CHANGES IN GAME INEVITABLE.

Byline: JARRE FEES The NHL 

Since the first player strapped on a pair of skates, found a flat rock and picked up a stick, hockey has been in the process of changing.

In the past decade alone, among other changes, the NHL has added video replay, increased the size of the goal crease and added instigating penalties for fighting. Officials have changed the names of each division to provide a more contemporary feel. With all due respect to the legends of hockey, who truly misses the Campbell and Smythe divisions?

Now, in an effort to circumvent the neutral ice trap, referees are instructed to call obstruction penalties on defensemen setting picks on forechecking forwards, neutral and defensive zone obstruction by backchecking forwards and obstruction on non-puck carriers in all three zones.

In an effort to promote scoring and a quicker game, more changes will be implemented next season. Some of the possibilities include eliminating the center red line, forbidding goaltenders to leave the crease to play the puck, replacing three 20-minute periods with four 15-minute quarters and enlarging the size of the goal.

The thought of most of these changes sends a collective shiver down the spines of fans, but like all sports, hockey is a living, evolving entity. And evolution means change.

Consider: In 1910, the game changed from two 30-minute periods to three 20-minute periods. Hockey purists no doubt cringed at the notion that the game was being ruined.

One year later it changed again when a National Hockey Association team found itself a player short and the other team agreed to skate five-on-five instead of the mandatory six-on-six. The experiment was so successful it was adopted by the NHL in its inaugural year (1917) and has been used by every professional hockey league in the world for more than 80 years.

Things change.

If the real issue is a lack of scoring, the crackdown on obstruction will eventually pay off. Early enforcement has slowed down the game, since more penalties are being called. Once players realize the rules will be enforced, the obstruction should decrease - in theory.

Eliminating the red line and forbidding goaltenders to handle the puck are other matters. There has even been talk of not allowing a player to stop behind the net. This would certainly speed up the game, but the area Gretzky used as his office for nearly two decades has been a hotbed for producing goals.

The possibility of changing to four quarters is out of the question, but watch them try it anyway in preseason games. The objection is not because of hockey's hallowed past; remember, it started out as a two-period game. The problem is the lack of Zamboni time.

The truth is, we have a problem with ice. Nearly all NHL teams now share arenas with NBA teams, not to mention rock concerts, boxing matches and trade shows. Slush has become a major factor, preventing crisp puck movement and smooth skating. Decrease the resurfacing time and the game will become even slower, injuries will increase and puck movement will be helter-skelter at best.

Making the goal larger might be a change for the better. This is not sacred ground here. As goaltenders have gotten larger, their protective gear has gotten bigger, increasing 20 percent over the past few decades. Recent goaltender interference and crease rules have enabled goalies to have a better view of the ice, and therefore a higher save percentage.

If the NHL is serious about increasing scoring opportunities, the protective gear and goaltender equipment needs to be smaller or the net needs to be larger. Since no one wants to see goaltenders injured from reduced pad sizes, this one appears to be a no-brainer.

Rinkside: Kings fans almost had a chance to see Sergei Fedorov on Thursday, when L.A. hosts the Carolina Hurricanes. The 'Canes attempted to lure Fedorov with a six-year, $38 million contract offer, and Fedorov had signed the offer sheet.

Last week Detroit matched the offer, which includes a $14 million signing bonus. Fedorov, who says he doesn't care about the money, will be here anyway on Saturday at noon, when the Red Wings fly into the Forum.

Speaking of Fedorov: Sergei Fedorov's father Victor will be arraigned on March 19 in Wheaton, Ill., on charges of battery, for allegedly ``striking a juvenile player from an opposing hockey team.''The misdemeanor charge carries no fixed penalty, though the elder Fedorov posted $100 on a $1,000 bond.

The Feb. 15 incident occurred at the Blades Ice Arena in Addison, Ill., during a game of 11-year-olds. Fedorov, 54, who coaches the Troy, Mich.-based Little Caeser's team, allegedly slammed a Team Illinois player into the boards after a play in front of the Little Caeser's bench. The game was stopped with Team Illinois leading 2-1. One day earlier, Fedorov's team had lost to the same team 6-2.

Worst Olympic experience: Jozef Stumpel of the Kings and Team Slovakia flew to Japan only to discover Slovakia had been eliminated in the first round. Stumpel stayed two days in Nagano, then returned to Los Angeles.

ONCE WE WERE KINGS

Defenseman Steve Duchesne played for the Kings from 1986-91, scoring 292 regular-season points (95-197-292), including a 25-goal, 75-point season in 1988-89. He was signed as a free agent by the Kings on Oct. 1, 1984, and was traded to Philadelphia along with Steve Kasper and a fourth-round draft pick for Jari Kurri and Jeff Chychrun in May, 1991.

He was part of the 1992 seven-player trade with Quebec that sent Eric Lindros to Philadelphia, was later traded to Ottawa and then to St. Louis.

Duchesne was named to the NHL All-Rookie team in 1987-88 and has played in three All-Star games (1989, 1990 and 1993). He is only the 13th defenseman in NHL history to score 200 career goals.

Duchesne and wife Tracee have a son and daughter, Lake and Dillon.

He had a goal and an assist against the Kings on Saturday, and says L.A. is still his favorite town.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Steve Duchesne

Box: ONCE WE WERE KINGS (See Text)