I understand fairness but this is ridiculous as long as both are close drop the damn puck I'm here to watch hockey not refs bicker and delay the game over something that little and pointless
This is a dumb rule. Unless the guy is clearly at an advantage why handout a penalty there? No one comes to the games to see the linesman officiate. Here's an idea just drop the damn puck and be done with it.
Because they are angling to get an advantage? That's why they always creep in. Those lines have been on the ice for longer than most of those players have been alive. It's not like it's a surprise.
I've had it with Bettwoman. He expands to a market where they know nothing about hockey (LV). He's not sending the players to South Korea for the Olympics. Now this trash? I call for a coup.
While I agree with you so far in regard to the new enforcement on previously non-existent infractions, slashing and faceoff integrity, there is room for the calls to be improved over what we have witnessed in recent years. That said, the refs need to square the players up and drop the puck quickly. Nobody goes to games or tunes in to watch the refs display their puck dropping prowess. On the olympics, keep in mind the NHL has only been sending players to the Olympics since the 1998 Winter games. Don't act as if it is such a travesty to not send players, especially now. The NHL and team owners foot the bill for that international event, and their number one assets are putting themselves at risk for no real payoff. Any international or extra curricula games give no real exposure for the NHL or the teams that each player is under contract with. The owners paying the NHL player contracts have a serious investment to think about. Past Winter Olympics since 1998, have shown there is no direct impact on TV viewership, ticket sales or revenue for the NHL or teams post Olympic break. Ultimately if it doesn't pay to send the players, the players shouldn't be risked or leveraged, they are the product. If any players violate their NHL contracts to attempt to join their country's team in Pyeongchang, the International Hockey Federation will sanction them, and the NHL will suspend them. They have no 'rights' when they breach their contracts. So when players like Ovie make a stink about wanting to be in the games, it is more for their own righteousness and media attention than anything else. Don't fool yourself. If Ovie was serious, he has enough money, good enough legal council, and agents to legally get out of his NHL deal, join a KHL team and be eligible to play. On top of that, with the tensions and instability in the region holding the Olympics this time, it may be for the best that the players are not putting themselves at additional safety and security risk. I'm sure that Kim Jong Un's threats, mental instability and chest pumping played more than a small role in the NHL's decision making. So make sure you are informed on all of those aspects when touting how good or bad Gary Bettman or the NHL product is... I would be more concerned with former tough guys, enforcers and goons consistently getting hired for the so called Department of Player Safety than the 2018 Olympics.
TheBattProductions the gm's all agreed on this new rule and the players are not going to the olympics because it costs to much money sending them to the Olympics
The faceoff alignment rule isn't the problem. Those marks have been on the ice for years and you're supposed to line up correctly. The problem is the penalty procedure and how the linesmen are attempting to deal with it. If they had been better at stopping cheaters in the past, this wouldn't be such an issue now.
The hockey director at our local rink was also a ref. He was like my best friend. Anyways, in house league a lot of players would take their damn time skating to the bench during line changes. So our director said if you take more than 15 seconds he's just gonna drop the puck. That's when all the players busted ass when doing line changes
I think its about time they did this. The players know the rules, don't blame the refs for slowing the game down. Both centers should be squared up before the puck is dropped. Its not rocket science.
This is the dumbest rule in the book! the zebras take way to long and are way to annoying when it comes to dropping the puck. Just drop the puck and let the boys play! NO MORE RULES!
This + the new slashing policy will create more power plays and the latter will protect the players from losing their fingertips (erhm... Crosby). Might turn out to be a good thing we'll see.
I find it stupid, the new rules they have been enforcing in the faceoffs is ridiculous. If both players cheat in the faceoff, then its fair to me. Veteran players are better at faceoffs because of the skills they pickup over the years they play, that aspect is going to be gone.
TheBattProductions the gm's all agreed on this new rule and the players are not going to the olympics because it costs to much money sending them to the Olympics
This is terrible. If they want more goal scoring, make the damn nets bigger and make goalie equipment smaller. Its a good thing that they're trying to call more slashes, but it seems like you can't even use your stick anymore. Oduya, I think it was, tapped a leafs player on the shin and got a penalty for it. This sport is getting way too soft.
Logan Givs 1 creates more power plays, should lead to more goals. the NHL is doing all they can to increase goal scoring without making nets bigger or goalie equipment much smaller
Playoff game Soo Grayhounds leading 3-2, 2 min left in third , lineman calls faceoff violation on the Grayhounds. I don't think the lines boy likes the Grayhounds
Horrible rule! Also what happens if a center man on the shorter side cannot stretch his legs far enough?? This dumb rule is going to slow the game down way too much
No one cares.. Just drop the puck .. We wanna see players not officials...Ridiculous new rules that will slow the game ... Nhl should have made new rules resulting in penalties for players getting punched in head and face when whistle is blow after play , goaltenders being pushed in the crease and goaltenders Slashing players in blue area
One stupid rule after another the NHL cooked up. I'm so sick and tired of the NHL putting up new rules, even the recent "Faceoff rule", this is really stupid. They put it up to ruin the game. That's partly why I quit. Gary Bettman should be impeached, he's ruining everything, not just that should be stopped, salary caps should be gone, so as the instigator rule and those I thought was really ruining the game, put those old school equipment back on, the ones that only have sponge or foam (knee pads, elbow pads and shoulder pads), stop using modern one that has plastic, that's what kills players their careers suffering from concussions. I knew from sometime that the NHL is gonna be ruined.
This is an example of the league pandering to homers and bandwagon. Up next, celebrating a goal will soon be a delay of game penalty, and Goalie blockers size reduced to pop-tarts. ^At least we got a new team! The Vegas(W) Golden(T) Knights!(F!!!!!)^