i'm not so sure the flow of the game is faster. at least the game i watched, i felt like i was watching women's field hockey. the zero tolerance rule for interference and holding, in my opinion, slows the game. i can understand y they're doing it, but it definitely slows the game. at least until players stop doing it.

regardless, welcome back Hockey!

what i don't get is, Hockey is desperate to get it's fans back, right? y would u not televise on ESPN? i know ESPN offered less money, but what other channel is going to give u more airtime and exposure than ESPN? is OLN even a basic cable or satellite channel? :dunno: :dunno:

OLN is owned by Comcast and is on basic on almost every system except Cablevision. It's ch 608 on directv and 120ish on TWC. Jim/Chuck & Co. are just money grubbing thieves.

Concerning your question about why not ESPN- I don't think ESPN even bid on the deal. They walked away because they were getting better ratings from Women's Beach Volleyball during the lockout. OLN on the other hand, would LOVE to get the ratings from the NHL, as well as put the channel on the map and get lead-ins to their home grown shows. Comcast is trying to position OLN as the next Sports Illustrated channel or Fox Sports type channel.

That being said, Gary Buttman is a complete fool, which is evidenced by his continual comparisons of the NHL to the NFL :wow: . Meanwhile, the NHL is placed below other leagues like the WNBA on sports websites... yeah, ok Gary, the NHL is the next NFL... right. Dickhead.

I think it will take some more time for the officials and the players to adjust to the new rules. I watched mostly the Coyotes-Canucks (when I finally found it on a free preview channel for the Center Ice package) which had good flow, maybe because the West Coast teams tend to play a more free flowing style anyway. The new rules will certainly highlight the goal scorers and the power players who can skate through defensemen so long as they aren't being hooked or held.

When I'm in the NHL I'll like the new rules. :D

The biggest rule change to open up the scoring is the elimination of the red line for off-sides passes. I haven't seen more home run passes to the opposing blue line since the last Olympic hockey tournament. Still getting used to it, I had to stop myself from yelling "2 line pass!" ever time it happened ;)

gotcha! i wasn't sure if OLN was a standard station or not. yeah, i don't think the NHL is quite up to par w/ the NFL as of yet. honestly, i don't foresee that ever happening.

yeah, i definitely think it's a east coast thing. wathcing mainly the Devils, u can understand where i am coming from. i think they patented the neutral zone trap and the clutch and grap style of defense.

u too? :rofl: between that and the damn delayed offsides. my bad, tag-up rule. i never understood why they got rid of that rule in the 1st place.

THAT I watch. :drool: ;pervert; :woot: Give me more! :D

You CAN watch both you know :)