Last update: September 20, 2005 at 7:17 AM
Wild: 'Tis the season to lay down the law
Michael Russo, Star Tribune
September 20, 2005 WILD0920
You've got to hand it to those patient NHL general managers.
Three days into the preseason, irritated GMs, upset with the inordinate number of power plays called as the league cracks down on obstruction, have already dialed up NHL executive vice president Colin Campbell to complain.
Over the years, Campbell has gotten used to such calls. He used to let them vent. Now, these GMs can expect a quick admonishment.
"It's going to be like: 'Enough is enough. Shut up,'" Campbell said. "We've been directed to do this by everybody, and a lot of those everybodys are the same people who have complained before when penalties were called too much.
"But this time, because of the lockout, we had the whole year to sink our teeth into it. We discussed it with players, coaches, refs and managers, and this was [the edict] to come down."
In recent years, the NHL has vowed to crack down on obstruction so many times, one might find himself rolling his eyes at the NHL's latest guarantee that those who hook, hold, prod, clutch and grab will be escorted to the penalty box every single time.
But this time, the NHL seems to mean business.
"I believe them," Wild center Brian Rolston said. "I think this time is a new beginning."
Through the first three days of exhibition games, 305 power plays have been assessed in only 16 games (19.1 a game). In 1,230 regular-season games in 2003-04, there were 10,427 power plays, or 8.5 a game.
In previous obstruction crackdowns, the focus was only on the non-puck carrier. But as the league tries to promote skill, speed and offense, infractions on the puck carrier will be highlighted.
"If we can free up the puck carrier, I think we can create the excitement that the fans have desired for some time," said Stephen Walkom, a respected NHL referee since 1992 who hung up his whistle this summer to become the NHL's director of officiating.
He recently gathered the league's 33 referees and 34 linesmen for a weeklong training camp in Fort Erie, Ontario. Identifying exactly what is and isn't a penalty was a huge focus.
Each team was sent a DVD showing what the league will be targeting. Campbell also is meeting individually with teams.
"Obviously there is leeway within the rules and it's up to the officials' judgment, but the key areas are in front of the net and in the corners," Campbell said.
Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said players will slowly adjust, but he stressed "slowly," because players instinctively try to slow down opponents who get a lead on them.
"It'll take the whole year. Maybe two years. Maybe three years," Lemaire said. "Not to be negative, but you just can't cut it. ... You'll see it forever. Hopefully, you'll see it less as years go by."
Wild GM Doug Risebrough said it better happen less because the Wild can't afford to constantly be killing penalties.
"I'd say we had six penalties [in Phoenix on] Friday, and if those players are still making those same penalties in four or five games, they probably can't play in the league," Risebrough said.
Coyotes veteran Brett Hull said the dueling power-play games so far have been "painful" to watch.
"I think it's been a jolt of reality for coaches on what they have to do in practice to prepare for games," Hull said. "There's not a lot of sense practicing five-on-five stuff. You need to practice special teams a lot."
Asked if this ultimately could be good for the game, the future Hall of Famer said: "We'll wait and see. No matter what happens, the step to try to do it was the right thing."
In the past, obstruction crackdowns prematurely ended because teams continually complained, Campbell said, and referees didn't want to make "that little call that could decide a game."
"This time, coaches, managers and players can't cut us up and beat us up in front of the fans we're trying to sell the game to," Campbell said.
Campbell still will wait by his phone, though. He said he'll also peruse newspaper clips to see if there's any need to levy fines "if guys cross the line."
"If a big call is made in the last 30 seconds or five minutes of a game, if there's a call made that keeps a team out of the playoffs or knocks them out of the first round, and it starts costing teams money, that'll be the litmus test," Campbell said.
"But this is going to stay for a while. We can't get lax this time."
Michael Russo is
atmrusso@startribune.com.
