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