Isn't it amazing how some of the smallest changes can make the biggest impacts? After years of altering rules, moving lines and re-thinking the game, the NHL made what has proven to be the best change in the sport with the introduction of the hurry-up faceoff.
The impact continues to be felt in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Games that have stretched through several overtimes feel like they are being played at real speed, because the lingering has been removed. Players can no longer catch that extra breath by hobbling toward the faceoff circle.
In fact, there are now murmurs that the games are too fast, at least during the regular season. Could it be that there is not enough time at the concession stands or maybe not enough time for replays in television?
Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock, who is adamant that the sport does not need a shootout to settle ties during the regular season, sees this speeded up process as a way to help eliminate all the ties.
"I think we should look at extending that overtime (from five) to 10 minutes," said Hitchcock. "The four-on-four is great, but can you imagine if it was for 10 minutes? We'd have a lot fewer tie games.
"And the beauty is that we have already cut down the time of games with the new rules, so why not a longer overtime? It's a lot better alternative than a shootout, and it's still settling the game the way it should be played."
The aftermath
The conclusion of the first-round of the playoffs raised many questions about the future of some organizations, especially the ousted Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche.
Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix took a huge gamble when he fired Bob Hartley and replaced him with a raw rookie coach in Tony Granato, and then got a bad break when Granato and the Avs were matched against coach Jacques Lemaire and the Minnesota Wild.
Granato's job is safe, so the biggest questions about the Avalanche will involve the return of Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg. The club will pick up Roy's option ($8.5 million) for next season, but Roy has to want to come back. Forsberg is a free agent on July 1. The threat isn't Forsberg signing with another NHL club, but rather him returning to Sweden.
Look for both players to return and the Avalanche -- and perhaps even Lacroix to make on more run at the Cup. Next season is the last that we are likely to see a team with the ability to use its wallet as a weapon, so don't be surprised if the Avalanche make a run at Teemu Selanne for a one-year deal.
And after next season, don't be surprised if Forsberg, Roy and Lacroix move on to other challenges.
Speaking of Selanne, figure the New Jersey Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs to be in the bidding for his services, too.
Lindros on the move?
A story by Larry Brooks in the New York Post last week revealed that the Rangers are trying to trade Eric Lindros. No surprise there, but what may occur is that Lindros agrees to a more reasonable contract in which he not rewarded for staying out of harm's way. The present deal calls for huge bonus money that can lead to over $9 million per season if he avoids a concussion.
At this point, it would seem only fair and reasonable that Lindros agree to a new deal based on performance bonuses, not games played. Then again, it has always been Lindros's dream to play for the Maple Leafs.
The problem is that Lindros's dream is Pat Quinn's nightmare. And unless Quinn gets overruled, there won't be a trade with the Maple Leafs.
Changes in St. Louis?
The St. Louis Blues suffered a flat-out disaster in the first round, and general manager Larry Pleau now finds himself on the hot seat. Although a $60 million payroll does not guarantee success (witness the Rangers, Red Wings, Flyers, Avalanche) it sure doesn't help job security after multiple bad seasons.
The Blues got the wrong goalie at the trade deadline when they settled for Chris Osgood. In the long run, the Blues probably did the correct thing when they refused to be held up by Phoenix which wanted rookie defenseman Barret Jackman for Sean Burke.
But in the short-term it could cost jobs. And watch for the Blues to wind up with Burke during the summer.
If Pleau does leave St. Louis there are a couple of teams that should be interested -- the first being Buffalo, where Darcy Regier is on very thin ice after the ownership change.
If Regier stays in Buffalo it will be a situation similar to San Jose, where Dean Lombardi had little margin for error after an ownership change. The GM merry-go-round will likely involve former Rangers boss Neil Smith, who would love the job in San Jose, and would likely be considered in Buffalo. And don't be surprised if Lombardi winds up in Chicago to take over for Mike Smith.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1545409
The impact continues to be felt in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Games that have stretched through several overtimes feel like they are being played at real speed, because the lingering has been removed. Players can no longer catch that extra breath by hobbling toward the faceoff circle.
In fact, there are now murmurs that the games are too fast, at least during the regular season. Could it be that there is not enough time at the concession stands or maybe not enough time for replays in television?
Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock, who is adamant that the sport does not need a shootout to settle ties during the regular season, sees this speeded up process as a way to help eliminate all the ties.
"I think we should look at extending that overtime (from five) to 10 minutes," said Hitchcock. "The four-on-four is great, but can you imagine if it was for 10 minutes? We'd have a lot fewer tie games.
"And the beauty is that we have already cut down the time of games with the new rules, so why not a longer overtime? It's a lot better alternative than a shootout, and it's still settling the game the way it should be played."
The aftermath
The conclusion of the first-round of the playoffs raised many questions about the future of some organizations, especially the ousted Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche.
Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix took a huge gamble when he fired Bob Hartley and replaced him with a raw rookie coach in Tony Granato, and then got a bad break when Granato and the Avs were matched against coach Jacques Lemaire and the Minnesota Wild.
Granato's job is safe, so the biggest questions about the Avalanche will involve the return of Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg. The club will pick up Roy's option ($8.5 million) for next season, but Roy has to want to come back. Forsberg is a free agent on July 1. The threat isn't Forsberg signing with another NHL club, but rather him returning to Sweden.
Look for both players to return and the Avalanche -- and perhaps even Lacroix to make on more run at the Cup. Next season is the last that we are likely to see a team with the ability to use its wallet as a weapon, so don't be surprised if the Avalanche make a run at Teemu Selanne for a one-year deal.
And after next season, don't be surprised if Forsberg, Roy and Lacroix move on to other challenges.
Speaking of Selanne, figure the New Jersey Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs to be in the bidding for his services, too.
Lindros on the move?
A story by Larry Brooks in the New York Post last week revealed that the Rangers are trying to trade Eric Lindros. No surprise there, but what may occur is that Lindros agrees to a more reasonable contract in which he not rewarded for staying out of harm's way. The present deal calls for huge bonus money that can lead to over $9 million per season if he avoids a concussion.
At this point, it would seem only fair and reasonable that Lindros agree to a new deal based on performance bonuses, not games played. Then again, it has always been Lindros's dream to play for the Maple Leafs.
The problem is that Lindros's dream is Pat Quinn's nightmare. And unless Quinn gets overruled, there won't be a trade with the Maple Leafs.
Changes in St. Louis?
The St. Louis Blues suffered a flat-out disaster in the first round, and general manager Larry Pleau now finds himself on the hot seat. Although a $60 million payroll does not guarantee success (witness the Rangers, Red Wings, Flyers, Avalanche) it sure doesn't help job security after multiple bad seasons.
The Blues got the wrong goalie at the trade deadline when they settled for Chris Osgood. In the long run, the Blues probably did the correct thing when they refused to be held up by Phoenix which wanted rookie defenseman Barret Jackman for Sean Burke.
But in the short-term it could cost jobs. And watch for the Blues to wind up with Burke during the summer.
If Pleau does leave St. Louis there are a couple of teams that should be interested -- the first being Buffalo, where Darcy Regier is on very thin ice after the ownership change.
If Regier stays in Buffalo it will be a situation similar to San Jose, where Dean Lombardi had little margin for error after an ownership change. The GM merry-go-round will likely involve former Rangers boss Neil Smith, who would love the job in San Jose, and would likely be considered in Buffalo. And don't be surprised if Lombardi winds up in Chicago to take over for Mike Smith.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1545409
