Rule changes and other stuff...

[guinevere]

The AHL has implemented a shootout to decide regular-season games which are tied after a five-minute overtime period. In the AHL standings, teams will receive two points for a win, one point for a loss in overtime or in a shootout and zero points for a loss in regulation time.


The AHL has reduced the number of qualifying teams for the Calder Cup 2005 Playoffs to 16 (from 20). The format will still feature a divisional playoff, leading to conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup Final. The top four teams from each division will qualify for the postseason, and all rounds will feature best-of-seven series.


The Board approved the relocation of the inactive franchise owned by Howard Baldwin from Louisville, Ky., to Des Moines, Iowa, to begin play in 2005-06.


The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the Norfolk Admirals from Mark Garcea and Page Johnson to a group led by the Norfolk Tides Baseball Club and its president, Ken Young.


The Board approved the transfer of controlling interest in the Hamilton Bulldogs to Hamilton businessman Michael Andlauer, who had been a minority owner.

In a delayed offside situation, the offending player(s) will be permitted to negate the offside by “tagging up” with the blue line. This rule was in effect from 1986-96 and will enable more flow in the forechecking aspect of the game while reducing the number of stoppages.


“Automatic icing” has been implemented, with icing infractions to be called and the play whistled dead when the puck crosses the goal line.


Goal lines will be moved from 13 feet to 11 feet out from the end boards, and blue lines will be moved back accordingly to maintain a 60-foot attacking zone. This will increase the size of the neutral zone and reduce play behind the goals.


The width of the blue lines and the center red line will be increased from 12 inches to 24 inches each, and passes will be permitted from the defensive edge of one blue line to the offensive edge of the other blue line, adding additional space to the neutral zone


The maximum width of goaltenders’ leg pads will be reduced from 12 inches to 10 inches, creating additional scoring area for shooters.


The AHL will also implement, for the first seven weeks of the 2004-05 regular season, a limited test of a rule restricting the areas where goaltenders may play the puck. This is a step designed to increase offensive opportunities without wholly eliminating a goaltender’s ability to assist his defensemen. Following the completion of the test period, the AHL will evaluate the results and determine whether the rule’s application will continue.

[guinevere]

The AHL has implemented a shootout to decide regular-season games which are tied after a five-minute overtime period. In the AHL standings, teams will receive two points for a win, one point for a loss in overtime or in a shootout and zero points for a loss in regulation time.


The AHL has reduced the number of qualifying teams for the Calder Cup 2005 Playoffs to 16 (from 20). The format will still feature a divisional playoff, leading to conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup Final. The top four teams from each division will qualify for the postseason, and all rounds will feature best-of-seven series.


The Board approved the relocation of the inactive franchise owned by Howard Baldwin from Louisville, Ky., to Des Moines, Iowa, to begin play in 2005-06.


The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the Norfolk Admirals from Mark Garcea and Page Johnson to a group led by the Norfolk Tides Baseball Club and its president, Ken Young.


The Board approved the transfer of controlling interest in the Hamilton Bulldogs to Hamilton businessman Michael Andlauer, who had been a minority owner.

In a delayed offside situation, the offending player(s) will be permitted to negate the offside by “tagging up” with the blue line. This rule was in effect from 1986-96 and will enable more flow in the forechecking aspect of the game while reducing the number of stoppages.


“Automatic icing” has been implemented, with icing infractions to be called and the play whistled dead when the puck crosses the goal line.


Goal lines will be moved from 13 feet to 11 feet out from the end boards, and blue lines will be moved back accordingly to maintain a 60-foot attacking zone. This will increase the size of the neutral zone and reduce play behind the goals.


The width of the blue lines and the center red line will be increased from 12 inches to 24 inches each, and passes will be permitted from the defensive edge of one blue line to the offensive edge of the other blue line, adding additional space to the neutral zone


The maximum width of goaltenders’ leg pads will be reduced from 12 inches to 10 inches, creating additional scoring area for shooters.


The AHL will also implement, for the first seven weeks of the 2004-05 regular season, a limited test of a rule restricting the areas where goaltenders may play the puck. This is a step designed to increase offensive opportunities without wholly eliminating a goaltender’s ability to assist his defensemen. Following the completion of the test period, the AHL will evaluate the results and determine whether the rule’s application will continue.

[puck_it]

looks like they are testing things out for the NHL... :D

good find guin

[puck_it]

looks like they are testing things out for the NHL... :D

good find guin

[e2ipiand1]

For more details about the restrictions on the goalie playing the puck go to:
http://www.theahl.com/AHL/News/2004/09/21/637995.html

[e2ipiand1]

For more details about the restrictions on the goalie playing the puck go to:
http://www.theahl.com/AHL/News/2004/09/21/637995.html

[Captain Slack]

[quote]The Board approved the relocation of the inactive franchise owned by Howard Baldwin from Louisville, Ky., to Des Moines, Iowa, to begin play in 2005-06.

Hmmm.... I'd heard the Flames were going to place their old AHL affiliate that used to place in Saint John, NB in Des Moines. Guess that's not going to happen now.

[Captain Slack]

[quote]The Board approved the relocation of the inactive franchise owned by Howard Baldwin from Louisville, Ky., to Des Moines, Iowa, to begin play in 2005-06.

Hmmm.... I'd heard the Flames were going to place their old AHL affiliate that used to place in Saint John, NB in Des Moines. Guess that's not going to happen now.

[Shell]

Wander Years cancelled
By RANDY SPORTAK, CALGARY SUN

A delay-of-game penalty could have been expected with the new rules affecting AHL goalies. But not the way Brent Krahn was flagged in his season debut.

"It had nothing to do with the new rules," the Flames' first-round draftee from 2000 sheepishly admitted. "I was behind the net getting ready to play the puck and it took a funny bounce, so I caught it instead.

"Then I skated to my crease. The ref said I couldn't do that."

Krahn is one of many AHL netminders going through the early- season experimentation to reduce their puck-handling prowess.

For the first couple of months, there are restricting lines around the net, defining the limits of where a goaltender may play the puck. The area, marked by lines on the ice, begins at the goal-line 6 ft. from both sides of the net and extends diagonally to points 28 ft. apart at the end boards.

Goalies are not permitted to play any puck behind the goal-line outside the restricted area and receive a minor penalty if they do so. The test will end Nov. 28, at which time the AHL will determine whether the rule will remain in effect for the rest of the season.

"Not many goaltenders go out to the corners to play the puck, except maybe guys like Marty Turco or Rick DiPietro, so it's not that bad," Krahn said.

"It's tougher on the defencemen. When somebody puts a soft chip in the corner, a goaltender could usually go get it and pass it to a d-man when he posted up. This way, somebody dumps the puck in the corner, the only thing a goalie can do is say, 'There's a guy on you.' It causes for more turnovers because the d-men can get pounded."

The second pro season for the former Calgary Hitmen standout hasn't exactly started on a high note. In his first two contests -- he was slated to start last night's game against Hartford -- he's 1-1 with a 4.10 goals-against average and .877 save percentage.

Still, it's only a couple of games into a season in which he's sharing duties with first-year pro and former Red Deer Rebel Cam Ward, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect.

"I'm more calm and composed and am working more on the consistency," said Krahn, whose time last season was split between Las Vegas of the ECHL and both Lowell and San Antonio in the AHL.

Competing for the top job with a former Rebel only adds a little intrigue to it all.

"We joke about it from time to time but we know what's at stake here and get along great," Krahn said.

"It's good. It creates healthy competition. Cam Ward is a great goaltender and good competition drives the best in people. I don't see it as a problem. It's a challenge and we'll have a lot of fun."

Other rules implemented this season in the AHL are a return to the tag-up offside, automatic icing, two-ft. wide bluelines and a new red line -- twice as big as last season. Also, there will be shootouts to decide regular-season games tied after overtime.

- - -

MONSTER TALES: The Lock Monsters also play tonight in Worcester ... Call it a successful return for Lynn Loyns. The forward, who had three heart surgeries in August/September, has a goal and an assist in his first four games.

[Shell]

Wander Years cancelled
By RANDY SPORTAK, CALGARY SUN

A delay-of-game penalty could have been expected with the new rules affecting AHL goalies. But not the way Brent Krahn was flagged in his season debut.

"It had nothing to do with the new rules," the Flames' first-round draftee from 2000 sheepishly admitted. "I was behind the net getting ready to play the puck and it took a funny bounce, so I caught it instead.

"Then I skated to my crease. The ref said I couldn't do that."

Krahn is one of many AHL netminders going through the early- season experimentation to reduce their puck-handling prowess.

For the first couple of months, there are restricting lines around the net, defining the limits of where a goaltender may play the puck. The area, marked by lines on the ice, begins at the goal-line 6 ft. from both sides of the net and extends diagonally to points 28 ft. apart at the end boards.

Goalies are not permitted to play any puck behind the goal-line outside the restricted area and receive a minor penalty if they do so. The test will end Nov. 28, at which time the AHL will determine whether the rule will remain in effect for the rest of the season.

"Not many goaltenders go out to the corners to play the puck, except maybe guys like Marty Turco or Rick DiPietro, so it's not that bad," Krahn said.

"It's tougher on the defencemen. When somebody puts a soft chip in the corner, a goaltender could usually go get it and pass it to a d-man when he posted up. This way, somebody dumps the puck in the corner, the only thing a goalie can do is say, 'There's a guy on you.' It causes for more turnovers because the d-men can get pounded."

The second pro season for the former Calgary Hitmen standout hasn't exactly started on a high note. In his first two contests -- he was slated to start last night's game against Hartford -- he's 1-1 with a 4.10 goals-against average and .877 save percentage.

Still, it's only a couple of games into a season in which he's sharing duties with first-year pro and former Red Deer Rebel Cam Ward, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect.

"I'm more calm and composed and am working more on the consistency," said Krahn, whose time last season was split between Las Vegas of the ECHL and both Lowell and San Antonio in the AHL.

Competing for the top job with a former Rebel only adds a little intrigue to it all.

"We joke about it from time to time but we know what's at stake here and get along great," Krahn said.

"It's good. It creates healthy competition. Cam Ward is a great goaltender and good competition drives the best in people. I don't see it as a problem. It's a challenge and we'll have a lot of fun."

Other rules implemented this season in the AHL are a return to the tag-up offside, automatic icing, two-ft. wide bluelines and a new red line -- twice as big as last season. Also, there will be shootouts to decide regular-season games tied after overtime.

- - -

MONSTER TALES: The Lock Monsters also play tonight in Worcester ... Call it a successful return for Lynn Loyns. The forward, who had three heart surgeries in August/September, has a goal and an assist in his first four games.

[Captain Slack]

AHL adopts rule for regular season, playoffs

ESPN.com news services




SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The American Hockey League's experimental rule restricting where goaltenders may play the puck behind the net has been extended through the regular season and the playoffs. The move was approved by the league's board of governors.

The rule was implemented on a trial basis for the first seven weeks of the season. The decision to extend the test was made following consultation with players, coaches and managers throughout the league. The AHL will evaluate the rule at the end of the season to determine its future application.

The rule is an attempt to increase offensive opportunities without wholly eliminating a goaltender's ability to assist his defensemen. Goaltenders are limited to a trapezoid area that begins six feet wide behind the net and extends to 28 feet wide at the end boards. Playing the puck outside the area results in a minor penalty for delay of game.