LEAGUE CONTINUES FLAWED RULES POLICY : PENALTY BOX.Byline: Tim Trepany The Kings had taken every precaution to make sure their goalies' pads met the NHL NHL Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, see there size guidelines, but Byron Dafoe Byron Dafoe (born February 25, 1971, in Worthing in Sussex, England) is a Canadian [1] former National Hockey League goaltender. Between 1992 and 2004, he played for the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings and Atlanta Thrashers. was still nervous when his were measured by a league official after facing the New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, U.S.A. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). in Madison Square Garden Current arenas in the National Hockey League Western Conference Eastern Conference on Wednesday. ``I was a little worried because they were so close before,'' he said. ``We had an unofficial measuring in L.A. after the Pittsburgh game (Dec. 10). . . . When he measured them they were over, but I'm allowed to bang them in. When I bang them, they're OK. Two weeks later, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if they've stretched out another eighth of an inch, so I was nervous.'' Dafoe, who was whisked into a private room when he took his first step off the ice after the game, passed inspection. Under the league's crackdown on illegal goalies' equipment, leg pads can't be more than 12 inches wide. His left one was 11.7 while the right was 11.6. Blockers are allowed to be eight inches; his was 7.7. Like most new rule interpretations or guidelines the league institutes, it's fraught with problems. The biggest is that measurements are not taken in game-like conditions. Before the inspections, goalies are allowed to tighten their pads as much as possible around their legs to help make them narrower. Also, goalies are allowed to pull them up and to pound the pads on the sides with their hands to further narrow them. They're hardly the type of procedures taken during games. If goalies did wear their pads as tightly when they played as they do for measurements, they would have to have their legs amputated afterward because of the lack of blood flow. Dafoe believes those steps were necessary to make his pads legal. While most goalies use foam, his are filled with deer hair. ``So when I play, my pads sink down and spread out,'' he said. ``As the game goes on it spreads out more and more. So when I'm playing my pads are probably 12-1/2 inches. ``But if everyone is allowed to do that, it's fair.'' Dafoe is taking precautions to ensure he stays in compliance, not out of a sense of fair play but out of fear of being suspended one game and losing pay. (In Dafoe's case, it would be $5,487.81). So he's planning on using a new pair as soon as his current ones start breaking down. ``If I wear these all year, by the end of the year, they might be 13 (inches),'' he said. If the league really wanted to ensure that all goalies were using the same-sized equipment, it would contract with a manufacturer who would follow specific guidelines. Only such NHL-sanctioned equipment could then be used. His own worst enemy: It is viewed in some quarters as a victory for Brett Hull Brett Andrew Hull (born August 9, 1964 in Belleville, Ontario) is a former NHL player, the son of legendary player Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull. Though in the earliest years of his career few saw him as a potential star, the colorful and often outspoken Hull announced his . And it probably is. But Hull wasn't the reason Mike Keenan Michael Edward Keenan (born October 21 1949 in Bowmanville, Ontario) is the current head coach of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is 5'11" and weighs 198 lbs. Keenan was a player for the St. was fired last week as coach and general manager of the St. Louis Blues. Mike Keenan was the reason Mike Keenan was dismissed. Hull, after all, wasn't the one who alienated fans by trading away hometown favorites Craig Janney Craig Janney (born September 26, 1967 in Hartford, Connecticut and raised in Enfield, Connecticut) was a professional ice hockey center who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League from 1987-88 until 1998-99. , Brendan Shanahan Brendan Frederick Shanahan (born 23 January 1969, in Mimico, Ontario, Canada), is a Canadian ice hockey right wing and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. and Curtis Joseph Curtis Shayne Joseph (born April 29, 1967 in Keswick, Ontario, Canada, as Curtis Munroe), is a professional ice hockey goaltender in the NHL who is currently a free agent after having spent the past two seasons playing for the Phoenix Coyotes. . Hull wasn't the one who, in just 27 months, drove up the team's payroll $7 million by overpaying for such underachievers as Dale Hawerchuk Dale Hawerchuk (born April 4, 1963 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired professional ice hockey player. Playing career In 1979, Hawerchuk was selected 6th overall by the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. , Geoff Courtnall Geoffrey "Geoff" Courtnall (born 18 August 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1983 to 2000. Courtnall was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He is the brother of former NHL player, Russ Courtnall. and Joe Murphy. Hull wasn't the one who made bad business decisions, costing the franchise millions paying players no longer on the Blues. Keenan was. And the Kiel Center Partners, owners of the Blues, couldn't take it anymore. Not when they've sunk millions into a new building and into Keenan's contract only to see their investment flounder flounder: see flatfish. flounder Any of about 300 species of flatfishes (order Pleuronectiformes). When born, the flounder is bilaterally symmetrical, with an eye on each side, and it swims near the sea's surface. under the ego-driven moves of the now ex-coach/GM. Disgusted fans voiced their opinions in the strongest possible terms - by not buying tickets. The Blues average home attendance this season is 15,991, down 2,615 from 1995-96. Keenan's lack of sense cost the franchise an estimated $5.2 million in projected ticket revenue alone, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the St. Louis Post-Dispatch The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the only major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the region, and is available and read as far west as Springfield, Missouri. . When you take money out of the owners' pockets, that's going to hurt you more than feuding with the team's star player. Add Keenan: Of course, Keenan is hardly hurting. He's expecting to receive $7 million in a contract buyout. Wonder if he'll file for unemployment benefits. Flying Flyers: Eric Lindros Eric Bryan Lindros (born February 28, 1973 in London, Ontario, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. Biography The son of Carl and Bonnie Lindros[1], Eric has Swedish heritage. is back healthy and they've just added Paul Coffey Paul Douglas Coffey (born June 1 1961, in Weston, Ontario) is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defensemen in career goals, assists, and points . , but the contributions of the enforcement line of Scott Daniels Scott Daniels (born September 19, 1969 in Mistawasis, Saskatchewan) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. External links
After seeing how Tampa Bay ran at the Flyers and Lindros during the playoffs last season, general manager Bobby Clarke added tough guys Daniels and Lacroix, and paired them with Kordic. The three were a combined 19-8-6 in fights, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer scorecard, which should make teams think twice about getting physical with Lindros. ``The fourth line is giving us a physical presence,'' Clarke said. ``You can't go to war unless you have some weapons, eh?'' Missing all-stars: The NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 18 in San Jose might be missing two of the most explosive scorers in the Eastern Conference if Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr follow through on threats to boycott the game. Lemieux said he is considering not going to protest the lack of obstruction and other such penalty calls this year. Jagr has started echoing similar sentiments. ``I don't know if I'm going to go,'' Jagr said. ``Sometimes I feel like I'm going to get killed out there. The high-sticking, the cross-checking to the face, spearing, slashing - that's what bothers me most.'' Longevity: Scotty Bowman, already the winningest coach in NHL history, will win his 1,000th game sometime next month. To put that into perspective, only three others have coached 1,000 games - Al Arbour, Dick Irvin and Billy Reay. Shane Churla, New York Rangers He made the Stupid Move of the Week by picking a fight with Hartford's Stu Grimson. Churla was playing his first game after being sidelined with a broken orbital bone under his left eye. The 6-foot-6 Grimson, fully aware of Churla's situation, didn't drop the gloves at first. But after Churla persisted, Grimson pounded him with rights, opening up a gaping cut over Churla's left eye that required 30 stitches to close. PLAYER WATCH Eric Lindros, Philadelphia OK, now we believe he's fully recovered from his groin injury. During an 11-game unbeaten streak, he had nine goals and 10 assists. SAY WHAT ``A big part of a GM's job in the NHL is denying all the silly trade rumors started in Toronto.'' - Vancouver general manager Pat Quinn. TOP 10 AND NO. 26 1. Philadelphia 2. Florida 3. Colorado 4. Dallas 5. Detroit 6. New York Rangers 7. Pittsburgh 8. New Jersey 9. Hartford 10. Buffalo 26. Kings L.A. ON ICE KINGS Thursday - Phoenix Saturday - Colorado Monday - At Edmonton Let's get moving, Sam. Being patient while young talent develops is one thing, sitting idly by while the team implodes is another. MIGHTY DUCKS Friday - at New York Rangers Saturday - at New Jersey Monday - At Ottawa Paul Kariya is saving Ron Wilson's job. CAPTION(S): Box Box: THE PENALTY BOX (see text) |
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