| With the ratification of the Collective Bargaining | | | | the game. One game suspensions and a $10,000 fine |
| Agreement completed, devoted fans of the game | | | | to the instigating players' coach are manditory |
| breathe a sigh of relief. With each new week that | | | | penalties. Fighting will always remain an exciting part of |
| goes by, curiousity grows to see what effect the new | | | | hockey from a fan's perspective, regardless of |
| rule changes will do for the game, and the movement | | | | bleeding heart support to stop the act of throwing the |
| of players in all directions due to an implemented salary | | | | gloves off.5) Changes to the way linesmen approach |
| cap brings a very real excitement and anticipation for | | | | icing will hopefully reduce the worrisome issue of |
| the upcoming 2005 NHL Season.The work and | | | | dangerous end board collisions that occur during races |
| sacrifices that the league, owners, and players have | | | | for the puck.6) Goaltender padding will finally be |
| done to make the new season a reality is to be | | | | reduced. The days of seeing ridiculously large |
| commended. Gary Bettman, never with due | | | | equipement on goaltenders are over. Scoreboards will |
| appreciation it seems, has done a fantastic job at the | | | | no doubt show the effects of this rule change.7) The |
| helm of the league for over a decade. Owners and | | | | elimination of tie games due to the incorporation of a |
| General Managers of teams such as the Edmonton | | | | shootout is a welcome addition by most fans of the |
| Oilers and Calgary Flames now have the opportunity | | | | game. A tie game at the end of regulation will be |
| to compete, for the most part, on an equal playing | | | | followed by a four-on-four five minute overtime, and |
| field.A Summary of Rule Changes for the 2005 NHL | | | | then followed by a three man per team shootout if |
| Season:1) The goal line will be moved two feet closer | | | | both teams are still deadlocked. If still tied after this, |
| to the end boards, and the blue lines moved two feet | | | | then a sudden death shootout will begin to produce a |
| further away from the goal lines to give an extra four | | | | winning team. The winning team will receive two points: |
| feet in the offensive end. Tension during powerplays | | | | the loser in overtime or a shootout one point; and the |
| will increase for the fans of short-handed teams.2) | | | | loser in regulation zero points.A Summary of Player |
| The red line will be disregarded for the two-line pass | | | | Movement:Mike Peca, Jeremy Roenick, Darian |
| rule, giving rise to a faster game and more breakaway | | | | Hatcher, Peter Forsberg, Tony Amonte, Paul Kariya, |
| opportunities to watch.3) The tag-up rule will give | | | | Bobby Holik, Scott Niedermayer, Nikolai Khabibulin, |
| offensive players who've overshot the blue line into the | | | | Sergei Gonchar, Brian Leetch, Chris Pronger, Mike |
| opponents zone before the puck a chance to circle | | | | Rathje, Adam Foote, Gary Roberts, and Joe |
| back to the blue line and then continue back into the | | | | Nieuwendyk are but a few players who have moved |
| offensive zone to play the puck. This will reduce | | | | on to new teams.The new Collective Bargaining |
| whistles for offside infractions; once again speeding up | | | | Agreement, all rule changes, and all player movement |
| the game.4) The instigator rule has changed to | | | | can be viewed at Culley is an avid fan of NHL hockey, |
| penalize fights started during the last five minutes of | | | | and Vice President for Inc. |