Molson and mullets for everyone!

[MuffinMan]

I got extremely pissed when I read that earlier. EA's NHL games have been shit now for quite a few years. The graphics on the web page have been changed now to "official license"

Cut from Gamespot

[UPDATE] Since this story went live, EA has changed the artwork on its NHL 06 home page. The graphic now reads "official license" rather than "exclusive license" (check the above screenshot index for a comparison). Subsequent to the story going live, an EA spokesperson told GameSpot that the company does not have an exclusive licensing deal with the NHL. The NHL confirmed that an existing license with EA was in effect, but the NHL did not offer additional comments on the earlier use of the word "exclusive" by EA

[schild]

Yegads. I hadn't checked Gamespot yet. Thanks for the quick update.

[MuffinMan]

Although after last years buggy ass 2k5 from Sega I don't know if I'll even buy a hockey game this year.

On a somewhat related hockey note, I saw the Wings' goalie Curtis Joseph the other day here in Ann Arbor at the place I was taking a drug test. I thought about stealing his piss and Ebaying it.

[Paelos]

I see Mike Modano on the golf course at Preston Trail in Dallas whenever I'm out there. I resist the temptation to yell, "GET BACK TO WORK!" during his backswing.

[Bunk]

There's been quite a few articles popping up in the local papers lately. They expect to see a deal signed with the next three weeks. Essentially, the players are going to get hosed as compared to what the league was offering six months ago.

As is customary, the article had numerous quotes from JR telling everyone to kiss his ass.

[HaemishM]

EA NHL Exclusive?
EA Nabs NHL License on 1UP (thanks PiTiFUL) is a story based some brief happenings on the EA Sports Website that may have tipped off a future announcement. According to the story, several graphics appeared for a while on the site with the words "exclusive license," indicating the possibility that a deal has been signed for pro hockey rights, along the lines of the exclusive deal EA inked last year with the NFL (story). The article quotes both EA and NHL2K publisher 2K Sports as calling the apparent revelation a mistake, though attempts to contact the NHL about this (in spite of all the time on their hands) were unsuccessful.

It might never be coming back at all. Heh.

It wouldn't be like the rights would cost all that much anymore.

[Shockeye]

NHL, Players Reach Deal to End Lockout

By IRA PODELL, AP Sports Writer 6 minutes ago

NEW YORK - The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle Wednesday on a new labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season.

The sides met for 24 hours from Tuesday into Wednesday to hammer out the collective bargaining agreement that will return the NHL to the ice.

Both sides still need to ratify the deal. That process is expected to be completed next week, the league and the union said in a joint news release.

[Shockeye]

NHL agrees to deal after all-night bargaining session

ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle on a new labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season, the sides announced in statements Wednesday.

The sides met for 24 hours from Tuesday into Wednesday to hammer out the collective bargaining agreement that will return the NHL to the ice.

Both sides still need to raitfy the deal. That process is expected to be completed next week, the league and the union said in a joint news release.

A prominent player agent told ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek that the draft lottery will be held on July 21, with the entry draft being held in Ottawa on July 30.

The agreement comes after an all-night bargaining session stretched well into Wednesday morning -- the 301st day of the lockout that forced the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.

"We met all night," NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly said in an e-mail.

After meeting every day last week, the sides got together Sunday for a 14-hour session that lasted until early Monday morning. Just six hours later, they were back at the table.

Those talks broke up Monday night and set the stage for the latest marathon session that got under way Tuesday -- the ninth straight days of talks.

The sides have met for 10 consecutive weeks in an effort to get an agreement as quickly as possible so next season can begin on time.

The new agreement is expected to contain a salary cap with a ceiling in the upper $30 millions and a minimum in the low-to-mid $20 millions.

Player salaries will not exceed 54 percent of league-wide revenues.

Some players in recent days have voiced their displeasure over what will be included in the new deal.

Commissioner Gary Bettman warned in February when he canceled the season that the offers the union passed up were better than any it would see once a year of hockey was lost.

Just days before the NHL became the first North American sports league to wipe out a full season, the players' association said for the first time it would accept a salary cap if the NHL dropped its desire to link player costs to revenues.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[HaemishM]

'Bout fucking time. Asshats. The players are getting raped on the deal, it appears, but after a year of no revenue, and the loss of TV rights fees, I don't see how the owners would not rape them. There's a whole lot less money in hockey's honey pot now.

Congrulations, fucktards! You almost killed the sport as a profession! And for what? Less money (54% less), the salary cap you said you've never accept at an even worse level than you at first asked for, and pissed away a full season. Hope you're fucking happy.

[WayAbvPar]

Both sides are to blame- the owners allowed things to get as bad as they did, and the players refused to believe that there needed to be some sweeping changes if the sport was gonna survive.


Now- make some rule changes so the sport will be watchable when it comes back, fucktards.

[Shockeye]

Part of the negotiations was removing the All Star Game, which is great because Glendale, AZ gets it this coming season. I'm not sure if they have finalized killing the game or not.

[Strazos]

Regardless, I'm happy to have my hockey back.

Now just lower prices so I, a starving college student, can go to games more often. 

[WayAbvPar]

Minor league hockey. Same game, 1/3 the price, and you get to see the guys before they are famous. Damned fun!

[Shockeye]

Minor league hockey. Same game, 1/3 the price, and you get to see the guys before they are famous. Damned fun!

And in the minors they still have most of their teeth!

[Nebu]

With all the thuggery (sp?) injected into the current brand of NHL garbage, I'm not sure I even care.  I was a rabid hockey fan a couple decades ago, but the game has eroded to a point that most of the beauty that made the game interesting is now lost.  Growing up in Minnesota, watching High School hockey was an event.  I miss the intracacies that make hockey a fast and interesting team sport.

If they bring back skill to the game, I'll pay to watch.  Until then, it's just Mike Tyson on ice.

[Shockeye]

Growing up in Minnesota, watching High School hockey was an event.

Growing up in Minnesota, betting on high school hockey playoffs while in grade school was an event.

Warroad 4tehwin!

[Nebu]

I put my $20 on Hill Murray.

[WayAbvPar]

With all the thuggery (sp?) injected into the current brand of NHL garbage, I'm not sure I even care.  I was a rabid hockey fan a couple decades ago, but the game has eroded to a point that most of the beauty that made the game interesting is now lost.  Growing up in Minnesota, watching High School hockey was an event.  I miss the intracacies that make hockey a fast and interesting team sport.

If they bring back skill to the game, I'll pay to watch.  Until then, it's just Mike Tyson on ice.

I would love to watch it if it was Mike Tyson on ice. Instead, it is a bunch of faggy Europeans who wouldn't drop their gloves if they were on fire grabbing, clutching, cheapshotting, slashing, crosschecking, and otherwise slowing the game down to a 2-1 final score crawl.

[Nebu]

I would love to watch it if it was Mike Tyson on ice. Instead, it is a bunch of faggy Europeans who wouldn't drop their gloves if they were on fire grabbing, clutching, cheapshotting, slashing, crosschecking, and otherwise slowing the game down to a 2-1 final score crawl.

Differences in taste I guess. In baseball, I love watching a great pitcher's duel... the spirit of which is lost in today's homerun derby style of play.  I also love watching football (soccer in this country).  It's as much a chess match as it is a display of athletic prowess. When I played major college football, my favorite games were always the defensive stands rather than the 50-49 scoring fests.  The fact that I played defense could have tainted my opinion a bit.  I don't need big scores to be entertained.  I also don't need the the high-sticking, the cross checking, and the cat fights.  I pay to watch hockey, not a couple of boxing wanna-bees play ice capades with a puck.

[Strazos]

Differences in taste I guess. In baseball, I love watching a great pitcher's duel... the spirit of which is lost in today's homerun derby style of play.  I also love watching football (soccer in this country).  It's as much a chess match as it is a display of athletic prowess. When I played major college football, my favorite games were always the defensive stands rather than the 50-49 scoring fests.  The fact that I played defense could have tainted my opinion a bit.  I don't need big scores to be entertained.  I also don't need the the high-sticking, the cross checking, and the cat fights.  I pay to watch hockey, not a couple of boxing wanna-bees play ice capades with a puck.

Agreed. Some of the more enjoyable contests are low-scoring games. High Scores != Fun and High-Energy.

[stray]

Funny that the SA vs Detroit NBA Finals (1 and 2 Defense Leaders) series had so many complaints of being low scoring (Because 'Defense is Boring!!'"), yet, the sporting world is all giddy now about the NHL coming back.

Anyways, I agree: High Scores != Fun and High-Energy

[HaemishM]

Making the NHL more exciting isn't so much about creating higher scores as much as it is creating more scoring chances. That's what the league has been lacking, thanks to the clutch and grab bullshit, and the no icing on penalty kills shit. You start calling the game like it's supposed to be called, with less mugging of guys without the puck, take out the red line and put icing back on the PK, and you'll have a lot more scoring chances.

[Paelos]

Icing on PKs? You're MAD!

That being said, the two line pass does have to go, and holding needs to be an actually call again.

[HaemishM]

One of the potential rules changes being bandied about is removing the no icing for the penalized team on PK's.

[Strazos]

Making the NHL more exciting isn't so much about creating higher scores as much as it is creating more scoring chances. That's what the league has been lacking, thanks to the clutch and grab bullshit, and the no icing on penalty kills shit. You start calling the game like it's supposed to be called, with less mugging of guys without the puck, take out the red line and put icing back on the PK, and you'll have a lot more scoring chances.

Er what? I don't remember there being Icing on the team who is on the PK....

Maybe it's just been far too long.

But yes, Chaos and Scoring Chances = Excitement, Suspense

And I'm not totally sold on removing the red line. Big advantage for the little speedy teams over the big, down-low teams.

And Yay for touch-up offsides.

[WayAbvPar]

One of the potential rules changes being bandied about is removing the no icing for the penalized team on PK's.

That is going too far, IMHO. The rules changes I want to see-

ENFORCEMENT of the interference rules
Smaller goaltender pads
Moving the net out a couple of feet from the boards

And by far the most important-

Get rid of the instigator penalty!

I much prefered hockey in the 80s- more scoring (and scoring chances), more fighting, and more offensive superstars. NHL hockey has been criminally boring for the past half-decade (not even including the strike).

[El Gallo]

Differences in taste I guess. In baseball, I love watching a great pitcher's duel... the spirit of which is lost in today's homerun derby style of play.  I also love watching football (soccer in this country).  It's as much a chess match as it is a display of athletic prowess. When I played major college football, my favorite games were always the defensive stands rather than the 50-49 scoring fests. 

I love a great defensive football game.  I would not, however, enjoy watching a football game where every single eligible receiver was outright tackled as soon as the ball was snapped every single play and no flags were thrown.  That's the NHL over the last 10+ years.

[Strazos]

Get rid of the instigator penalty!

Yes please.

[Bunk]

One rule that is being changed that people aren't mentioning is the return of touch up offsides. If you don't know the game intimately, this probably means nothing to you, but touching up is going to add a ton of offensive flow back in to the game.  Too bad its going to be counteracted by all the extra trapping that will happen when they remove the two line pass.

Also, I hate the new idea for overtime that apparently is going in:
4 on 4 for five minutes
3 on 3 for three minutes
Shootoutif it hasn't been decided
no more Single point for getting to OT.

I really, really hate the idea of 2pts vs 0 going to the winner of a shootout. Shootouts aren't real hockey.

[Strazos]

Agreed, I liked the current OT points rules.

[HaemishM]

I don't like the 1 point for an OT loss, personally. I have no problem with ties being 1 point, but I hated the idea of a team getting a point even though they lost.

Shootouts are exciting. I'm still not sure why they want to add a 3 on 3 period before the shootout, though.

[WayAbvPar]

I hate the new OT rules, and the new (older) rules as well. Give me 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. It is simple, and it worked for decades. Having 5 or more columns in the W-L area of the standings is fucking retarded.

[Strazos]

I thought that was odd too, the 3-on-3.

But I do like the 1 point teams got for getting to OT. It opened things up more, because teams figured they already got one point, so lets go all out for the win. I thought this was better than teams turtling to try and eek out a tie.

[Paelos]

I thought that was odd too, the 3-on-3.

But I do like the 1 point teams got for getting to OT. It opened things up more, because teams figured they already got one point, so lets go all out for the win. I thought this was better than teams turtling to try and eek out a tie.

Agreed. Regular season OTs before the 1 point OT loss were just exercises in "let's not lose." That's just dumb. With the current rules, some of the most exciting moments I've seen in regular season hockey have been in the OT. I don't want to take that away personally.

[Strazos]

Agreed. Regular season OTs before the 1 point OT loss were just exercises in "let's not lose." That's just dumb. With the current rules, some of the most exciting moments I've seen in regular season hockey have been in the OT. I don't want to take that away personally.

I remember a few years back the local commentators nicknamed the Flyers the "Comback Kids," because they had some obscene number of 3rd Period and OT wins (something like 10 OT wins or some other silly number).