I understand the game, understand the rule, understand how to avoid being offside. Players for years attempt to drag their skate to stay onside but by the definition the NHL puts out for offside Drouin was not offside was my point. You guys keep saying the rule is clear, he was offside but anyone who can read knows he was NOT offside by the actual definition of the rule. Now again I understand how offsides is called but just saying you can't say it was offside by the definition of the rule, it was offside by how hockey fans and players know it to be but not by the NHL rules.
- Kucherovski

Okay.

If it makes you feel better...ask the league to change the rule to be more specific and call it the Drouin rule.

Either way, he was offside and will continue to be offside even if they make the rule more specific.

I don't think they will ever institute a breaking the plain rule because that specifically applies to the position of one thing...the football...in football.

There are...potentially...5 guys that could be breaking the plain at one time...and only one of them can be in possession of the puck at that time.

You have to go by skate contact with the ice.

You guys are doing too many apples and oranges comparisons.

So...what is your point?

Now it is.

Stay onside.
- icedog97

It sucks that we have to resort to these types of conversations.

I asked John Scott what the NHL should do and he had a great answer. He says that on a coach's challenge the fans should be allowed to decide. Have a commercial break and let the fans text yes or no responses until the end of the break. That eliminates any chance of the NHL being blamed for a bad decision plus it gets rid of the ipad.

(and if the NHL had netcams in 2004 the Bolts would be playing for their first cup.)
- itwasin

Okay.

If it makes you feel better...ask the league to change the rule to be more specific and call it the Drouin rule.

Either way, he was offside and will continue to be offside even if they make the rule more specific.

I don't think they will ever institute a breaking the plain rule because that specifically applies to the position of one thing...the football...in football.

There are...potentially...5 guys that could be breaking the plain at one time...and only one of them can be in possession of the puck at that time.

You have to go by skate contact with the ice.

You guys are doing too many apples and oranges comparisons.
- icedog97

Also, if the entire officiating body (who writes and enforces the rules) agrees that this is exactly the rule, then... THAT IS THE RULE!

It might be easy to adjust to, but in the grand scheme of things the fact that offside is what the NHL decided it needed to address is completely tone deaf
- mattmoulson

Expecting the NHL to be anything other than tone deaf is probably considered "your problem". I don't mean to sound like a Richard, but the league isn't exactly run by Mensa members.

I actually think this is a fairly meaningless change. Players will be much more careful as time moves on and the review will be much less relevant.

Seems pretty cut-and-dry to me. Maybe he has a reading comprehension issue.

http://www.usahockeyruleb...084688-rule-630-off-sides
- cheater2

You really put a USA Hockey rulebook instead of the NHL rule book. Go to page 123 and read:

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en...-Interactive-rulebook.pdf

It is a matter of semantics, by every hockey fans definition of offside and by the players definition of offside he was offside. By the real, actual, technical definition of offside from the NHL piece of paper he was NOT offside. I have zero issue comprehending the rules and I get it, again a matter of semantics because in hockey we don't call it onside it is always referred to as offside. Drouin was NOT onside last night.

I understand the game, understand the rule, understand how to avoid being offside. Players for years attempt to drag their skate to stay onside but by the definition the NHL puts out for offside Drouin was not offside was my point. You guys keep saying the rule is clear, he was offside but anyone who can read knows he was NOT offside by the actual definition of the rule. Now again I understand how offsides is called but just saying you can't say it was offside by the definition of the rule, it was offside by how hockey fans and players know it to be but not by the NHL rules.
- Kucherovski

How? Can you show me the definition of the rule?

How? Can you show me the definition of the rule?
- j.boyd919

See above post and read page 123 in the 2015-2016 NHL rule book.

The NHL says someone is "offside" when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line. Drouin did not have BOTH skates completely over the leading edge of the blue line making him NOT offside.

There HAS TO be a clear delineation between what IS and what ISN'T offsides. That is just how the world works. Sorry.

If it is offsides, then call it. If it isn't offsides then don't call it.

It would be ideal if we knew this information immediately but progress isn't always immediately ideal.
- cheater2

Do you also think you deserve a speeding ticket for doing 56 in a 55?

You really put a USA Hockey rulebook instead of the NHL rule book. Go to page 123 and read:

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en...-Interactive-rulebook.pdf

It is a matter of semantics, by every hockey fans definition of offside and by the players definition of offside he was offside. By the real, actual, technical definition of offside from the NHL piece of paper he was NOT offside. I have zero issue comprehending the rules and I get it, again a matter of semantics because in hockey we don't call it onside it is always referred to as offside. Drouin was NOT onside last night.
- Kucherovski

Yeah, I realized that too late and almost deleted/edited but figured I wouldn't.

Anyway, I'll refer you to my last post:
"Also, if the entire officiating body (who writes and enforces the rules) agrees that this is exactly the rule, then... THAT IS THE RULE!"

Do you also think you deserve a speeding ticket for doing 56 in a 55?
- eichiefs9

Yes, I do.

Do you think someone should get away with murder because the DNA evidence takes too long to come back from the lab and that isn't the "spirit" of a murder conviction?

Also, if the entire officiating body (who writes and enforces the rules) agrees that this is exactly the rule, then... THAT IS THE RULE!
- cheater2

If the entire officiating body is incompetent maybe we shouldn't follow them blindly

Yes, I do.

Do you think someone should get away with murder because the DNA evidence takes too long to come back from the lab and that isn't the "spirit" of a murder conviction?
- cheater2

You really put a USA Hockey rulebook instead of the NHL rule book. Go to page 123 and read:

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en...-Interactive-rulebook.pdf

It is a matter of semantics, by every hockey fans definition of offside and by the players definition of offside he was offside. By the real, actual, technical definition of offside from the NHL piece of paper he was NOT offside. I have zero issue comprehending the rules and I get it, again a matter of semantics because in hockey we don't call it onside it is always referred to as offside. Drouin was NOT onside last night.
- Kucherovski

You can only be one or the other.

It's like the force...you are either on the darkside or you are not.

Onside he was not.

Offside then he was.

Yeah, I realized that too late and almost deleted/edited but figured I wouldn't.

Anyway, I'll refer you to my last post:
"Also, if the entire officiating body (who writes and enforces the rules) agrees that this is exactly the rule, then... THAT IS THE RULE!"
- cheater2

I have no problem with things being rules but someone needs to change the rule. I don't mean change it by saying you can have one skate up but you can not have two rules that contradict each other. Change the rule to be something like, a player is offside if both skates are completely over the leading edge OR if one skate is not over leading edge but maintains contact with the ice. The NHL rule is messed up for sure, I am being a pain and going strictly on exactly what the NHL puts out as an official rule.

- mattmoulson

The worst kind of person is a present day Family Guy fan.

You can only be one or the other.

It's like the force...you are either on the darkside or you are not.

Onside he was not.

Offside then he was.
- icedog97

What side of the force are you on for interference penalties?

Yes, I do.

Do you think someone should get away with murder because the DNA evidence takes too long to come back from the lab and that isn't the "spirit" of a murder conviction?
- cheater2

You're comparing murder to being 1mph over the speed limit?

The worst kind of person is a present day Family Guy fan.
- cheater2

That's the first thing you've been right about today, take a bow

See above post and read page 123 in the 2015-2016 NHL rule book.

The NHL says someone is "offside" when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line. Drouin did not have BOTH skates completely over the leading edge of the blue line making him NOT offside.
- Kucherovski

Yeah I just read it... but.. if you are not onside... then you are what? Offside? there's no purgatory in between onside and offside. It's either on or off.

You can only be one or the other.

It's like the force...you are either on the darkside or you are not.

Onside he was not.

Offside then he was.
- icedog97

Seriously? Did you read the rule? I understand your thinking and do not disagree with it but the NHL put out the rule, not me. He was not offside and he was not onside based on the exact language in the rule book. He was offside by any hockey fan standard and by any normal thinking that he was not onside so he had to be offside but just read it, he was not offside....technically.

If the entire officiating body is incompetent maybe we shouldn't follow them blindly
- mattmoulson

Well, I guess it is up to you to overthrow them. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

My work here is done.

I have contributed to Ty's readership count and helped get his blog some replies.

Hope you all have a great day and looking forward to game seven.

Be careful out there!

...and remember...

Stay onside!

Yeah I just read it... but.. if you are not onside... then you are what? Offside? there's no purgatory in between onside and offside. It's either on or off.
- j.boyd919

Well yes you would think right? You would think the NHL would not put that on paper. According to the rule, on paper, do not think, do not be logical. According to the official rule on paper he was not onside or offside. According to real life thinking and understanding, he was offside. I agree with you totally, NHL has a messed up rule book and I'm using it!!

Seriously? Did you read the rule? I understand your thinking and do not disagree with it but the NHL put out the rule, not me. He was not offside and he was not onside based on the exact language in the rule book. He was offside by any hockey fan standard and by any normal thinking that he was not onside so he had to be offside but just read it, he was not offside....technically.
- Kucherovski

I wouldn't go that far. The technicality is whether or not a foot not in contact with the ice can be judged relative to the blue line. The powers that be have decided that no, it cannot, and this jives with every other major hockey league in the world.