Hockey

I am so afraid that the Bruins are turning into last year's Senators and tanking in colossal fashion. Please say it ain't so. Please?

Anyway, the GM meetings are starting up today. They are supposed to be taking a new look at fighting in the game. I am in favor of fighting in the game. I love it. I love the way it electrifies a building. I can't really speak of it from the player's point of view, but for this fan it should stay.

I am also in favor of players not getting hurt in fights. I like the idea going around that fighting players will be forced to leave their helmets on. That is a good fighting restriction, as opposed to the instigator rule which is evil.

There are two other topics rumored to be on the table that are very interesting. One involving tie breakers and the other involving delayed penalties.

Here is what NESN's newswire had to say about the standings:

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland's new proposal would give the higher seed in the standings to the team with more regulation wins rather than overall wins. The change in the rule would put an emphasis on winning games in regulation as it would hold more value than an overtime or shootout win.

I think that's just bullshit. In the current system I really like the idea, I just hate the current system. It is frankly offensive that a losing team can gain a point in the standings. I don't care how long it takes you to lose the game, you lost the game. You cannot be rewarded for losing. The two point win system worked great when you needed something to give to teams for tie games. Fine, one point each. Happy day. In today's game though, there is no such thing as a tie. The two point system no longer makes sense, and don't get me started on the ridiculous crap people are spouting about going to a three point win system. That is retarded. How about give the winning team one point and the losing team nothing. There are only two outcomes in a game now, there should only be two possibilities of points given. All or nothing, and why should all be two? One point for a win, no points for a loss. It seems so simple that even a schmuck like me can think of it.

Here is the other idea NESN reported on:

The St. Louis Blues general manager Larry Pleau has proposed an idea on changing delayed penalties. Pleau's change would make teams with a delayed penalty against them have to completely clear their zone for a stoppage instead of just touching the puck.

Now that is a good idea! Thank you Larry Pleau! You want more scoring but fewer penalties? Sure, we all do. So implement this and make it easier for a team to score before the penalty is called. I really like this. They've already added the rule that makes all face offs immediately following penalty calls to happen in the power play team's zone. This is a great extension of that.

It's snowing like crazy again. It's not quite a white out outside of our window, but it's getting there. This sucks. I want spring right freakin' now.