EHM The Blue Line

Some good news from Boston finally, the Bruins have opened contract negotiations with Dennis Seidenberg

This afternoon the Lightning should announce the arrival of Steve Y as their new GM.

Wow. Just wow. Sucks to be a Wings fan today. I thought for sure Stevie would sign on as Detroit's GM once that position was open. I guess he didn't want to wait that one out.

Should be interesting to see what he decides to do with Vinny and Marty.

Yeah, it would be interesting to see what he would do with the Lightning itself. They are in great hands in my opinion, in a couple of years we'll see that.

Yzerman gives the new Lightning organization some credibility. Still, it's quite surprising to see him leave the Red Wings organization.

YZerman will get a 2 year contract. That way..Holland will work for 2 years in DEtroit and retire...then Stevie Y will leave TB for that job. Yep...credibility for the Lightning..yep right.

Friday there's suppose to be an announce about an outside game between the Flames and the Habs in February at Calgary. That's sounds great to me.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=323408

Thank god - they're finally looking at shootouts, and seeing how ridiculous they are.

Unfortunately, the initial ideas from Ken Holland look just as dumb and gimmicky as what they're trying to fix. 8 or ten minute overtime, split into two segments, with first segment played at 4-on-4 and the second segment played at 3-on-3. What the hell for? Why can't we just play a normal period of hockey to decide a hockey game? Just make it a simple 10-minute overtime period of plain old hockey. Why do we need extra rules and formats?

I know it's way early still, and not much has been discussed... but still...

Four on Four or even three on three would be an awesome show to me! Some boring games who goes in OT will finally get some action! Anyway for me shootout makes the job too, way better for goddamn games who's there trapp 65 min.

Let the goalies fight out.

In the KIJHL we now have 5 minutes of 4 on 4 and if still tied 5 minutes of 3 on 3...... I can say from experience that it's way better than the stoopid shootout!!!!

Sounds rubbish. Cut out the stupid gimmicks. Just end the game after 60 regardless of the score. And if you wanna keep all that rubbish like 4 on 4 OT or shootouts at least change the point system, making a win in regulation worth more than an OT/SO win.

I prefer that over getting stupid tie game, a team needs to win, point. I don't know where's the problem with 4vs4 Danny... It let place for more offensive play.

What's wrong with a tie ? Sometimes teams try but just can't score one more goal than their opponent. I don't mind a "3 point for a win" system like in Euro soccer leagues to punish those a little bit who consistently play negative and conservative hockey just settling for the tie in a close game. I'm all for more offensive play and flashy moves but not if it's enforced artificially by 4 on 4 hockey or the shootout, let it happen naturally. I find it ridiculous that losing a game (in OT or SO) is worth 50% of the points of a win in regulation.

I agree with Danny, except I think they should at least play 10 minutes of overtime. Normal 5-on-5, no special rules, no special formats - just plain hockey like the 60 minutes they just finished playing. If that's not enough to determine a winner, then simply call it a tie and move on.

I know a tie isn't as satisfying as if someone had won, but it's far better than seeing a team fall because of special one-off rules and formats.

I wouldn't mind that, but the points thing would still bug me. Yes I'm well aware it "creates" parity if you combine 2 OT losses and it gives you the same amount of points as a win...still don't like it.

Scored on 5 vs 5 or 4 vs 4 is always natural, I don't get it. 10 minutes Overtime though could be cool and a new point sytem like you talk Danny would be nice too.

But I hate so much tie game.....it's like "Yeah, both team can't win, so we gave them equal points."

philou21 wrote:But I hate so much tie game.....it's like "Yeah, both team can't win, so we gave them equal points."

Yeah but both teams couldn't lose, either.

That's why we need something to end the game, alot of person don't like shootout but it's almost the only thing to end it or make it like the playoffs, play until someone scores.

The biggest problem with no O.T. is that halfway through the 3rd period teams would start playing for a tie if the game was close. It's not much fun when half the teams in the league have over 20 ties per season. As for the points thing, IMHO every game should be worth 3 points except a tie and then teams would sure try to get the reg win for 3 instead of the ot win, loss or tie.

Seidenberg sign a 4 year deal at 13 millions with the Bruins. Glad they keep it but darn it cost too much to me.

Woohoo. I like that deal. Seidenberg rocks, I'm a happy camper. Also if the numbers are true that's way less than most Bruins fans anticipated. Bruins also re-signed Shawn Thornton for around 800k.

philou21 wrote:Seidenberg sign a 4 year deal at 13 millions with the Bruins. Glad they keep it but darn it cost too much to me.

I think it's a great deal for Boston. $3.25 mil for a very solid top 4 defenseman in his prime isn't bad at all. I thought he was the Bruins second best d-man before he got hurt.

I just wish they would have let Ference leave as a UFA, I would much rather re-sign Stuart, Boychuk or McQuaid.

Agreed, Seidenberg has proven to be a very reliable two way dman over the last couple of years. He's got decent positioning and decision making, blocks a lot of shots, hits well, his skating is adequate, he's capable of getting the puck out of his zone safely and he's got a good point shot. Doesn't excel at any aspect of the game but does everything at least slightly above average. Maybe philou is confusing him with the other Dennis on the Bruins D

I didn't know he finish first in the NHL in the shot block, after I saw that stats, I change my opinion about the price they sign him, it's great for the B's.