To all the vet hockey fans out there

[Gator Bait]

I am new to hockey (started watching midway through last year) My dad just started watching again this year (he used to watch back in the 70s)

He wants to know why hockey games aren't as physical anymore (not as much checking as back in the day)

He also said there used to be at least 3 fights every game and now they barely ever fight.

Can anyone tell me why these changes came about? Was it crack down on the rules, or are players just not as tough these days?

[DButz65]

The players are much faster these days than they were when i first started watching hockey back in like 9th grade in HS, unless you were the Great One of something haha But with all the speed and quickness they have its harder to line up someone good for a forecheck.

I'm not sure about why there arent as many fights anymore, the Caps rarely get in fights, but i've seen plenty of other fights on sportscenter, so go figure.

[SkinsHokieFan]

The new rules after the lockout to promote more scoring. The NHL made a huge effort to crack down on goonery which drove guys like Lemiux from the game

[PokerPacker]

Bettman's trying to ruin the NHL, Brett Hull is trying to save it. ;)

[pjfootballer]

I like more speed, more scoring and less fighting. The NHL is fine the way it is. No more clutching and grabbing. No neutral zone trap. Quick pace with the faceoff rules. I like it.

[Metskins]

I like more speed, more scoring and less fighting. The NHL is fine the way it is. No more clutching and grabbing. No neutral zone trap. Quick pace with the faceoff rules. I like it.

Amen brother.

[herrmag]

I like more speed, more scoring and less fighting. The NHL is fine the way it is. No more clutching and grabbing. No neutral zone trap. Quick pace with the faceoff rules. I like it.

Agreed. There's little room for goons with no on-ice talent anymore. Every roster spot is vital. If you're taking up a 4th line roster spot with someone that's only talent is fighting, you're giving the other team the advantage that fields 3 skilled forwards (as skilled as they get on the checking line).

[PokerPacker]

Agreed. There's little room for goons with no on-ice talent anymore. Every roster spot is vital. If you're taking up a 4th line roster spot with someone that's only talent is fighting, you're giving the other team the advantage that fields 3 skilled forwards (as skilled as they get on the checking line).

That's why Donnie's such an asset. He's infamous for his fighting, but he's actually got good on-ice awareness as well as some puck control and forechecking skills to go along with it.

[BuryYourDuke]

Yeah I love the new rules that have sped up the game and brought scoring back up. However, you get rid of the fighting, you get rid of the balance. Hockey is a game that thrives when it polices itself. A good fight will almost always release a lot of the tension in a game, whereas a minor penalty after a dirty play will usually just increase the frustration. Not to mention a healthy (see early to mid 90's) level of fighting is quite entertaining, and will bring more fans to the sport.

[Gator Bait]

Many people have referenced the rule changes.....what were the changes in the rules?

[PokerPacker]

Many people have referenced the rule changes.....what were the changes in the rules?

they increased the offensive area by moving the goal-line closer to the boards and the blue lines closer to the center of the ice. The did away with the 2-line pass rule. There's now a trapezoid behind the net where the goalie is allowed to play the puck; if he plays it outside of that trapezoid its a 2-minute minor. dumping the puck over the glass in your own zone is a 2-minute minor. Fighting in the last 5 minutes of the game results in a fine for the coach.

[HEavyJumbo85]

The physicality and the fighting haven't been the same since the instigator rule was created by Bettman. The game policing itself hasn't been the same and as a result you see more cheap shots nowadays then you ever did back then.

And because of that, like was said by a lot of people before, your tough guys have to be able to play and play well. Riley Cote is one of the few guys that dresses just to fight, but he still can at least stand in front of the net for 3 minutes a game, which is all the ice time he gets.

When it comes to the checking, it's hard for Dmen to line up forwards because the speed and skill has improved, also Defenseman have to be in position at all times, much more than in the past because if you get caught out of position you can't grab or clutch to slow a guy down. Even a little bump after a dump in is interference nowadays. It's tough to be physical all the time.

All that being said, the game is still great, much better than the late 90s and right before the lockout. And it's only going to get better with this infusion of young superstars we're seeing. Those guys are going to get older and better in the years to come and are really gonna make hockey as good as it's been since the 1980s. Fighting is still a big part of the game, but unless the instigator is removed it'll never be the way it was.

[Gator Bait]

they increased the offensive area by moving the goal-line closer to the boards and the blue lines closer to the center of the ice. The did away with the 2-line pass rule. There's now a trapezoid behind the net where the goalie is allowed to play the puck; if he plays it outside of that trapezoid its a 2-minute minor. dumping the puck over the glass in your own zone is a 2-minute minor. Fighting in the last 5 minutes of the game results in a fine for the coach.

before the trapezoid, was the goalie aloud to roam freely? the fighting in the last 5 minutes of a game rule sounds ****ty to me....how are you gonna fine a coach when a player fights?

can someone explain offsides to me, it doesn't seem like the same as soccer (which I'm familiar with)

[herrmag]

before the trapezoid, was the goalie aloud to roam freely? the fighting in the last 5 minutes of a game rule sounds ****ty to me....how are you gonna fine a coach when a player fights?

can someone explain offsides to me, it doesn't seem like the same as soccer (which I'm familiar with)

Yes, goalies were free to roam. Goalies can still roam in front of the goal line, just not behind the net except for in the marked trapezoid.

I don't get the 5-minute rule either. I assume it's to prevent coaches of teams that are losing from sending players out just to physically beat up the other team.

Offsides is easy; The puck must cross the blue line (which marks the offensive zone for the attacking team) before the other offensive players do. If an attacking player crosses the blue line prior to the puck, he is offsides. There's also delayed offsides, etc, but that's the jist.

[Gator Bait]

so when you are in your attacking zone, and the puck travels outside that zone....all the offensive players have to regroup behind the blue line until the puck goes back into the offensive zone? I think I've seen this done a few times.

[herrmag]

so when you are in your attacking zone, and the puck travels outside that zone....all the offensive players have to regroup behind the blue line until the puck goes back into the offensive zone? I think I've seen this done a few times.

Yep, that's it exactly.

[HEavyJumbo85]

so when you are in your attacking zone, and the puck travels outside that zone....all the offensive players have to regroup behind the blue line until the puck goes back into the offensive zone? I think I've seen this done a few times.

Now all you have to do is get Icing down and your set :OLS:

[Gator Bait]

I got Icing. I think I'm learning most of the rules....I've watch about 75% of the games this year. I just didn't understand a few of the rules being that I never played hockey (I played all other sports)

[HEavyJumbo85]

I got Icing. I think I'm learning most of the rules....I've watch about 75% of the games this year. I just didn't understand a few of the rules being that I never played hockey (I played all other sports)

Well that's good, Icing is probably the most confusing for people, at least the people I know just getting into hockey. It used to be the faceoff rules coupled with that too. It's not hard once you get a hang of all the rules, but hockey isn't as popular in this country because most people didn't grow up with it and don't want to put the time in to learn the game.

[Gator Bait]

Well that's good, Icing is probably the most confusing for people, at least the people I know just getting into hockey. It used to be the faceoff rules coupled with that too. It's not hard once you get a hang of all the rules, but hockey isn't as popular in this country because most people didn't grow up with it and don't want to put the time in to learn the game.

I'm all about learning the game...speaking of which....I've heard face-off rules mentioned several times.....what do the face-off rules consist of?

[herrmag]

I'm all about learning the game...speaking of which....I've heard face-off rules mentioned several times.....what do the face-off rules consist of?

There are too many circumstances to name, so here's the official NHL rules governing faceoffs: http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule54.html