AHL Rules Changes

[RadioGaGa 162]

http://www.canoe.ca/AHL/News/2004/07/05/526056.html

Here are the changes for the "A" next year. Seeing as how the potential work stoppage doesn't do anything to them next year it should give them (The NHL) a good chances to see how these all impact the game before bringing them all in the NHL as well...

Are there any that you love/hate? I think the shoot outs are going to be fun. Just as long as they keep it in regular season. In the playoffs, that still need to play until there is a winner.

Have they made a final decision on the rules changes for the NHL next year? I think the second vote was different then than the first on a few issues (ie: Goalies playing the puck). There is one more GM's Meeting before the changes are official right?

[Dangles 0]

I think they're good, I especially like to tag-up offside rule. The game will be a lot fast paced now and fewer whistles may result in a better game. Also, the shootout rule is good. I prefer shoot outs to over time, much more dramatic.

[RadioGaGa 162]

They'll still play a 5 minute OT. The shoot out is if it is still tied after that.

I wonder at what point you have to name your 5 shooters??? ...before the game... before the end of regulation...during the OT? You could have a guy be really hot, and not be able to shoot if you name tham beofre the game. Interesting wrinkle?

[Chadd 916]

I like adding a shootout after OT. I would have preferred to see them make a win 3 points to encourage a win in regulation.

They need to make the lines bigger than 24 inches for it to have any impact, something like 40-48 inches.

The goalie reference was a bit vague, are they going to only permit them to stop the puck and not advance it?

[RadioGaGa 162]

They need to make the lines bigger than 24 inches for it to have any impact, something like 40-48 inches.

They made the lines thicker for a weekend here in Hamilton this season. The refs said over the course of 2 games there were about 4-5 plays that would have been offside with regular lines that weren't with the thicker lines. If you get that up to 4 plays per game that is a fairly decent increase.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I wasn't able to make it down to see a game with the thich lines, but I heard Defensemen had a bit of difficulty adjusting to the positioning of the lines. I like the rule changes as it's always good to try out new things and the AHL is a great trial area.

[jay 1]

With the exception of the wider lines, those rule changes are all fairly similar to the ECHL rules. I love the tag-up offside but hate the no-touch icing. Too many players slagging it back to make sure the puck crosses the line before they get to it. I know all about the injuries and stuff, it's just very annoying to watch. Shootouts I'm 50/50 on. They can be kind of exciting but too often teams waste the overtime period trying to make sure they get to the shootout.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I agree with the No-touch Icing comment. I like the idea of less injuries, but do see alot of D slagging behind. I'd like to see some kind've either, deliberate icing or race for puck behind the line rules implemented where only then would there be a whistle. Then it'd be almost flipped around from the "make an attempt rule" we have now.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I agree...

...you can't just stop and let it cross the line. The Linesman should be able to wave off icing if it was obvious that a D-Man was going back too slowly on purpose. Obviously the change is to eliminate the 2 man races that end in the big crash into the boards...but if a guy is alone in his own end he should have to play it if he can...

[jay 1]

I agree...

...you can't just stop and let it cross the line. The Linesman should be able to wave off icing if it was obvious that a D-Man was going back too slowly on purpose. Obviously the change is to eliminate the 2 man races that end in the big crash into the boards...but if a guy is alone in his own end he should have to play it if he can...

The linesman are supposed wave them off if the palyer could have gotten to the puck but they never ever do. Like you said, I think you've got to make the players go after it to keep the play alive when it's possible for them to do so.

[joshy207 15]

I like the no-touch icing from the standpoint that it'll reduce injuries, too, but the linesmen should be a little more liberal in waving off icings because of the defensemen who are lazy in getting back to play the puck, or even if it's supposed to be a pass that skips over the forward's stick or goes between his skates. Gotta stay within the rules, but also gotta keep the game moving along.

As for the goalie pad width... how about goalies that go back and forth between the A and the Show? They're going to need 2 separate sets of pads, another unnecessary expense for the NHL clubs. Although, a good friend of mine who works for an equipment manager feels that the AHL and NHL wouldn't have put that rule in place if the NHL was likely to play this year...

[kosydar 0]

Seems like the right step to test these rules out. I'm still not sold on the idea of a shootout, I prefer Chadd's 3 point win idea instead.

[Chadd 916]

Goalies could always use the 10" pads in the NHL as well as the AHL. I think that was added simply because they can do it without the union having as much say in the AHL. Plus they can use this year to prove that goalies are no more likely to be hurt by the rule.

[Flyerguy91 0]

i love most of the rules, but i think the no-touch icing is terrible. I also the rules restricting goalies playing the puck

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Having the goalies not being able to play the puck is the worst idea I have ever head in my life. It will totally screw up the game IMO. I like all the other rules except the bigger lines, I'm more of a traditionalist and I just don't like it. Also I think they need to wor on the blocker and tappers size for goalers too, they are massive. I was in Port Perry the other day for a celebrity fishing tournement (Marchment won! haha) and Johnny Bower was there. They were asking him about all the changes and he said that too. He said he though Cujo's old trapper looked like a wastebasket and that the goalies need to learn to play the game with their bodies and not their pads. Makes sense to me.

[hip check 0]

What if a goalie could signal to a linesman to call or wave off an icing? They raise the hand (for the most part) to signal an icing to their D-man, so why not have them indicate the same thing to the linesman. This would still be a linesman's call, but if the goalie sees the other team on a change, he keeps his hand down, notifying the linesman he wants the play to carry on, creating an open ice play out of his end for the D. If his team needs a line change, or prefers a face-off in the other end, he raises his hand to signal that they want the icing called.

What do you think?

[Chadd 916]

I think allowing a team to "decline" icing is a bad idea. Simply waving off icing if the player has any opportunity to play the puck should be sufficient, assuming the linesmen actually wave them off.