Preseason: sens @ Leafs - Sept. 19th, 7:30pm - TSN, TSN 1050

[herman]

Tapping someone stick with your stick isn't supposed to be a penalty.  Don't let one bad call sully the good thing the league is trying to do to get slashing, of the hands specifically, out of the game.  The call on Komarov was exactly what they should be enforcing.  Marincin's penalty was a bad call, even under the new level of enforcement.  Refs don't always get it right, even on "smacking someone in the face with a stick" calls.

Also, having your skate over the line on a faceoff is not a penalty in itself- its a faceoff violation.  Having two faceoff violations on the same draw is a penalty.  League wants to enforce the faceoff rules (which they've been lax on for years) and it will take time for players to adjust.

Oh, I fully understand the reasoning behind the latest crackdowns, and I would love to see the slashing of hands/faces out of the game. Just wanted to point out the stupidity of focusing on the mundane infraction of multiple face-off violations weighing the same as injuring another player. It just adds more frustration into the flow of the game, for both players and linesmen, and when frustrations mount, they turn into ridiculous/dangerous situations.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Tapping someone stick with your stick isn't supposed to be a penalty.  Don't let one bad call sully the good thing the league is trying to do to get slashing, of the hands specifically, out of the game.  The call on Komarov was exactly what they should be enforcing.  Marincin's penalty was a bad call, even under the new level of enforcement.  Refs don't always get it right, even on "smacking someone in the face with a stick" calls.

Also, having your skate over the line on a faceoff is not a penalty in itself- its a faceoff violation.  Having two faceoff violations on the same draw is a penalty.  League wants to enforce the faceoff rules (which they've been lax on for years) and it will take time for players to adjust.

Oh, I fully understand the reasoning behind the latest crackdowns, and I would love to see the slashing of hands/faces out of the game. Just wanted to point out the stupidity of focusing on the mundane infraction of multiple face-off violations weighing the same as injuring another player. It just adds more frustration into the flow of the game, for both players and linesmen, and when frustrations mount, they turn into ridiculous/dangerous situations.

Well, shooting the puck over the glass also has the same weight as those other penalties.  So does accidentally tripping someone.  Its still a penalty.  Also, injuring someone through an illegal act also has the option of being called a major penalty.  Maybe we should be complaining that the refs don't call enough majors for those infractions instead?

Players will have to adjust to the new level of enforcement- sure there will be frustration and whatnot, but cmon- you aren't going to change player behaviour without some adjustment period.  If anything, call it even stricter in the pre-season to try and get that behaviour to change even faster.

 

[cabber24]

I just in general hate the way the NHL is run. Year to year sweeping rule changes, obnoxious negotiating approaches, the constant airing of grievances, lockout after lockout, the Olympics, the Calgary stadium, expansion vs relocation, etc... it is all getting very exhausting. Can't business be conducted in a more articulate way?

 

[Frank E]

I missed the 3rd period...was it as bad as it looks?

 

[Coco-puffs]

I missed the 3rd period...was it as bad as it looks?

I only saw the last half of it (2.5 year old that doesn't want to go to bed), but no it wasn't.  2 empty net goals after a weird one scored by the Sens coming out of the box.  Leafs outshot Sens 15-6 in the period (although some of that was score effects after going down 3-2).

 

[Frank E]

I missed the 3rd period...was it as bad as it looks?

I only saw the last half of it (2.5 year old that doesn't want to go to bed), but no it wasn't.  2 empty net goals after a weird one scored by the Sens coming out of the box.  Leafs outshot Sens 15-6 in the period (although some of that was score effects after going down 3-2).

Got it...thank you.

 

[Bender]

Was at the game yesterday. Ottawa goaltending made some incredible saves. Freddy should've had the first one, that Sens breakaway should've never happened.

Patty looks quite good, guy can still fly, looks smart, obviously beautiful goal.

Everyone else seemed somewhat invisible. Borgman looked decent. Marincin wasn't bad. Rychel....woof!

 

[dappleganger]

Was at the game yesterday. Ottawa goaltending made some incredible saves. Freddy should've had the first one, that Sens breakaway should've never happened.

Patty looks quite good, guy can still fly, looks smart, obviously beautiful goal.

Everyone else seemed somewhat invisible. Borgman looked decent. Marincin wasn't bad. Rychel....woof!

I thought Borgman looked very capable out there.

 

[cabber24]

Was at the game yesterday. Ottawa goaltending made some incredible saves. Freddy should've had the first one, that Sens breakaway should've never happened.

Patty looks quite good, guy can still fly, looks smart, obviously beautiful goal.

Everyone else seemed somewhat invisible. Borgman looked decent. Marincin wasn't bad. Rychel....woof!

The winning goal was UGLY. Horrible defense, they scored after two rebounds. Totally left the goalie high and dry, get back and take a man!

 

[Kin]

I just in general hate the way the NHL is run. Year to year sweeping rule changes, obnoxious negotiating approaches, the constant airing of grievances, lockout after lockout, the Olympics, the Calgary stadium, expansion vs relocation, etc... it is all getting very exhausting. Can't business be conducted in a more articulate way?

You think the major problem there is a lack of clarity?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

In regards to the face-offs rule change it just continues to amaze me how out of touch the NHL is with their fans. I don't recall anybody complaining about the cheating that occurred there. Most fans seemed to embrace it I think actually. But there WERE significant complains about how face-offs took too long and how the linesmen just needed to start dropping the damn puck instead of trying to get their TV time. This rule just gives them even more power which is basically the opposite of what the fans wanted.

 

[rdowdall]

I wonder how much of it is that there aren't really any spots for players to take.  The forwards seem set, and so does the defence, so really what do the players destined for the AHL really have to play for.  As much as management likes to say they are trying to create a competition, that all gets thrown out the window when you are guaranteeing spots to people.

 

[Kin]

In regards to the face-offs rule change it just continues to amaze me how out of touch the NHL is with their fans. I don't recall anybody complaining about the cheating that occurred there. Most fans seemed to embrace it I think actually. But there WERE significant complains about how face-offs took too long and how the linesmen just needed to start dropping the damn puck instead of trying to get their TV time. This rule just gives them even more power which is basically the opposite of what the fans wanted.

It seems like the sort of thing that could really only come out of asking a bunch of GMs about what is wrong with the game.

 

[cabber24]

I just in general hate the way the NHL is run. Year to year sweeping rule changes, obnoxious negotiating approaches, the constant airing of grievances, lockout after lockout, the Olympics, the Calgary stadium, expansion vs relocation, etc... it is all getting very exhausting. Can't business be conducted in a more articulate way?

You think the major problem there is a lack of clarity?

Maybe, the fan always seems to get the news after it's already blown up and everyone is already pissed off.

The NHL owners/Bettman/Daily always claim to be the victims and are always so defensive and on the attack. It definitely feels like the fans are consistently being used as pawns. Sell your god damn team if your so friggin hard done by or if you think a bit more scoring is worth sacrificing the integrity of the game. I just see it as bunch of rich non-hockey people trying to make more money and whining like babies while doing it. Surely, they can improve their PR.

 

[Bender]

In regards to the face-offs rule change it just continues to amaze me how out of touch the NHL is with their fans. I don't recall anybody complaining about the cheating that occurred there. Most fans seemed to embrace it I think actually. But there WERE significant complains about how face-offs took too long and how the linesmen just needed to start dropping the damn puck instead of trying to get their TV time. This rule just gives them even more power which is basically the opposite of what the fans wanted.

It was unbelievable watching last night: The amount of penalties and the number of times they either delayed the faceoff or waived someone out. Ridiculous. The boos were loud last night.

 

[pnjunction]

I wonder how much of it is that there aren't really any spots for players to take.  The forwards seem set, and so does the defence, so really what do the players destined for the AHL really have to play for.  As much as management likes to say they are trying to create a competition, that all gets thrown out the window when you are guaranteeing spots to people.

True when you have 12 waiver-eligible forwards and 6 D-men plus the locked in big 3 sophomores just how good would a waiver-exempt player have to be to make it?  For example a D-man like Dermott or Borgman doesn't just have to play better than Marincin or Carrick they have to be lights out to get one of those guys or a forward waived.

 

[Coco-puffs]

In regards to the face-offs rule change it just continues to amaze me how out of touch the NHL is with their fans. I don't recall anybody complaining about the cheating that occurred there. Most fans seemed to embrace it I think actually. But there WERE significant complains about how face-offs took too long and how the linesmen just needed to start dropping the damn puck instead of trying to get their TV time. This rule just gives them even more power which is basically the opposite of what the fans wanted.

It seems like the sort of thing that could really only come out of asking a bunch of GMs about what is wrong with the game.

On point, both of you.  With two caveats:

1) No rule change is actually in place.  They are just enforcing existing rules- players were always supposed to lineup they way they are trying to enforce it AND faceoff violation for getting caught cheating twice was already in place.

2)On one of the broadcasts they did mention that the referee's did complain that they felt more in danger of injury because of how much cheating/leaning in was happening.  In particular, players would sometimes have their feet so far up, they'd be right behind the linesman's skate and they could fall backwards trying to get away from the dot after dropping the puck.  Or, their hands could get hit by sticks/helmets encroaching on the area right above the dot.  I think the league/GM's took that into account when they came up with this- by having the players have to stay back a bit, linesmen/refs are better protected. 

To some degree, they probably needed to address it.  But yeah, among-st fans it was NOT something they were concerned about.  With that said, I'm hoping the players just adjust quickly instead of the league backtracking. 

 

[Kin]

2)On one of the broadcasts they did mention that the referee's did complain that they felt more in danger of injury because of how much cheating/leaning in was happening.  In particular, players would sometimes have their feet so far up, they'd be right behind the linesman's skate and they could fall backwards trying to get away from the dot after dropping the puck.  Or, their hands could get hit by sticks/helmets encroaching on the area right above the dot.  I think the league/GM's took that into account when they came up with this- by having the players have to stay back a bit, linesmen/refs are better protected. 

I think that probably would have needed to actually have happened once to be, you know, a pressing concern.

 

[Zee]

I had a Sens fan buddy of mine taunting me through text messages after both games. Like seriously, preseason games.  Man I hate Sens fans.

 

[Coco-puffs]

2)On one of the broadcasts they did mention that the referee's did complain that they felt more in danger of injury because of how much cheating/leaning in was happening.  In particular, players would sometimes have their feet so far up, they'd be right behind the linesman's skate and they could fall backwards trying to get away from the dot after dropping the puck.  Or, their hands could get hit by sticks/helmets encroaching on the area right above the dot.  I think the league/GM's took that into account when they came up with this- by having the players have to stay back a bit, linesmen/refs are better protected. 

I think that probably would have needed to actually have happened once to be, you know, a pressing concern.

I'm assuming your passive aggressiveness is regarding the linesmen tripping over the centermen's skates? I agree, I don't recollect centers tripping the linesmen because their skates are behind them.  I think they may have confused the centers tripping the linesman compared to wingers getting in the way off a scramble draw- which has definitely happened.  I was paraphrasing what I heard on the broadcast and may have done a poor job of it.  So sue me.

However, players coming in too close IS a concern and HAS happened before:

Faceoffs can also be physically tough on linesmen. Players often get low on the draw to turn on the puck, so they?ll slide their hand down the stick, revealing the butt-end. When the players turn, linesmen will often get hit in the body or in the face, so it might be surprising to see them crouch low to drop the puck.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/a-refs-life-the-anatomy-of-a-faceoff

And there?s a protection factor for the linesmen, who were taking helmets and butt-ends to the face.

?Basically, there are many rules and areas players and coaches grind away at and the faceoff was one,? Campbell said. ?After hearing from players and linesmen on this we are attempting to bring it back in line.?

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/09/19/leafs-face-adjustment-period-amid-nhl-faceoff-rule-crackdown.html