NHL "Playground Rule" now in effect

The NHL has finally gotten sick of Rangers' Sean Avery's antics and made a rule, just for him. Some quick background first: in case you missed his antics this weekend against Martin Brodeur, check out this video on YouTube:

Yes, that's right Avery is now bringing the NHL back to the minors; no wait, to the Pee Wee leagues; no wait, they have more class than that; it doesn't even qualify for Hanson brothers stuff because it's not actually offensive enough. This was just lame and childish; I can't believe the NHL had to react to something like this, not because they shouldn't but because it just should not have happened. "Get in their face" does not mean "say NAH NAH NAH NAH" and flail your arms wildly. I'm so glad Avery isn't in our conference anymore.

That said, the NHL did, in fact, decide it inappropriate enough to respond to, not only that, but they made an IN-SEASON amendment to the rules:

An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play," Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations said in a statement.

Thank you Mr Campbell, for reminding Avery we're adults, not kids on the playground.

People who Whine - when they get caught cheating

Last night was the first time, at least that I've seen, that someone got busted cheating on the newest of NHL rules.

Rule 10.1 - The Player's Stick

... No stick shall exceed sixty-three inches (63") in length from the heel to the end of the shaft nor more than twelve and one-half inches (12.5") from hell to the end of the blade ... The blade of the stick shall not be more than three inches (3") in width at any point nor less than two inches (2"). All edges of the blade shall be beveled. The curvature of the blade shall be restricted in such a way that the distance of a perpndicular line measured from a straight line drawn from any point at the heel to the end of the blade to the point of maximum curvature shall not exceed three-quarters of an inch (3/4") ...

I know, it confused me reading it the first time too. Basically, the rule says the stick must be within certain size restrictions, don't cheat 'cause if you get caught ... oh ... here:

Rule 10.5 - Stick Measurement

... A player whose stick has been measured and i foun not to onform to the provisions of this rule shall be assessed a minor penalty and a fine of two hundred dollars ($200) ...

There is more to it, of course, for multi-time offenders, but that's not what's important. What is important here is the fact that in the Official NHL Rule Book it flat out states what is legal and what is not. There is even a caveat that says you can protest this to get something else approved, but you have to do it ahead of time.

Now for where this comes into play. Last night the NHL and it's fans saw Teemu Selanne get busted for using an illegal stick. I can't find the exact measurements of what his stick was, but I'll be honest, that doesn't really matter to me. You see, it's not that he cheated that bothers me ... it's how he reacted.

"The ice is so bad in the NHL, you have to have that because the puck is bouncing all over," said Selanne, who spent a season in San Jose before returning to Anaheim as a free agent two seasons ago. "I'll bet there's a lot of guys that do, but you have to respect the rule. I wasn't very happy about what happened. Obviously, I didn't expect that call. Whether it was classy or not, it was Ron Wilson's decision. He's not my favorite coach anymore."

You see, if this was his HONEST complaint, his HONEST feeling, why is this when he brings it up? Why did he wait until he got caught cheating to bring his complaints into the open? Maybe the ice is that bad in the NHL, maybe this year more than last year the ice is very choppy. Hey, if it is, I want to see a set of petitions by the NHLPA on the desk of Gary "Rarely Does Anything Useful" Bettman to try to get something fixed by next year. But do we? No, all we see is some whiney player complaining that things aren't going his way.

Oh, and he's not your favorite coach anymore, because he called you out for being a priss? Go back to Kindergarten Teemu, where the teacher CARES if you like them. NHL hockey is about playing the game as outlined by the rules, not about being liked, you prissy little cry-baby.