So have you seen "The Video?" It's certainly the talk of the National Hockey League. "The Video" is the one featuring former NHL official Stephen Walkom talking about and showing the new rule emphasis in the league for the 2005-06 season.

I was at the newly named TD Banknorth Garden on Wednesday, watching three practices and a scrimmage for the Boston Bruins. I had the opportunity to discuss the Walkom video with a number of people within the organization, and the reaction was similar in every instance.

First, was Captain Joe Thornton. He agreed with my initial assessment that we might just see 75 power play chances per game with the new rule emphasis. He, and every member of the organization had seen the Walkom video, and while he expressed optimism that players would eventually get the hang of what would (and more importantly NOT) be allowed, but he acknowledged that it will take a while for the adjustment.

Next up was General Manager Mike O'Connell who agreed with Joe that there will be a real adjustment period. The Bruins have placed a strong emphasis on the new rules in training camp scrimmages. During the scrimmage on Wednesday, the officials blew the whistle and corrected a goaltender that was playing the puck over near the corner boards. The irony was that the goalie was correct, and was playing the puck outside the goal line which is legal within the rules, and it was the game officials who were having trouble understanding the new rule allowances.

Brian Leetch, an intelligent and well-spoken representative for the Bruins and the National Hockey League, had the most interesting observations. First, as he pointed out, not one single rule change or emphasis was designed to help any NHL defenseman or goaltender. EVERY change was designed to help forwards and offensive play, and even so-called "offensive" NHL defensemen are now at a serious disadvantage. He had some other thoughts as well. Under the new emphasis, players are simply not allowed to make any contact with a forechecking player, either with the body or with the stick. The result is that backchecking defensemen will either get killed, or they'll have to change the way they play. Defensemen can no longer be the first player back to play the puck. They will either have to play the forechecker shoulder to shoulder, or even allow the forechecker to reach the puck first, and then make the challenge. Leetch is one player who does not believe you will as many so-called "home run" passes as other do. He feels that one or two per game might be the limit.

Finally, I discussed the new rule emphasis with a couple of hockey "lifers" --- former coaches Gerry Cheevers and Tom McVie. As McVie pointed out, under the old NHL rule system, 20 minutes of every game were spent on special teams, with four guys skating backwards and their sticks in one hand. He feels that number could go up to 30 minutes per game under the new system, doing away with any potential flow and rhythm that is the goal of league officials. Cheevers expressed hope that officials would be allowed to use their better judgment and stay away from calls completely away from the play.

The bottom line for everyone I spoke with is that there will be a very real break-in period for players and the new rule system and emphasis in the league. Expect to see a lot of power play and penalty killing units early on, and hope that the education period is s short one.

A couple of quick Bruins camp observations: Every player arrived in camp in phenomenal shape. As Brian Leetch pointed out, it's the rare NHL player who does NOT have his own personal trainer these days. Bruins scouts were raving about the depth of talent in camp. As one said to me, "You used to wonder if there was enough talent to fill out the forward lines, now you can't figure out who you cut from the team." Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque were watching practice, and Orr seemed genuinely delighted to see defenseman Jonathan Girard on the ice, and looking like he had never missed any time, let alone a lengthy hospital after a life-threatening automobile accident. Favorite name at camp --- Wacey Rabbit. Wacey was named after a rodeo star and he holds out hope of competitive rodeo after his hockey playing days are over. Newly signed goaltender Tim Thomas was the MVP of the Finnish Elite League, posting 15 shutouts and a 1.58 goals-against-average. He was signed to a one-way contract, fairly unusual for the frugal Bruins. O'Connell expressed hope that the Bruins could get a deal done with former Rookie of the Year, Andrew Raycroft, and admitted the team had increased its contract offer to Raycroft on Tuesday night. Former Boston College standout defenseman Andrew Alberts was wowing observers with his unique combination of size and skating ability. Bruins rookies were reportedly awed by a team history video that was prepared and presented to them at the start of camp.

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