Ahem, NHL, who the F do you think you are?

So get this NHL is "forcing" all teams to give up the reins of THEIR OWN websites??? WTF? Who wants their teams website to look like every other freakin website on the web? This is bull. I always thought this league was a step apart from other pro leagues with the way it ran its "business" and handled its teams and players. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I had always wondered why I couldnt buy team stuff from sjsharks.com directly. Why would it always direct me to nhl.com to buy my Sharks gear? This aint right, it looks like every other team gears just in my teams colors. Its crap, why cant my team create its own gear? Who wants to look like every other jerk out there just in different colors?

Where does it stop, why not take over control of the uniforms?

Dear NHL.com

why? why arent you as good as your Canadian counterpart? You are the sole representative of the NHL, you are named after the league you are to support and report on. Please explain why TSN.ca always scoops you, has better content, and is all around a better source for hockey info and news? Why not more high quality pictures? Why no live hockey feed? I want more from you damn it.

I remember when Thomas Vokoun was traded, it was up much quicker than it was on nhl.com. How can you get scooped on anything hockey?

This rant was prompted by the change in rules for the upcoming season. A buddy mentioned on his blog about a "shady" penalty call at a pre season game he was at. Come to find out nhl.com hasnt provided any info (not that is found with reasonable searching) about the upcoming seasons rule changes but tsn.ca has.

So enough ranting, lets talk hockey.

1 of the new rules is actually a tweak on a rule put in place a few years ago, interference. Now if a player is taken down or "interfered with" outside his blue line they can call for a penalty shot. Used to be if the player was beyond center ice and was messed with. Also if there is an injury during said penalty they can call a major (5 min penalty) as well. This always raises the question of "diving". Well I have thought for years that the NHL needs to be more strict on diving and call it more often. If we can see it and the announcers can see it, call that shit will ya? I think diving should be a major as well, make it not worth your while to dive unless you are a Meryl Streep.

I think this rule wont change things too much but you will see less of the "train on the tracks" type hits across the middle of the ice, if a guy blind sides another guy it used to be called a "clean hit" and perhaps it was but man if it isnt dangerous.

They mention in the TSN article that this might give more incentive for a defenseman to jump on a puck and take it down ice short handed, I agree. I think it will promote just that cause if he gets pulled down, wham penalty.

So look for more penalty shots, short handed rushes, and a few more major penalties this year.

Have I mentioned I cant wait for next week?