Flames favour crackdown on slashing
Changes to NHL slashing and faceoff rules could work to team’s benefit this season
Don't expect the Calgary Flames to join the chorus of complainants whining about the slashing and faceoff crackdowns drawing all the rage this pre-season.
After all, the increased vigilance on the officials' part should ultimately benefit the club.
“I think it will benefit guys like Johnny (Gaudreau), who gets hacked and whacked,” said Kris Versteeg of the reinforcement of a slashing rule.
“If it sticks, it definitely will benefit a lot of guys. And I like it.”
With an eye on showcasing the speed and skill of the game — not to mention protecting players from injuries — the NHL's player safety department announced last month it would not tolerate slashes of any kind to the wrist or hand area.
The pre-season crackdown has led to a bevy of double-digit penalty totals by several teams aided by a zero tolerance for players who line up for faceoffs with their skates touching the paint.
It has also led to endless moaning from players and fans — likely many of those who wanted the slashing crackdown in the first place — who say it's killing the flow and pace of games.
Imagine, tedious pre-season games. Oh, the humanity.
Brad Marchand called it a “joke.” Others couldn't be quoted in a family newspaper.
“I talked to the players about it today,” said Flames coach Glen Gulutzan of the biggest issue in the pre-season so far.
“You can complain and resist, but if you're quicker to adapt it's only going to benefit you and your team. The rule changes are there and we've got to be quick to adapt and that's our mindset.” Like it or not. Fact is, while many teams have punctuated their pre-season tilts with frustrated reactions to the penalty box parades, the Flames have largely shrugged it off.
“I think it's necessary, for sure,” said Versteeg, who thinks both issues had gotten way out of hand.
“You see a lot of guys on our team get hurt. I think (slashing) is unnecessary at times. It's kind of like the old hooking and holding after the last lockout — once we get used to it, I think the pace of the game will settle right in.”
It's exactly like the post-lockout crackdown, which saw a hue and cry throughout the penalty filled pre-season and first few regular season games, until players figured it out.
Versteeg figures the same will happen, predicting by games 2 and 3 of the regular season this will be an old story.
“This will find a balance and guys will figure it out,” agreed GM Brad Treliving, who was one of the 31 general managers who asked the league for such a crackdown this summer.
“It's hard in these first few games because you're trying to evaluate guys and there's limited five-on-five play. But what you evaluate a little is their brains. If you tell them not to slash guys and they keep slashing guys, at some point maybe that tells you something, too.”
Michael Frolik took a slashing penalty on his second shift of the pre-season, fully admitting it was a foul that made him think twice the rest of the game.
“I just realized right away it was wrong — it was a one-hand slash on a stick and it wouldn't have been called last year,” said Frolik.
“We're looking to play a fast game and we have some guys who can skate and I think it could be good for us.
“I think it's good because in the playoffs last year there was too much slashing. It got out of hand. And I hope it will be the same in the regular season as it is in the playoffs. The referees always change a little in the playoffs with slashing and stuff like that.”
Flames hopeful Tanner Glass said the officials spoke to the players before Game 1 of the preseason, explaining, “there will be no more coaching” in the faceoff circle.
If one player steps on the hash marks, he is waved from the draw. If the replacement player does the same, he gets a penalty. No more warnings. The league believes it will make the draws much more fair as well as prevent players from head-butting and putting officials in compromising positions.
“The faceoffs are something that needed to change too,” said Versteeg.
“I know some guys aren't happy right now to varying degrees and that's fine. But personally I like the faceoff rule too. In the past, however long, it was just a scrum. You couldn't create anything off faceoffs and that's what they're looking for — some clean faceoffs to generate a little more offence and positional play.”
It's seen as a chance for the game's best players to showcase their talents and, ultimately, score more.
Oh, and stay healthy.