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Changing the Game: Careful What You Wish For |
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Every year, there are efforts to improve or “clean up” some aspect of the NHL and hockey in general. We have to do this, we have to do that, things will be much better when we add or take away something.
Guess what? In almost every case, the powers-that- be make the changes they see fit to make – and in almost every case they get it wrong.
Yes, the changes may look good on paper and sound good when presented in the boardroom, but I’m not so sure these things are done for much reason except to give the false appearance that the people in charge of the sport have their finger on the pulse of the game.
On the ice, so many of these changes do not make much sense in today’s 30-team league. Many of the changes have actually hampered the skilled players and rule changes made in an effort to make the game safer are, in my opinion, leading to an increase in dirty, backstabbing hockey.
The rules from the boardroom in New York do not cut it on the ice. I place the blame for all the rampant cheap hits and concussion problems squarely on the shoulders of the NHL and its “Rules” committee.
Before everyone gets their knickers in a knot, I agree 100% that we have to do something about the state of today’s game today. Look, I care deeply about the game; I played hockey for most of my life. For those of you that saw me play, whether it was in junior hockey, the NHL or Alumni game, one thing that you all can say about me is that I loved to play. I had fun every time I stepped onto the ice.
Since retiring 21 years ago, I’ve enjoyed following the game as a fan but far too often I’m a disgruntled fan.
There are many nights when I turn the TV off or I leave the game early. Why? Quite often, for all the superior speed and the elite skills and the use of technology, the product itself has become subpar.
The officiating has deteriorated since I played, the game is boring and over-coached to stifle creativity, the staged fights do nothing for me. In fact, I find it insulting as a former player – long dump and chase and change for another 30-second shift. What the hell is that?
While I know I’m coming dangerously close to coming off like the old guy who is putting the glory days on a pedestal, I believe deep in my heart that something has to be done to improve the state of hockey today.
Here’s my two cents on a couple things that I think would be a step in the right direction.
RETURN OF THE RED LINE
Put the red line back in for two-line passes. I get why it was eliminated. The cry began to go out shortly after the NHL re-joined the Olympics in 1996. Hockey fans marveled at some of the stretch passes in the various games, and wanted to see more of that over the full 82 game season.
The campaign continued to gain momentum until the rules committee took it out after the lockout of 2004/05. They took it our as part of the re-vamped NHL, new rules, new game, and a new beginning. They promised a more wide-open, entertaining fast paced game. Has it really delivered? No.
You have to remember that the Olympic hockey is the best against the best and is played on a bigger ice surface. When you translate that style of hockey to a club team on a North American ice surface, the outcome just isn’t the same.
There are over 200 defensemen in the league and realistically how many of them can step out from behind the net and thread the needle to make that long breakaway pass? I know I couldn’t! Get the puck out high off the glass was my go-to move. Why create a rule that so few players can ever take advantage of? All it really leads to most of the time is more needless stoppages.
What you get much of the time is either a missed connection and an icing or a forward posted up at the far blue line to chip in a dump that would normally be icing. This dump-in is followed up by some grinding along the boards and if we’re lucky, maybe a scoring chance. I long for the five-man forecheck that used to happen in the old days. Yes, there really was such a thing, which is part of why ‘80s hockey was so high scoring.
With the red line back in, forwards will have to be smarter coming through the neutral zone instead of relying on a the dump in. Getting through the neutral zone won’t be the quagmire it was prior to the 2005 lockout since obstruction has been eliminated. The breakaways will still happen and the rushes will still happen, and all in all, I think things will be more entertaining because the players will be forced to be more creative.
LET PLAYERS PROTECT THEMSELVES
Players have to be allowed to protect themselves – not police the game, but protect themselves. I am not sure exactly when the rules committee decided that a player must take the hit, but I believe that this rule change in itself has led to more injuries than anything.
I was taught as a young hockey player to always protect yourself. When you passed the puck you were supposed to get your stick up, if a player still wants to hit you then that is his problem. It wasn’t anything reckless, just putting a barrier between you and the attacker. If a forechecker wanted to lay a big hit on me then he’d have to eat through one of my Chimo hockey sticks first. Paul Stewart made the same point in his blog yesterday, and I wholeheartedly agree with him.
We all can agree that the players are bigger, faster, and stronger so why is it that we allow players to hit the opposition without them being allowed to protect themselves? If a player could protect himself simply by getting his stick up then most of the needless hits in today’s game would be eliminated.
CHUCKLE OF THE DAY
I often chuckle at the league's marketing message. I find it quite hypocritical. They talk about the head shots, cleaning the game up, getting rid of fighting, etc. But when it comes to the various teams marketing to their fans what do they show? Bone crushing body checks, fights, and players bleeding. Where is the skill? Seriously, except for showing the absolute superstars like Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin, where are the skill players in the NHL team montages?
Actually, I’m sure the formula for a game time montage is something like 50% hits and fights and 50% skills. I’m all for both but you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Are we trying to be a billion-dollar garage league or a showcase for the skills of the best players in the world?
Make your mind up NHL.
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A veteran of 1,086 NHL regular season and 97 playoff matches with the Atlanta/Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, Brad Marsh was a fan favorite wherever he played. Follow him on Twitter at @bradmarshnhl.
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