NHL 2006 (the REAL game)

When I first heard about the rule changes I sighed and rolled my eyes, because
I thought that us hockey purists had just lost a major battle in the war to
preserve the game. Instead of EA Sports making their game closer to reality,
the REAL NHL had gone and made their game more like EA Sports!!!

Now that I've actually had a chance to watch the new rules in effect, well... I
have to say that I like just about EVERY rule change except the one where
goalies can only play the puck behind the goal line in that little trapezoid
area. It makes for a much livelier game where your team could still come back
if down by two goals in the third period.

On zero-tolerance interference calls...
I really thought that this was going to ba aweful, that the defense would have
their hands tied, and that the offense could just walk in and score, but this
hasn't really been the case. What it DOES do is force the defense to PLAY
defense, not substitute poor work ethics with clutching and grabbing. Instead,
once the defense adapts to the new enforcement of the rules, you'll see
spectacular DEFENSIVE talent displayed like never before. Just as the
defensive backs in the NFL had to adapt to rules designed to limit their
ability to interfere with the receiver and become better players for it, you'll
see the same from the NHL's d-men...

On tag-up offsides...
I was anxiously awaiting the return of this rule. There's nothing more
miserable than watching the game flow get chopped to pieces because a winger
was a step early into the offensive zone on a rush - especially since sometimes
they seem to happen in bunches - now he can peel back and dash back across the
line and re-renter the play. Sure, the attacking team will temporarily be one
(or more) player(s) shy for a bit, but at least they can stall for time until
help arrives. At least it's not the dreaded "offsides" whistle where
everything comes to a grinding halt...

On the new zone dimensions and the elimination of the red line as a factor in
the two line pass...
I LIKE the shrunken neutral zone. I LOVE the new red line rules. I HATE the
goal line being moved back. The shrunken neutral zone means more area for the
offense to roam, especially in a power play. That means less stray pucks going
out of the offensive zone, meaning more sustained pressure on the defense. It
also means that the defense must cover a larger area on the ice, leading to
more scoring chances. The new red line rules make the "home run" pass a thing
to be feared, and because of that, you REALLY have to watch the man coming out
of the penalty box! The one downside to the dimension changes is that the goal
line has been moved back some. The intent was to make it tougher on the goalie
because pucks bouncing off the end boards have a better chance of coming back
out in front of the net, leading to more scoring chances, which is fine with
me. In reality, though, it creates a bottleneck behind the net and makes it
very difficult to set up offensive plays behind the net.

On rules affecting the goalie...
I feel sorry for the goalies. Gone are the days of the 2.00 GAA, 3.00 might
even be unusual now. Even while I lament the demise of the 2-0 shutout, I
realize that now your team still has life if down two goals late in the third
period. The only rule that I dislike is the new puck handling rules. I think
they tip the scales a bit too far in the offense's direction. I figure if you
decrease the size of the goalie's equipment and make the end boards a bigger
factor in the game, the least you could do is cut him some slack by letting him
handle the puck the way he wants. I hate the way the goalie has to just sit
there and watch the puck sitting there in the corner, just waiting for the
opposing team to pick up the puck and deposit itin the net...

Other stuff...
The change in the fighting rules? Whatever. Players getting tagged for delay
of game when flipping the puck over the glass, like a goalie? I can take it or
leave it. No defensive line changes on an icing? Silly, but I'll live with it
(although I still think the defense should be rewarded with a line change if
they can manage to get the puck down the ice after surviving the predicted
offensive onslaughts brought on by the rule changes).

Sorry, the message board has bit slow lately.

Bill