After the NHL was forced to abruptly take pucks with chip-tracking technology out of circulation three weeks into last season, the NHL is "putting the version 2.0 tracking puck into circulation for this upcoming campaign," according to Chris Johnston of the TORONTO STAR. The league last year worked with the manufacturer to develop a better model, and now its hockey operations department "turned the version 2.0 high-tech puck over to the stars for feedback." Separate summer skates run by Penguins C Sidney Crosby, Bruins LW Brad Marchand and Maple Leafs C John Tavares were "shipped the new pucks for testing." One of the most common complaints about the previous version was that they "didn't slide properly along the ice." These ones "performed better in that regard, according to the testers" (TORONTO STAR, 10/11).
STATS REVOLUTION: The AP's Larry Lage noted data generated by the pucks and from sensors about the size of a thumb on the backs of players "will be used by teams to develop their players and to scout opponents." Passing, puck possession, takeaways, giveaways and more "can be accurately recorded without the potential subjectivity of a scoring crew in an arena." In contract negotiations, it "isn't difficult to envision a day when teams and agents point to a data generated by the tracking system." TV networks "will continue to display and talk about some of the information on broadcast and studio shows." Fans who want to know "how fast players skate, how hard they shoot and more will be able to choose options that will show the data on an overlay as they watch on a big, medium or small, hand-held screen." NHL Exec VP/Business Development & Innovation David Lehanski said, "We're going to let fans decide how much or how little they want to incorporate it." Lage noted perhaps later this season, gamblers are "expected to be able to wager on a new wave of bets." Lage: "How far does the puck travel in a game? Who skates the fastest in the second period? Who has the hardest shot in the game?" (AP, 10/8).
