Offside Under Review

It's late, you're tired, you get home just in time to crash on the couch and turn on the game. All you want to do is crack a cold one, relax and...the cable's out.

You manage to put down your beer, get up and call the cable company. You go through the initial hassle of answering the many, many, prompts only to continue waiting....Eventually, you get through to a person, who then proceeds to ask more questions, some of which you may have already answered...You again explain your situation, trying your best to remain calm, and they tell you they'll look into it. They may even get a colleague or two on the problem to try and solve the issue. It feels like time has stopped, maybe even at some point moved backwards, and you're right where you started. Meanwhile they review the circumstances, gathered around, looking over their notes and, well, "perhaps we'd better get our supervisor on the phone..."

This is the NHL's offside review...

First off, I don't entirely mind the idea. Really. The game is incredibly fast, referees are human (for now) meaning they may miss the odd, very, VERY close call. Fans, for the most part, understood that and didn't seemed all that bothered (as long as it went their way) until they blew a really obvious call. See, years back Matt Duchene scored a goal when he was as about as offside as a frat boy at a kegger and all hell broke loose. People started to whine that we need to 'get it right' and thus the idea of offside review eventually came to life. Now, I'm all for getting it right, generally, but if a skate blade is hovering over the blueline, or a player is in the zone by a third of an inch, honestly, I don't care. And I don't blame the linesmen for missing these.

The NHL has done plenty to try and increase scoring: no line changes after an icing, delay of game for flipping the puck out, smaller goalie equipment, etc. so you'd think they'd try to help that anyway possible. Calling goals off on a review, sometimes minutes after the goal has been scored, seems well, counter productive to that agenda. Personally I think they should just have the blueline set up akin to the goal line in football and as long as the players skate is 'breaking the plain' then it's good. Not to say I want to see NHLers trying some half-assed figure skating move at the blueline to try and stretch it out, but you get the idea. It would speed things up and eliminate what has become one of the most annoying things in hockey since the glowing puck.

The idea of instituting a penalty for delay of game for an unsuccessful challenge is brilliant, at least in my humble opinion. Not only will it speed the game up, it will also lead to more offensive chances should a team get a power play out of it...provided of course that team isn't the Avalanche. Previously the punishment was that you lost your timeout, and granted each team only has 1 per game (in regulation), but this seemed about as effective a scare tactic as the linesman saying 'I told you so'. It'll have coaches thinking twice and guys on the ice will, theoretically, be able to be more focused on the play. It eases the burden on officials as well and is just better for everyone involved, including those of us watching. It still gives coaches the option to challenge and 'get it right'. You'd just better be damn sure the linesman got it wrong.

Predictions and Story Lines NHL 2013-14

The Puck drops on the 2013/14 NHL season tonight so let's take a look into the future and see what to expect, and a few story lines to watch out for.

Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
                                     realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
                                     moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
                                     conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
                                     rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
                                     and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
                                     there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
                                     whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.

Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
                        new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
                        make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
                        young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
                        being slighted may be a very good motivator.

Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't 
                        as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
                        is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
                        so it will be up to these men to turn them around.

 Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
                                taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
                                expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
                                NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
                                add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
                                glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.

Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
                    is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.

Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
                    depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
                   bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.

Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...