[panoo]

Canadian Press
10/3/2006 4:14:59 PM

The second post-lockout season should focus on the players and the sport, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday.

''Now that we've fixed our economics and energized the game with new rules and a standard of officiating that will be maintained going forward - I promise you that - we now have a chance to build on the momentum generated last season,'' Bettman said on a conference call on the eve of the 89th NHL season.

''We'll shine the spotlight on the players more than ever.''

Last season, most of the attention was on the aftermath of the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 campaign and the many changes brought not only to the business of hockey but to the game on the ice.

There was a salary cap, revenue sharing and a complex collective bargaining agreement off the ice, while on it, there were several news rules and an unprecedented crackdown on obstruction.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179738&hubname=nhl

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

I do liek some of the extra time after a gaol is scored that he finally thought of putting in this year. I didn't like how when a goal was scored, the team celbrated for a few seconds and then had to be at the face off circle immediately. Hardly and analysis on the goal. (1 replay... maybe two) and then -cut! back to the game.

On the other hand, I don't know why the intermission break was extended to 17 minutes. The extra two mintues could disrupt some of the flow if the game is going good.

He added that NHL fans ''tend to be extremely tech-savvy and they're availing themselves of this new digital world.''

I'm sure this is especially the case in the States. They have to be with the lack of media coverage the game gets down there in some cities.

By the way, any word on a new TV deal? Or are they going to go with OLN again?

 

[imported_shookem]

I do liek some of the extra time after a gaol is scored that he finally thought of putting in this year. I didn't like how when a goal was scored, the team celbrated for a few seconds and then had to be at the face off circle immediately. Hardly and analysis on the goal. (1 replay... maybe two) and then -cut! back to the game.

On the other hand, I don't know why the intermission break was extended to 17 minutes. The extra two mintues could disrupt some of the flow if the game is going good.



I'm sure this is especially the case in the States. They have to be with the lack of media coverage the game gets down there in some cities.

By the way, any word on a new TV deal? Or are they going to go with OLN again?

Yeah the NHL is still with Versus (OLN) and probably will have a few games on NBC weekend afternoons later in the season. Nothing to boost about though.

I like how Gary says the economic problems have been fixed, lol!