Slashing on NHL owners’ agenda
MONTREAL — When the NHL decided to crack down on slashing this year, it likely didn’t have the golf swing- type slash that Buffalo’s Marco Scandella unleashed on Pittsburgh’s Patric Hornqvist’s ankle in mind.
That vicious slash, which earned the Sabres defenceman a maximum $ 5,000 fine, would have been a penalty in 1970s.
While injuries to Johnny Gaudreau and Marc Methot last year prompted the league to take a firmer stance on how players were reckless using their sticks, it’s been the minor slashes that have received the most attention so far this season. Forget about the two- handed whacks across the ankles. Even the mildest love tap now leads to a trip to the penalty box.
Slashing is by far the most- called of the 10 minor penalty infractions. Heading into Thursday’s games, there were 433 slashing penalties. That was 112 more penalties than tripping.
As a result, the average number of power plays has increased from 2.99 last season to 3.51 after six weeks. More power play opportunities equal more offensive opportunities, which could explain why scoring has also increased from 2.77 to 3.04.
“The game is getting faster and the rules are trending towards players that play with skill and speed,” said Coyotes GM John Chayka. “I think it’s good for the game. It just goes to show that in order to defend, you have to do so with your feet at this level.”
Is the league going too far? Should it go even further?
Well, that’s just one of the questions that will be asked during Friday’s annual GM meetings. This year’s meetings, which will feature 31 general managers, coincide with the 100- year anniversary of the league, which is why they are being held at the site of the first- ever meetings in Montreal when the NHL consisted of only four teams.
“From what was called in preseason to where we are now, it’s certainly changed a little bit,” said Devils GM Ray Shero. “Where is the happy medium in terms of what we want in terms of protecting the players? If we’re going to do it, how consistent are you going to be with it not just throughout the season but in the time of the game?”
According to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, whose team has taken the most minor penalties and secondmost slashing penalties, the league has no intention of lessening the standard. At the same time, he doesn’t expect a steady parade to the penalty box.
“The players have adjusted,” said Penguins GM Jim Rutherford. “They always do. Players are very smart and anytime we put something in new they always adjust to it. It was a little way to cheat a little way a bit on defending and I think that’s what we’re seeing. Some of the things we’ve changed in our game — well, not changed but clamped down on — the interference, the obstruction, the hooking and now the slashing, really gets to the point where it becomes really hard for players to defend when teams are coming with a lot of speed.
“It may level off a little bit, because the players adjust to it. But I don’t think it’s going to level off because the standard could change.”
The November meetings are typically not a time when changes are made. That comes when the GMs meet again in March. For now, it’s a chance to review what’s been working with about a quarter of the season in the books.
From face- off violations and the coach’s challenge to goalie interference and power plays in overtime, here are five hot topics on Friday’s agenda:
FACEOFF VIOLATIONS
It was during the pre- season when Boston’s Brad Marchad called the new faceoff standards “an absolute joke.” It was more confusion than anger. Over the years, players had bent the rules to the point where subtle cheats became part of the strategy in being able to win a faceoff. Now, those same players were being penalized. The GMs will discuss how to better get the officials and the players on the same page as to what is and what is not allowed. “It’s ref to ref,” Blackhawks centre Nick Schmaltz told the Chicago Tribune. “Some guys are a little more lenient. Some guys, if you do anything a little bit wrong you’re getting tossed.”
COACHES CHALLENGE
When the NHL allowed coaches to challenge potential offsides when a goal was scored, a Pandora’s box opened up. Suddenly, everything was being challenged with no consequences. This year, a failed challenge results in a penalty. It’s caused coaches to think twice before challenging — you could go down two goals if you’re wrong — but it’s also gone away from why the challenge was put in there in the first place: To get the call right. “I thought it was a little bit harsh,” said Rutherford, “It has cut down on the reviews. But the question is, ‘ has there been some offsides missed?’ ”
ONE- MINUTE PENALTIES IN OT
This one is interesting and it sort of makes a lot of sense. When a penalty is called in overtime, a team goes on a 4- on- 3 — rather than a 5- on- 4 — man- advantage. That’s a massive difference. Fewer bodies on the ice allow skill players the extra space to make plays and get more shots on net. The question is whether a oneminute power play in overtime is the equivalent of a two- minute power play in regulation? We hope the answer is yes, because it would ultimately mean more time for 3- on- 3 hockey, which is the best part of the game anyway.
PUCK OVER GLASS
Ever since Brian Campbell accidentally cleared a puck over the glass in the 2006 conference final, the mandatory delay of game penalty has been a source of contention. Don’t expect this one to get solved anytime soon, but there is talk again of whether officials should determine a player’s intent when a puck goes out of play. It’s similar to when a net is knocked off its moorings. But for a league that seems to be finding new and inventive ways to call more and more penalties, anything that results in fewer power play chances ( and goals) is likely to die a quick death.
GOALIE INTERFERENCE
Like the faceoff violation, the grey area concerning goalie interference is massive. The rule leaves too much room for interpretation and is called with inconsistency. This was apparent during last year’s playoffs, when Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler grabbed the goalie pad of Edmonton’s Cam Talbot on a goal that wasn’t disallowed for interference. Even the video examples that general managers received prior to Friday’s meetings left some confused as to what is and isn’t allowed. “The more you watch it, there’s a lot of nuances that make that job very difficult,” said Chayka. “Everybody wants the right call, but sometimes it’s hard to get the right call.”