NHL's general managers yesterday adopted
recommendations designed to "increase offensive production,
cut down on undetected fouls and reduce confusion and debate
about goal-crease interference," according to Joe Lapointe
of the N.Y. TIMES. The "key proposed rule changes," which
are expected to be approved by the league's Board of
Governors on Thursday in Toronto, include: moving the goal
line out from the back boards two feet to 13 feet;
instituting a two-referee system for some games; and
allowing a video goal judge to institute review of a man-in-
the-crease violation. Lapointe adds that one "significant
possible change," the elimination of the center red line,
will be experimented with during preseason games next
season. Another proposal, which was not voted upon,
involves changing the point system, where teams would be
awarded three points for winning a regular season game
during regulation time. Should a game go into overtime, the
winning team would be awarded two points, the losing team
one. Each team would still be awarded one point in the
event of a tie (Joe Lapointe, N.Y. TIMES, 6/17).
OPEN ICE: In Philadelphia, Les Bowen writes that NHL
execs "proved they've been listening to complaints about a
lack of scoring, and a perhaps related drop in TV ratings
for NHL games" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/17). Also in
Philadelphia, Timothy Dwyer writes, "So on a day when you'd
think the men who run hockey would want to celebrate the
awarding of [the Stanley Cup], they instead decide to admit
that their game is deathly ill" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
6/17). In Toronto, Al Strachan says that while "many more"
rule changes are still "needed," yesterday's recommendations
"finally got the journey rolling" (TORONTO SUN, 6/17).
CAMPBELL'S ROUTE? In N.Y., Ross & Dellapina report that
former Rangers coach Colin Campbell "has had several
interviews with the NHL for the senior VP job expected to be
vacated by Brian Burke this summer" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/17).
