By IAIN MACINTYRE
Vancouver Sun
The National Hockey League is clamping down on obstruction. Honest.
And in other news, a big, flaming orb was spotted this morning in the east. Stay tuned for
updates.
It is easy to be dismissive about the NHL's pledge Tuesday to crack down on interference,
mainly because the league has been so dismissive of its own rules on obstruction.
But NHL general managers emerged from meetings in Vancouver with genuine conviction to rid
the game of the interference that is stifling creativity and offence.
"There is resolve from this group," Edmonton Oilers' general manager Kevin Lowe said. "We
want to make it spectator friendly and emphasize the skill of the game."
"You have heard this speech for four years, but it is the single biggest problem in the
game," Canucks' GM Brian Burke said. "The commissioner is a disciple on this. You will see
the changes."
After a submission by NHL director of officiating Andy VanHellemond, who successfully
orchestrated a crackdown on slashing the last two years, managers devoted much of
Tuesday's meeting to discussing interference guidelines that have wavered like interest
rates over the last half decade.
NHL coaches will be briefed in September by VanHellemond, whose referees will be
instructed again to clamp down on interference, especially when teams attempt to
forecheck.
"The consensus in the room is this is important and the consensus in the room is it's
being dealt with appropriately," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "When we did the
slashing standard, people were critical. And we held it. We think we can do that for
forechecking as well."
A study last season determined that NHL fans are more loyal to their sport than fans of
any other league, and Bettman said Tuesday the NHL has to protect this relationship.
Fans from Vancouver, Edmonton, Denver, Los Angeles and Minnesota have been invited to
participate in discussion groups with league personnel as part of the NHL's summit.
"What we have to do is deliver to our fans ... great hockey and great entertainment,"
Bettman said. "Our fans are one of the great strengths of our game. It's all about the
fans, ultimately."
Fans, however, have heard wolf cried several times on interference.
"We just allowed the standard to slip," Washington Capitals ' general manager George
McPhee said. "It happens a little bit at a time, then one morning you wake up and say:
'Boy, it's gone too far.' This is absolutely necessary. We have a lot of skill players who
have to have room to do what they can do."
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This story was brought to the attention of the NHLFA by Member Andrew Parker from North
Easton, MA.
If you find a story that would possibly interest the NHLFA community, please send it to
feedback2@nhlfa.com
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