They're bringing back the R&D camp

[Rink Rage]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/dregerreport/

1) The NHL has confirmed plans for another Research and Development camp this summer.

Brendan Shanahan will once again spearhead the project and says this year's two-day camp will take place Aug. 17-18 at the Mastercard Centre, otherwise known as the Toronto Maple Leafs' practice facility.

The league liked the 'guinea pigs' used in last year's experimentation, primarily 17-year-old, draft-eligible players and will soon be sending out invites to the 2012 crop to provide the athletes this year.

Shanahan intends on condensing the list of items to be tested, focusing instead on the changes that could be introduced in the NHL as early as next season.

Among them - a newly-designed net with a red mesh and smaller holes strung across the top of net, in addition to a smaller, more shallow base at the bottom.

Both alterations were tested last summer and there is a strong desire to test the prototype net again before putting it in play, perhaps as early as next year.

The new mesh is expected to increase clarity in video review when trying to determine, conclusively, whether or not the puck crossed the goal line, while the smaller base will allow players to get around the net quicker and is expected to provide more room for direct passes.

Also worth repeating is the NHL's planned testing at the R+D camp of a communication system for all referees.

This system would allow the two refs to talk, via headset, during a play and lead each other based on what they're seeing in the battle areas to allow play to continue or make a specific call.

Disallowed goals, where the referee rules he was in the process of blowing the whistle (usually because he's lost sight of the puck) is an area of concern that might be corrected if both refs are in constant communication and able to share each others views.

Sources say this advancement could be introduced in time for next season.

What rule changes would like to see tested? Coaches challenge, 4 on 4 then 3 on 3 OT, adding a bit more clutching and grabbing maybe?

Click to read more...

 

[LadyStanley]

IIRC, they said they were planning on doing another just after last seasons' camp.

(And not only because it gave an opportunity for "next year's" draft eligible to strut their stuff in front of NHL brass and scouts.)

 

[TheHMan]

To be honest, they should redo video review where referees lose sight of the puck. If it goes to review and it's determined that the puck was loose then the goal should count.

It seems pretty silly that perfectly legitimate goals don't count because the referee was standing in the wrong position.

 

[jkrdevil]

To be honest, they should redo video review where referees lose sight of the puck. If it goes to review and it's determined that the puck was loose then the goal should count.

It seems pretty silly that perfectly legitimate goals don't count because the referee was standing in the wrong position.

Problem is if a whistle is blown (and I don't mean intent to blow, I mean a sound being made and heard by others). A whistle stops the play. The team that gets scored upon will argue that they stopped playing at the whistle and counting that goal would be unfair.

 

[Alan Jackson]

I would love to see them 'test' 5-on-5 overtime and the elimination of the shoot-out, but I won't hold my breath.

I think a big focus should be shrinking the size of goaltenders, and taking a serious look at how rock-hard shoulder & elbow pads might be leading to head injuries.

 

[JuniorNelson]

What about a "Major Foul" like football has? It should be a game changing call with real consequences, like a ten minute powerplay or something. Something should be done about flagrant stuff!

 

[tarheelhockey]

Excellent. This was one of my favorite parts of the whole season.

IMO, goal reviews are being over-emphasized by outraged fans in the past few weeks. The league could make some minor procedural tweaks to ensure consistency, but again IMO:

1) We don't need any more goal reviews than we already have.
2) We certainly don't need reviews of non-goal events.
3) We shouldn't be lured by the NFL into thinking review will make the game somehow more appealing. Remember which sport is largely responsible for gambling outcomes, and which isn't. I'd rather hockey continue to be a sport of speed and luck, not plodding over-analysis.

 

[Steve Passless*]

What about a "Major Foul" like football has? It should be a game changing call with real consequences, like a ten minute powerplay or something. Something should be done about flagrant stuff!

Five-minute non-terminating power plays can have real consequences. Unfortunately, the consequences for Nashville were that Hossa came out of the box and scored a sudden-death goal.

 

[Burgmania]

I'm a fan of this new communication setup for on-ice officials. Lapel mikes all plugged into one frequency, shared by all on-ice officials.

Now that I think about it, there are some serious possibilities about that idea turning into a new "channel" on NHL VideoCenter. As hockey fans, are y'all gonna sit there and tell me you wouldn't mind listening to (or even pay to listen to) the officials mic'd up?

 

[aparch]

I'm a fan of this new communication setup for on-ice officials. Lapel mikes all plugged into one frequency, shared by all on-ice officials.

Now that I think about it, there are some serious possibilities about that idea turning into a new "channel" on NHL VideoCenter. As hockey fans, are y'all gonna sit there and tell me you wouldn't mind listening to (or even pay to listen to) the officials mic'd up?

Make it like NASCAR, and let the fans listen in if they bring their own scanner!

 

[Blue Dragon]

I'm a fan of this new communication setup for on-ice officials. Lapel mikes all plugged into one frequency, shared by all on-ice officials.

Now that I think about it, there are some serious possibilities about that idea turning into a new "channel" on NHL VideoCenter. As hockey fans, are y'all gonna sit there and tell me you wouldn't mind listening to (or even pay to listen to) the officials mic'd up?

When rugby games are televised, they include the referee's mic as part of the main feed, generally.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Mic'd refs are great. That vid actually makes me like the NBA a little.