Wow it looks like they are making a bunch.

Red Line won't be used in two line passes anymore ... so you would have to go blue line to blue line ...

Goalie equip is going to be MUCH smaller.

OT will be 4v4, then 3v3, then shootout.

There will be no more ties in the standings, only Wins, Losses, OT Losses, and Shootout losses.

No more touch for icing ... just auto wistled.

Offsides is getting changed too ... players can now tag up if they are offsides.

Gonna be a lot more open.

if hockey ever returns

Does anyone even know what issues they are fighting about

and have they made any progress on those issues.

**************

Wonder financially how many players, owners, teams are hurting due to this stoppage.

Hockey will return, and will return for next season.

I expect an announcement by the end of July.

yay NHL is gonna be back

goalie equipment is gonna be smaller- fair!? i wouldn't like to be a goalie- it hurts so much getting hit by a puck at full speed- with or without padding- lol!

should be good!!

Goalie equipment is WAY to freakin big right now, its ridiculious.

I still say we should pad em right ep with loads of equipment.... role them into the net....then they won't be able to move. hehe!!

All of these rule changes are hilarious. The one I agree with is make the equipment smaller for the goalie, but all they had to do is call the game with the rules in place. Why you can hack and hook and crosscheck and so on is beyond me. The rules state otherwise but all of the crusty dinosaurs say "let them play!!!" Well, that is ruining the game, actually, it did ruin the game and that is what pisses me off. Look at basketball. A foul is a foul is a foul no matter what time oif the game it is. Same with football. You don't see pass interference not called just because it is late in the game. I hate the way the game is played and if they would let the stars play and do their thing, the game would be so much better.

Teams, owners and the big players aren't hurting because of this stoppage. The teams/owners had created a fund a couple years back incase they had to do a lock out and supposedly they're good for a season or two with the lockout money. The players that make a good 10 mil a year, they're not hurting. The only ones that are hurting are the rookies and the players that don't make a lot of cash.

Wasn't it announced yesterday that a deal will be made in about a week??

the lockout has been quite good in that NHL players have been playing in our humble british league this year, so got to see some really good talent.

but lets get it back! trusty NHL

the rules for the most part seem ok.

I could honestly care less if the NHL returns. I didn't really miss it and as far as I'm concerned these overpaid neandrathals can rot and get a real job and see how good their measly 2 million dollar paycheck really was. I can't stand the fact that these guys play a game that we all love and they are crying over a 25% paycut. So if you make 1 mill and drop to 750, can you really not afford that house in the Hamptons and your trip to Cancun twice a year? Fuck them, I hope they sit on their fat asses and then go flip some burgers to earn a living.

lol.

i do agree that they get way over paid- i understand its quite a risky career because of injuries etc and its a short career so they would need more money maybe for when they finish- i.e. they should save up.

but what about the smaller leagues and amatuers!

it was a pathetic thing to strike about really.

The argument that they use, that it is a short career and they need to make all they can while they can is rubbish. In Canada, if you make $100,000 a year, you are considered to be making one of the top 5% of salaries. $50,000 is a very good salary here. But when you make $750,000 a year and you cannot " feed your family?" Go fuck yourself. That is preposterous and if they can't make do with that, then go work at 7-11 part time and make 250 a week. Fuckin retards. And they wonder why the fans are so disillussioned with them.

They missed one crucial change: the one where NHL does not open a franchise in every hillbilly town where nobody carea bout hockey.

Good point. Does Columbus even know what a zamboni is?

The first two or three months without hockey was hard on me. But it just got easier to go without it. I started watching more live games with the Sudbury Wolves. OHL is much more down to earth then the NHL. Those youngins have respect for the game.

I'm curious how the free agent market will change things.

From what I read, the Rangers (for ex) have only 5 contracted players remaining?

Should be interesting?

Problem with that is that the youngins eventually become pros and then they get greedy also.

But there's always an ample amount of replacements for those youngins.

On a happy note, WELCOME BACK NHL!

Funny how the players got stiffed with such a shitty deal.

i'm mildly glad that the lockout is over....somewhat...

I bet you that barely anyone out of canada noticed the lock out.

lol definitely. everyone i talked to about it here in the states could have cared less that hockey was gone. but, hey i'm happy that canada can officially be taken off suicide watch

Me and my friends went into a depression during the lockout... now it's time to break out the booze

These are they keys here in my opinion. Any sport where ties are frequent is flawed.