Nhl 9/08

[TexasBC6]

It's official: Refs will crack down ... again
09/08/2002

By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News

Uh, wolf.

No, really, wolf, already.

Look, there's a huge wolf behind you. ... Oh, wait, it's just the NHL announcing another crackdown on obstruction.

At least that's the way players feel as the league has announced it will have a summit meeting Tuesday between GMs, coaches and officials to spell out exactly how they would like to take hooking and holding out of the game. It's the first time coaches are being invited to participate in a meeting on obstruction, and everyone involved seems to believe the league is serious this time.

"It's been an ongoing venture, but I do believe it is something everyone wants to eliminate," Stars GM Doug Armstrong said. "This is going to be a group effort to get interference out of the game."

The problem is that the NHL seemingly delivered that message in 1995 and again in 1996 and in 1997 and ... Seriously, players and fans have been beaten over the head with this for years. Officials promise a crackdown every year; they call games tightly and then they let things slip as the season goes on. By the time the playoffs start, it's Greco-Roman hockey all over again.

What the league is hoping is that some progress has been made by the previous attempts to eliminate interference and obstruction, that players understand the process at least a little and that they will more quickly adapt to games that are called more closely. But like the boy who cried wolf, they have set a precedent that has to be overcome. Come December, players are going to try to push the system and start cheating. Defensemen will start to hold up forecheckers, backchecking forwards will start to put their sticks on forwards in the defensive zone after a turnover.

And at that time, the NHL will have to show its resolve and continue to call penalties. If it wants us to believe it's serious, the league will have to put its foot down ? and keep it down ? this season.

Hatcher deal might be complicated

Don't expect the Stars to offer captain Derian Hatcher a long-term contract extension until after Christmas. Hatcher is truly special in what he does, but there are a lot of concerns about just how important that is in building a great team.

It's similar to the Ivan Rodriguez situation with the Rangers in that while Rodriguez might be the best catcher in the game, is it worth it to pay a catcher that much money when it might restrict you from going after good pitching? Hatcher might be among the best defensive defensemen in the game, but the Stars have to ask themselves if it's worth it to pay a defensive defenseman that much.

What's more, Hatcher still has to see if he can succeed in coach Dave Tippett's new system. Hatcher probably will be paired with Sergei Zubov to start the season, an interesting experiment.

That said, Hatcher will have plenty of suitors if he does choose to become an unrestricted free agent.

Briefly ...

Special teams could be more important than ever this season. In addition to the crackdown on obstruction (which will lead to a parade to the penalty box), the league has toughened rules against complaining about penalties. If a player gets too vocal after a call, a referee can call a second penalty on the player and hand out a 5-on-3 advantage.

The Canadiens will practice in Vail, Colo., this year at the Stars' old stomping ground. There's the possibility of a scrimmage between the two camps, where the Stars can get a look at recently signed goalie and Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore.

 

[the mugs]

Bruin notes 9/8/02

Bruin notes 9/8/02

PRO HOCKEY NOTES

Bruins have issues but Sinden has faith

The Bruins open training camp Thursday and there are three primary issues facing them:

1) Who is going to win the starting goaltender job?

2) Who is going to make up for the 41 goals scored by departed right wing Bill Guerin?

3) Is the defense going to provide some offense this year, as opposed to last season, when the blue line corps contributed very few points?

Bruins president Harry Sinden said that even though Guerin and Byron Dafoe are gone, he thinks his roster is pretty solid. Between the pipes, John Grahame and Steve Shields are expected to battle it out for the top spot. Andrew Raycroft has an outside shot but will likely start the year in Providence.

''I suppose my curiosity is mostly in goal,'' said Sinden. ''I say my curiosity because although I've seen Shields play, I haven't paid that much attention to him over the years. I haven't had that much opportunity to really focus on him. And, of course, John has been very outstanding for us at times and not so outstanding at others. I'm curious to see how that plays out. I know they're pretty high on the year Raycroft had.''

Grahame changed his offseason routine dramatically, adding martial arts training to improve his hand-eye coordination, balance, and reaction time. How that translates to the ice is a question that has piqued the interest of everyone in the organization.

''At least it's an approach that John has taken that you have to give him credit for,'' said Sinden. ''It's better than doing nothing and just hoping it works.''

When the Bruins brass met with Grahame in Toronto during draft weekend, they asked for a commitment that he was serious about competing for the No. 1 job. They came away believing he would settle for nothing less.

''I think he realizes it's there for the taking if he can do it,'' said Sinden. ''I wouldn't be surprised if, like a lot of young goalies in that position, he felt in the past that even if he did well, he was still going to play behind Byron. That probably doesn't exist anymore in his mind. He can out-and-out win it. He's never been in that position before, at least with the Bruins.''

With regard to missing Guerin's production, Sinden doesn't expect someone to step up and get all 41 goals by himself, although it could happen. Rather, the plan is for several forwards to contribute.

''I don't think we're going to have much of a change up front,'' Sinden said. ''I think we'll be fine there. We're going to miss Billy's 41 goals. But that's really what we have to make up, the goals. The rest of what he brings [toughness, leadership], we can make up. I'm certain of that.''

One focal point of the attack will be right wing Glen Murray, who played behind Guerin last season and didn't log nearly the same power-play ice time but still racked up the same number of goals. There is no reason to believe that Murray, as the No. 1 right wing this season, can't repeat his success.

Another key will be center Joe Thornton. As good as he's been, he can do better than the 68 points he collected in 66 games last year. Another forward who is expected to rack up much better numbers is right wing Martin Lapointe (17 goals, 40 points). Left wing Sergei Samsonov, who scored 29 goals each of the past two seasons, should almost certainly crack the 30-goal plateau. Newcomer Michal Grosek has a lot to prove and adds not only touch but size and grit. The front office is high on what prospect Martin Samuelsson, a right wing, can bring, too.

''That Billy's gone is a concern - we were better with him than without him - but we don't have him,'' said Sinden. ''Joe missed quite a few games last year. I think Lapointe will score better. He'll be playing more on the power play, too. Samsonov just looks terrific at this point. He's bigger and really fit. If [coach Robbie Ftorek] has trouble with any players, he just puts them on a line with Samsonov to straighten them out.''

As for getting more offense from the defensemen, Sinden said, ''We might, because we didn't get anything there. It's not a huge concern at the moment of the coaching staff or [general manager Mike O'Connell].''

There is still no resolution to the Kyle McLaren situation. The defenseman has said he wants to be traded, but the Bruins are no closer to dealing him. Sinden is hopeful the fence can be mended.

''I'd certainly like to have Kyle back in the fold, there's no doubt,'' said Sinden. ''Then I'd feel very comfortable if either Jonathan Girard or Shaone Morrisonn makes the team. Mike is not going to do anything without getting equal value. It's very tough, especially at this point in time. He might do it after the season is a month or so when teams might be seeing, `We have an excess forward here but we need a defenseman.' Or something like that. I hope it resolves itself. I feel OK without him but I'd feel better with him.''

All in all, Sinden said his expectations for 2002-03 are substantial.

''Other than being curious about the goaltending,'' he said, ''I feel OK.''

 

[the mugs]

NHL Notes 9/8/02

NHL Notes 9/8/02

PANTHERS:

Jay is OK

It's early, but it certainly appears that defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, taken by Florida with the No. 3 overall pick in the June draft, has all the tools to make the jump to the NHL from junior hockey. Bouwmeester attended a rookie camp earlier in the summer, then went to the world junior camp before participating in a three-on-three school in Edmonton run by Senators assistant coach Perry Pearn. He made a very favorable impression. ''I had Chris Pronger at the World Junior Championships, and when I look at the way Bouwmeester skates, I would say he's ahead of where Pronger was when he was the same age,'' said Pearn. ''Jay can really move his feet. We had a lot of people in the camp this year and we always give the guys who have been there before a spot in the main room. Since Jay was a rookie, we had to put him in another room with three or four other guys. Over the course of the camp, guys leave and we had a spot open up in the big room. I asked Jay if he wanted to move into that spot and he said he was quite happy where he was. That says a lot about his character. He didn't think he was anything special and didn't want to be treated that way.'' ...

COYOTES (AHL)

Former Bruin Marty McSorley, whose NHL career ended in disturbing fashion when he struck Canucks forward Donald Brashear in the head with a stick, has been given a fresh start. McSorley will be coaching the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the Coyotes' top affiliate. Phoenix GM Mike Barnett believes McSorley has a lot to offer young prospects and calls the Brashear incident ''one blemish in a stellar career. I prefer to think about all the contributions he made later in his career. As a veteran, he made the young players understand the preparation and commitment that were required to make themselves better. He might be one of the best examples over the last couple of decades of a player who willed himself into the NHL. He was a player who was never drafted, who through effort and commitment made himself an [NHL] player.'' ...

BLUES:

Two of the Blues' most important talents continue to mend from offseason surgery. Pronger, who had operations on his left wrist and right knee, has to be patient and conservative with regard to the wrist problem that affected him for more than a year. ''I'd better be [100 percent] when I return,'' said Pronger. ''If I don't come back 100 percent, then why did I put myself through hell this summer? All this is to make sure I come back in the best possible way.'' Center Doug Weight is also making big strides after abdominal surgery. Weight worked out this summer with Phoenix-based trainer Charles Poliquin, who said Weight will be a much better player now that he's pain-free. ''People should expect a Doug Weight who's stronger, sturdier,'' said Poliquin. ''He was always in good shape but now he's strengthening the right stuff.''

RED WINGS
Finished product

Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman had his celebration with the Stanley Cup last week at his home in suburban Buffalo. Only minutes after his club closed out the Carolina Hurricanes in the finals, Bowman announced his retirement. He has his name on the Cup 10 times, nine as a coach. ''I was prepared for this,'' said Bowman of his decision to step down. ''I didn't know if I would be able to know when to leave. It made it special this year, winning.'' ...

PENGUINS:

Penguins star player/owner Mario Lemieux has been skating regularly and hard for a couple of weeks and reportedly is looking terrific. ''I don't know how to put into words how happy we are with everything,'' said personal trainer Jay Caufield. ''To see him getting stronger and stronger every day is just so encouraging. And to see how hungry he is. You can tell he's hungry for more, no matter how much we've already done. Our job is to make sure we're careful and don't push it.'' ...

FLYERS:

Speaking of big-name players who are hoping for a resurgent season, Flyers wing John LeClair seems to have finally reached an end to his back woes - for now, anyway. LeClair, who had surgery July 9 for a herniated disk, played all 82 games last season but was not even close to the form that led him to average 47 goals a year for five years prior to his initial back injury, which limited him to 16 games in 2000-01. LeClair is excited, and his agent, Lewis Gross, predicts he will be the LeClair of old. ''Johnny is going to have a monster season,'' said Gross. ''He feels that way and so do I.'' ...

SABRES:

It was a very long offseason for the clubs that didn't make it to the playoffs, and none was longer than the one the Sabres endured. It was the first time that Lindy Ruff missed the playoffs in his five years as coach of the team. He then watched as his former goalie, Dominik Hasek, led the Red Wings to the championship. Then he saw former owner John Rigas and two sons arrested for a host of financial misdeeds that ran Adelphia Communications into the ground. When the new ownership takes over, Ruff said, he doesn't know what will happen with regard to his job. But he doesn't want his players to be distracted by the uncertainty. ''These players are professionals and they get paid to play hockey and win games,'' said Ruff. ''From a player standpoint, it will be a pretty tough excuse to use. Once the new owners come in, they're going to do whatever they want to do, trade X number of players or take the head coach out of the scenario. That's something I can't control. None of us can control that.'' ...

Thirty-three days to opening night.

 

[wigs]

hmmm...

September 10, 2002


TORONTO (AP)--
Commissioner Gary Bettman met with league general managers, coaches and on-ice officials for three hours at a Toronto airport hotel Tuesday to discuss rules changes for the upcoming season.

`What we were trying to get straight today is, here's how officials are going to be calling it, not necessarily do we agree with the interpretation, but we all know what will be called,'' Toronto Maple Leafs coach and GM Pat Quinn said.

The latest interpretation is expected to cut down on clutching and grabbing in the neutral zone and eliminate players from picking off forwards trying to get at the puck in the offensive zone. Basically, if a player doesn't have the puck, his progress can't be impeded.

The result should be more turnovers in the offensive zone from defensemen who feel the heat from incoming forecheckers and thus more offensive chances -- and more goals.

``I think it'll do a lot for allowing teams to actually attack on the rush,'' Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said. ``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.''

Previous league attempts -- in 1995 and '98 -- to crack down on the clutch-and-grab tactics that a number of teams have adopted didn't stick. But coaches and officials seemed to be more receptive to making the change this time around.

One reason is the clarification of the rule. In 1995, there were 51 examples of what consisted of obstruction and interference -- too much for referees to handle. The league has also since gone to two on-ice referees.

``We've simplified the standard,'' Bettman said. ``The do's and dont's are much simpler to understand and easier for the officials to call.''

Referees will be made accountable by the league, led by vice president Colin Campbell and director of officiating Andy van Hellemond. Officials will carry laptops on the road, and the league will e-mail them video downloads of calls they should have made.

This was the first time referees, head coaches and GMs were all in the same room watching the same video explaining what was going to be called and why.

``They've done a real good job of simplifying exactly what it's going to be,'' Maurice said.

New Philadelphia coach Ken Hitchcock said the elimination of obstruction will allow coaches to take a few more risks offensively because players jumping in the rush won't be impeded from coming back defensively.

``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.''

One negative is that the rule could prompt more penalties as players adjust, slowing games a bit. But most who attended the meeting were in favor of the rule change.

``It's going to help a skilled team,'' Senators GM John Muckler said. ``This is beneficial to the game itself. It'll become a skating game again.''

Another adopted change -- the hurry-up line change rule -- is designed to speed things up.

Once the referee looks at the visiting bench to make its line change, the team has five seconds to do so. The home team then has eight seconds after that to make its line change. Once that time is up, the linesman blows his whistle indicating he's dropping the puck in five seconds, whether the centers are ready or not.