The No-Trade Clause allows players to determine their futures, determine when, and if they are dealt before the trade deadline. If, say, the Maple Leafs offer Mats Sundin in a trade, he must grant them permission. He has the last laugh, signing on the dotted line. This is a severe problem, which the league has not yet resolved. In fact, during the GM Meetings held this past week, it was not even raised in discussions. Instead, the executives talked about reducing minor infractions committed in overtime from two minutes to one minute in the box. I’m sorry, but is that the most important piece of legislature the brilliant leaders proposed? The league must confront many more important issues, in my humble opinion, before this minor amendment.

Before I continue talking about Sundin and his no-trade movement (next post), I must continue to elaborate on the GM Meetings. They also talked about kicking the puck, delaying free agency from July 1 to July 7, adding two games to the 82-game schedule, offensive zone faceoffs after opponent commits an infraction and, of course, goaltender equipment.

1) Kicking the puck:

Basically, a complicated disaster that can be clarified in one of two ways. Either, allow shooters to use their skate blades in producing goals or not. Done. Simple. In my opinion, “distinct” kicking motion is more complicated than rocket science. Why force league officials to determine a goal? If a player shoots and scores, using his stick, it’s a goal. If he uses any part of his body, leg, arm, or even skate, which is very common, then DISALLOW the tally. Jeez.  

2) Free Agency:

The general managers also discussed free agency at the meetings in Naples Fla. The current policy is that unrestricted free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs after July 1, traditionally.

According to TSN,

“The GMs gave the league the go-ahead to approach the NHL Players' Association about pushing back the start of free agency to July 7 instead of the traditional July 1 start date. The thinking is that some of hockey's biggest off-season moves come on national holidays on both sides of the border July 1-4 and get lost in the shuffle.”

I am in favor of this proposition. I am confident that teams can reposition the dates without any major consequences. However, the NHLPA must agree to push back the date, so it’s a wait and see approach.

3) Penalties:

They also discussed condensing penalties committed in overtime from two to one minute. Why is this the topic for discussion? Who the fuck knows!!! Just keep penalties at two minutes. If anything, change overtime from 5 to 10 minutes, if need, be, but do not alter the consequence for hooking, or holding. What would they do in the postseason when overtime is a regular length period? Revert back to two-minute penalties?

TSN reported,

“They will ask the AHL to experiment with a one-minute penalty in overtime for regular-season games next season. If the NHL likes what it sees, it could adopt it for 2009-10.”

I still do not like this idea. It’s an unnecessary amendment, which will likely never make its way to the NHL, even two years from now.

4) Schedule:

New Jersey, Detroit and the rest of the league plays 82 games each season, 41 at home and another 41 on the road. At the meetings, the executives presented a revised 84-game season, eliminating preseason contests.

I do not like this approach to resolving the NHL’s biggest problem: nontraditional cities with limited fan base. If a team is having trouble attracting crowds, how does adding more games settle that mess? On the other hand, players get injured in the preseason contests, even missing significant stretches of the regular season. I understand their side, but think that the league should leave the schedule alone.

5) Goaltender Equipment:

Absolutely reduce the sizes of goaltender pads. Other than Martin Brodeur, who obeys every rule put in place (even the stupid Trapezoid), Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo, among others, have justified a change. In Brodeur’s eyes, goalies are following league policy. Yes, they probably are complying. Otherwise, they would have been suspended for wearing oversized pads, which were established to protect them, not to “cheat.”

I am not formally accusing any goaltender of deception. They are not magicians. But, the league wants more scoring and these pad sizes are out of control.

Here is one case and point, borrowed from the National Post.

“That's right --after all these years, downsizing goaltending gear was once again the topic of the day yesterday at the general managers' meetings. The roster of GMs changes, but the problem does not, a fact that some of these men even laugh about now.”

“One GM spoke of seeing Jean-Sebastien Giguere sitting on the Anaheim bench one night, and how "he looked like a turtle" as Giguere's head sunk into the massive shoulder "protection" he wears.”

To defend Brodeur, he is the only goaltender in the league who does not use the butterfly position. However, Patrick Roy epitomized the typical butterfly goalie, which is pretty much the standard today. Tack on the additional padding and goaltenders are not using their bodies to stop shots. They are relying on padding.

Kind of reminds me of Barry Bonds and his elbow pads. If a pitcher dinks him on the elbow, which is encompassed by up to 10 inches of a nylon coating, he does not feel a thing.

As George James Malik said on his Snapshot blog,

“Perhaps the biggest offender is Manny Legace, who wears 38" pads on a 5'6" frame. Goalie won't have a problem with "rounding" the elbows and shoulders of their chest protectors, nor wearing properly-fitted pants.”

 I believe that one size does not fit all. Goaltenders should wear what fits them. This will definitely assist the league in scoring.

6) Face Offs:

If a team commits a penalty, the executives proposed an offensive zone faceoff. The NHL may replicate its minor leagues, which have currently adopted that system. I am not sure where to stand on this issue. If one stray player commits a stupid infraction behind the play, why should the rest of the team suffer as a result? Two minutes is plenty of time to set up the man advantage. My final opinion: Nay.

 

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