Bettman’s mad science experiment is underway

“Hey guys, are they looking at widening the surface again? If so, where’s the other half of the rink?” Photo – Chris Johnston (Canadian Press)

Day one of the NHL’s Research, Development and Orientation camp on Wednesday certainly brought some interesting experiments that may, or may not be implied to improve the game.

The camp is being supervised by former NHL player and current league VP of hockey and business development, Brendan Shanahan. A great background into how the camp came to be comes from Yahoo!’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika.

A quick recap of the first days’s events and observations can be found from the Canadian Press (via the Globe and Mail).

As teams of prospects, from the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, worked through the drills using the new rule suggestions. The results were observed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and a host of league GMs. The Washington Capitals’ Bruce Boudreau was the only active NHL coach on hand.

Leafs GM and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman observe the camp, discussing what potential rule changes will benefit the Toronto Maple Leafs – Toronto Star Photo

There are several things I agree on, notably the hybrid icing rule, albeit a tad confusing at times, as injuries are getting out of hand.

I wasn’t big on it at one time, but after last season’s post-season “too many men” drinking game, it may be needed as coaches and players can’t seem to communicate line changes as thoroughly in the louder NHL rinks. The blue areas are likely to be called the Don Cherry zones, after the strong proponent of the idea and goat of one of the most infamous too-many-men calls in hockey history.

The shallower goals (40” instead of 44”) wouldn’t make much of a difference to a goalie, and would speed up the pace with a bit more room behind the goal. I also like the larger creases,

I’m not sure what using a red mesh in the goalie net would accomplish, as it is being toyed with to make it easier for shooters to see the puck. NHL goalies would likely respond by wearing red pads, no matter what team they played on.

The 3-on-3 OT experiment seemed to impress many and would likely reduce shootouts. They also had the goalies change ends in the OT frame, something most GM's believe should happen.

The 2-on-2 overtime test seemed to be just a joke.

“We just had a 2-on-2 offside. Somebody get out the gong,” The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau noted on the magazine’s Twitter account. He later went on to tweet, “If the NHL ever adopts 2-on-2 OT, we all have to agree to band together & stage a coupe at league HQ.”

I am definitely not a fan of the the idea of just setting the puck on the faceoff dot and making the players wait for the whistle. It reminds me too much of some kind of dog-training exercise.

From a cosmetic point of view, I still have to figure out what the purpose of doubling the width of the blue line is. It makes no sense to me.

As for a single faceoff circle in one end, blah! I like the idea of finding a way for discouraging players to deliberately stop play in their own end, but that just doesn’t look right. Personally I think coaches it will take away from faceoff strategies, making the game more preictable and boring.

More on day one of the camp from Yahoo!’s Greg Wyshinski

Thursday’s agenda includes:

• No touch icing, where the team that commits an offside infraction cannot make a line change and face-off is in offending team zone.
• Face-off variation: After a face-off violation, opposition center may choose his face-off opponent.
• Second referee located off the playing surface
• Delayed penalty rule
• No icing the puck while shorthanded

Ultimately the camp gives the NHL a chance to work through some ideas, as good or bad as they may be, and decide what is right for the future of the game. This blogger is  just hopeful that they just don’t get too overboard and literally change the face of the game.

Can it get any weirder in Phoenix?

 

cartoon by Kagan McLeod, National Post

Ok, so I’m not much of a fan of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, I’m sure many of you aren’t.

But when it comes to the current situation in Phoenix, Bettman is the smart one in the battle for control of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Just yesterday in the courtroom of Judge Redfield T. Baum, the Blackberry billionaire Jim Balsillie’s group of legal, yet logistically challenged, eagles threw another one out that makes you say, “WTF?".

During Wednesday’s proceedings, in an attempt to get the NHL’s  governors 26-0 vote to reject Balsillie as an owner, his attorney Jeff Kessler stated that if successful, they may have to move the team mid-season.

“We may have to move during the season,” Kessler said.

What?!

Pick up a fledgling franchise, then haul it, not to the nearest city or state, but halfway up the continent?

Way to earn points with the Judge and the NHL there, Mr. Kessler.

Move a team mid-season. That will fill the already near empty seats in Glendale won’t it? They’d have to put dummies wearing the unsold merchandise in the seats to keep the teams from thinking they’re in a scrimmage.

Then there’s the players and he NHLPA to get around. What a mess that would be for not one or two, but an entire roster to pack up their belongings and move part way into the season.

You also have the scheduling and travel for the other 29 NHL teams to contend with, which is likely already being or has been arranged.

Should we not also forget that City of Glendale also weighs in with it’s lease agreement or that the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton is also home to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs?

After Wednesday’s court proceedings, Bettman spoke to the media.

“I think the arguments by PSE (the company Balsillie formed to pursue the Coyotes) on moving the club treats rather frivolously the issues that all sports leagues have,” he said.

“I think it disrespects the game and it disrespects the players and what they have to go through night in and night out to do the great things they do on the ice.”

“Of all the things that were argued, and they were important, that one strikes a chord that showed a lack of respect for the game.”

Bettman defended the huge financial commitment the NHL is willing to make and vowed a court fight to the finish.

“There’s nothing more important to any sports league than who owns its franchises, where its franchises are located and the application and enforceability of its rules and procedures,” he said.

“If you’re in this business you’ve got to do whatever it takes to enforce your rules in that regard.”

Bettman is absolutely right.

“Whatever he rules, whenever he rules it I’m going to respect his ruling,” said Balsillie at the courtroom.

“That being said, obviously I still think that our bid is by far the best for creditors, for fans and for the long-term viability of the team. All I wanted from the beginning was a chance for a level playing field, a court-supervised auction where we can participate.”

This was the first time since Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes took the team into bankruptcy, that Balsillie was in the courtroom.

In light of the highest bid on the table to purchase the Coyotes, it’s clear that he just wants to get his franchise and move it.

He clearly he has no compassion for the concerns of the players and staff of the franchise and, in my opinion, no respect for the courts.

The entire process by Balsillie has been a tactically flawed mess from the get go.

First, he and Coyotes principal owner Jerry Moyes attempt a behind the back deal for the purchase of the team.

Then during the initial hearings, Judge Baum notes that up to that point, Balsillie hadn’t even filed a formal intent to purchase with the NHL. Basically saying that he was putting the cart before the horse.

Balsillie then puts in a formal offer and gets blanked by the governors.

He pulls his deal off the table, but then puts it back on but gives Judge Baum a deadline of September 14 to render a decision.

I’m no CNN Legal analyst, but is giving a deadline to a judge a smart thing?

Baum, who name is as common in this situation as Judge Ito’s was in the O.J. trial, summed it up by saying, “Either they (Balsillie’s team) have the ability to force themselves into the league, in a simple sense, or they don’t. “If they don’t, then game over.”

The judge also noted that a ruling Balsillie’s favor would be unprecedented.

Court was adjourned Wednesday afternoon, and there was no immediate word on when Judge Baum will make his ruling, or when the next step in the protracted battle between Balsillie and the NHL will occur prior to the scheduled auction date of September 10.

I hate to defend Gary Bettman, but it basically it comes down to this.

He was hired and given the task to grow the NHL in the United States. That was/is his job.

When you realize that only five NHL teams (the Canadiens have a pending sale to the Molson brothers) are not U.S. owned, along with the better populated markets, you could see why.

There has been hockey success in Phoenix, at other levels, and the NHL is determined to make it work.

It has nothing to do with Bettman being anti-Canadian or, for tat matter, the City of Hamilton. He’s doing what was asked of him.

One has to remember that it wasn’t long a go that a franchise in Pittsburgh was in a similar situation.

Amazing what a difference a few years makes.

Hockey at the Big Owe??? Is this wise??

The Olympic Stadium in Motnreal with it's permanent roof after the retractable one failed.

The Globe and Mail reports that the Montreal Canadiens will play host to the Washington Capitals at Olympic Stadium.

The 2009-10 NHL sked doesn't officially come put until tomorrow.

Gotta wonder if this is such a good idea?

Ovechkin vs. hockey's greatest franchise during their centennial is a financial jackpot for the league.

But, the crowd in the Bell Centre is loud enough, so does one honestly think that the financial and structural disaster from the 1976 Olympics is a safe bet to house 50,000 screaming hockey fans?

I recalled the chunk of concrete breaking off in '94 and the fire in the tower during a Montreal Expos game in '86, but Robert Lefebvre from Habs Eyes on the Prize dug up a list of several other structural problems and incidents that the stadium has faced since it's first use.

Now if a piece of concrete took out NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, many fans would see it as the greatest day in NHL history.

Personally, seeing Youppi under a steel beam wouldn't be so bad for me. I never liked that little orange fuzzball, even with the Expos.

Accolades and honors still come for Jean Beliveau

Having been removed from playing the game of hockey for 38 years, Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau is still well recognized in the hockey world.

Today, the 77-year-old Hall of Famer was announced as the honorary captain for Canada’s 2010 Olympic Hockey Team.

Béliveau received a Team Canada jersey, bearing the famous No. 4 that he wore with the Canadiens for twenty years.

Former teammates Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer were on hand to present the jersey at a news conference for the Hockey Canada Foundation gala and celebrity golf tournament on Monday in Montreal.

“It's unbelievable to think of some of the players who never had the chance to represent Canada in international play,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada.

“It's about time we see the great Jean Béliveau in a Team Canada sweater.”

Béliveau was a ten-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with the Canadiens and added seven more as an executive.

His seventeen appearances on the Stanley Cup is a record in the NHL as his his team record ten years as captain.

Béliveau was the first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the playoff MVP, in 1965.

He recorded 1219 points (507 goals, 712 assists) in 1125 games during the regular season and 176 points (79G, 97A) in 162 playoff games.

He retired as a player in 1971, missing the ‘72 Summit Series.

Since the IIHF did not allow professionals to compete in the World Championships until 1977, Béliveau never had an opportunity to compete at an international level.

Earlier this month, Béliveau received a Lifetime Achievement award from the NHL, for his dedication to the game of hockey, during the 2009 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman could not have summed it up any better when he told the audience;

“Jean Béliveau was a star, a statesman of our game. He is the emblem of elegance and class.”

OK, well maybe he could have said it a bit better, Jean Béliveau still IS a star.

Below is just a portion of the list of NHL and non-NHL awards Jean Béliveau has received

Stanley Cups	10 as a player, 7 as executive
Hart Trophy	1956, 1964
Art Ross Trophy	1956
Conn Smythe Trophy	1965, inaugural winner
All-Star Game appearances	14
First Team All-Star, 2nd Team	Six times, Four times
Jersey No.4 retired by Canadiens	October 9, 1971
Hockey Hall of Fame	1972
Honorary Degree in Physical Education (Univ. of Moncton)	1972
Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee	1981
Knight of the National Order of Quebec	1988 and promoted to officer in 2006
Loyola Medal (Loyola College)	1995
Companion of the Order of Canada	1998
Canada’s Walk of Fame	2001
Canada Postage Stamp	2001
Honorary Doctorate of Laws – McGill University	2006
NHL Lifetime Achievement Award	2009
Honorary Captain - 2010 Team Canada Olympic Hockey Team	2009

Jean Béliveau was also offered the post of Governor General of Canada in 1994, but declined the position due to personal reasons.