NHL's crackdown on obstruction in 2002-03.
In a meeting with all the League's coaches, GMs, and on-ice officials, the NHL outlined, detailed, emphasized and reiterated the point that obstruction and interference were going the way of helmet-less players.
And while the critics chortled that they had heard all this before, there is precedence for the League to point to. A crackdown on slashing instituted by Andy Van Hellemond, the NHL's director of officials, has been largely successful in recent seasons.
"We've simplified the standard," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "The do's and don'ts are much simpler to understand and easier for the officials to call." And thanks to continuing advances in technology, the on-ice officials will be in constant touch with the League over what should and should not be called. Each official carried a laptop computer with him and will receive e-mail with video downloads of plays.
"In all the other times where the standard has eroded, it's been a case of erosion," Bettman said. "We don't wake up one morning in November or December and say 'Well, that's it. We'll tell the officials to stop making those calls.'
"It doesn't work that way," Bettman said. "It happens over time, it's gradual, it's a function of the players and coaches pushing the limits. But at the end of the day, we believe that the way this standard has been articulated and is being implemented, we can hold it."
Having two referees working games now will be a big step in making it a reality. Also emphasizing the point to the coaches and general managers should help cement the notion. The coaches and GMs saw a video that illustrated what will be called this season. So they have no one but themselves to blame for not getting the point across to the players.
"It's going to happen," veteran referee Don Koharski told reporters. "And if it doesn't, I'm probably going to be looking for some new work at this time next year
"The last couple of hours we spent in there was something I haven't seen or heard in the 26 training camps I've been at," Koharski said. "I don't think we're going to get the support, I know we're going to get the support, from start to finish."
"They've done a real good job of simplifying exactly what it's going to be," Carolina Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice said.
The idea is to eliminate holding and interference, especially in the neutral zone where play has bogged down. By eliminating such tactics, speed will pick up, forechecking will be more dynamic and puck movement will be faster.
"The last couple of hours we spent in there was something I haven't seen or heard in the 26 training camps I've been at." -Don Koharski
"I think it'll do a lot for allowing teams to actually attack on the rush," Maurice surmised. "A puck-carrier may have two wingers skating with him instead of losing one at the far blue-line and one at the red-line."
Even a defensive-oriented coach like Ken Hitchcock of the Philadelphia Flyers immediately saw the possibilities.
"It doesn't allow the teams that are lazy away from the puck to benefit any more," Hitchcock said. "They are going to be penalized a lot with this standard of play. And that's what as coaches we're looking for. We want the reward to go to the team that works hardest offensively and defensively."
According to Bettman, it will become survival of the fittest. Get with the program and play, stick with the past and lose.
"If that means some teams win a little more games and some teams lose a little more games, then so be it," Bettman said.
"The steps that have been taken, including this meeting [Tuesday], put everybody on the same page," Bettman said. "We are very comfortable this will work and be a plus for the game and, most important, for our fans."
For skilled, skating teams, the crackdown on obstruction and interference is a boon. Now, the Edmonton Oilers will be able to use their fast ice at home to every possible advantage.
"I'm very much supportive of this because we've traditionally had a very good skating team," said Oilers GM Kevin Lowe. "I think this will certainly emphasize that."
And once again New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello has his team well positioned. The summertime deal with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks brought speedsters Jeff Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky to New Jersey, just in time to give the Devils a facelift that is in step with times.
The crackdown on obstruction should also go a long way in Ottawa, where the Senators have some of the slickest forwards around.
"It's going to help a skilled team," agreed Ottawa GM John Muckler. "This is beneficial to the game itself. It'll become a skating game again."
In a meeting with all the League's coaches, GMs, and on-ice officials, the NHL outlined, detailed, emphasized and reiterated the point that obstruction and interference were going the way of helmet-less players.
And while the critics chortled that they had heard all this before, there is precedence for the League to point to. A crackdown on slashing instituted by Andy Van Hellemond, the NHL's director of officials, has been largely successful in recent seasons.
"We've simplified the standard," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "The do's and don'ts are much simpler to understand and easier for the officials to call." And thanks to continuing advances in technology, the on-ice officials will be in constant touch with the League over what should and should not be called. Each official carried a laptop computer with him and will receive e-mail with video downloads of plays.
"In all the other times where the standard has eroded, it's been a case of erosion," Bettman said. "We don't wake up one morning in November or December and say 'Well, that's it. We'll tell the officials to stop making those calls.'
"It doesn't work that way," Bettman said. "It happens over time, it's gradual, it's a function of the players and coaches pushing the limits. But at the end of the day, we believe that the way this standard has been articulated and is being implemented, we can hold it."
Having two referees working games now will be a big step in making it a reality. Also emphasizing the point to the coaches and general managers should help cement the notion. The coaches and GMs saw a video that illustrated what will be called this season. So they have no one but themselves to blame for not getting the point across to the players.
"It's going to happen," veteran referee Don Koharski told reporters. "And if it doesn't, I'm probably going to be looking for some new work at this time next year
"The last couple of hours we spent in there was something I haven't seen or heard in the 26 training camps I've been at," Koharski said. "I don't think we're going to get the support, I know we're going to get the support, from start to finish."
"They've done a real good job of simplifying exactly what it's going to be," Carolina Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice said.
The idea is to eliminate holding and interference, especially in the neutral zone where play has bogged down. By eliminating such tactics, speed will pick up, forechecking will be more dynamic and puck movement will be faster.
"The last couple of hours we spent in there was something I haven't seen or heard in the 26 training camps I've been at." -Don Koharski
"I think it'll do a lot for allowing teams to actually attack on the rush," Maurice surmised. "A puck-carrier may have two wingers skating with him instead of losing one at the far blue-line and one at the red-line."
Even a defensive-oriented coach like Ken Hitchcock of the Philadelphia Flyers immediately saw the possibilities.
"It doesn't allow the teams that are lazy away from the puck to benefit any more," Hitchcock said. "They are going to be penalized a lot with this standard of play. And that's what as coaches we're looking for. We want the reward to go to the team that works hardest offensively and defensively."
According to Bettman, it will become survival of the fittest. Get with the program and play, stick with the past and lose.
"If that means some teams win a little more games and some teams lose a little more games, then so be it," Bettman said.
"The steps that have been taken, including this meeting [Tuesday], put everybody on the same page," Bettman said. "We are very comfortable this will work and be a plus for the game and, most important, for our fans."
For skilled, skating teams, the crackdown on obstruction and interference is a boon. Now, the Edmonton Oilers will be able to use their fast ice at home to every possible advantage.
"I'm very much supportive of this because we've traditionally had a very good skating team," said Oilers GM Kevin Lowe. "I think this will certainly emphasize that."
And once again New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello has his team well positioned. The summertime deal with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks brought speedsters Jeff Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky to New Jersey, just in time to give the Devils a facelift that is in step with times.
The crackdown on obstruction should also go a long way in Ottawa, where the Senators have some of the slickest forwards around.
"It's going to help a skilled team," agreed Ottawa GM John Muckler. "This is beneficial to the game itself. It'll become a skating game again."
