As we get ready for the start of the 05-06 season?nice to say those
words, isn't it??it appears that so much of the future of this league
is dependent upon the NHL and the referees sticking to their zero
tolerance policy.



This is a league that is bankrupt when it comes to credibility and has
spent the last decade?or the period of Gary Bettman's reign as
Commissioner, coincidence??tripping over its own feet. Either it's the
two work stoppages or the "This time we really mean it" approach to
ridding the sport of the clutching, grabbing and fourth-line forwards
that serve no purpose other than to muck up the sport, the league seems
to exist now based solely on the good will and passionate nature of the
sport's fans.



It was with a collective shrug of the shoulders by nearly everyone when
the league stuck its chest out and announced the rules changes. "Where
have we heard this before?" was the general reaction and it will remain
so until we get into December or January and players are still skating
without dragging an Aaron Downey behind them.



This year, the way the games are being called in the preseason HAS to
remain throughout the regular season, playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.
The league can never go back to what it was?no matter what the
so-called traditionalists say. Nothing short of the sport's survival in
North America is dependent upon it.



So let's assume that what we are seeing this preseason is indeed here
to say?minus the 20 power plays, we'll assume players will either
adjust or teams will get rid of the knuckleheads who don't?how is that
going to affect the way clubs put together rosters?



Recently, nearly every club has wanted to "get bigger." Big was good
and bigger was better. Big power forwards that can muscle their way to
the net, big bruising defensemen that can stop the big, power forwards
from getting to the net and big goaltenders that can stop the shots of
the big, power forwards that muscled their way past the big, bruising
defensemen were all the rage.



But now, with speed and positioning so important in this new, skater friendly NHL, does size really matter as much?



I'm one person hoping it doesn't. I hope that this new NHL allows a
"normal" size player like Blackhawk rookie defenseman Duncan Keith to
not only survive but thrive because he can skate like the wind and
think his position better than someone who's lone skill is shoving his
stick into a forward's back so often as to cripple him.



That's not skill, folks, that's assault in the real world and if the
old-timers such as Boston's Harry Sinden don't like too bad. Retire.



Times change. Baseball isn't the same today as it was in 1950, nor is
the NFL. Is it better? Some would say yes, much better, some would say
no. But the point is it doesn't matter. Sports is no different than the
rest of society. Things change and in order to survive, people,
businesses and, yes, sports leagues have to change with it.



I would really be impressed with league's commitment to its "zero
tolerance" policy if Bettman announced that any owner, general manager
or coach that publicly criticizes the direction the league is
attempting to go in faces the same fine it faced if it talked about the
lockout.



That's not going to happen and there's a little thing called the First
Amendment that might cause a bit of a problem, but you get my point.



This has to work the way the league envisions it and if it does, the
NHL will be much better off. Nothing against the Aaron Downeys of the
league, but they've had their time. It's now time for the Duncan Keiths
of the world take their place on the stage.



For more Blackhawk coverage go to:



http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/

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