Crazy OT Thought for the NHL...and maybe other leagues (RW77)

Overtime Power Play Face Off (Photo credit: clydeorama)

I was driving around, listening to the Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers game on SiriusXM and the Florida commentators (never got their names) were talking about the upcoming considerations regarding Overtime and the Shootout.

The growing opinion is that the shootouts are not popular among players and coaches because it takes away the team aspect of winning among other things.  Aside from the commentator having a ridiculous reason (airports close so their private jets cannot take off if the game ends, say, 10 minutes later than it would normally.  Ok, nothing prohibits the aircraft from taking off first thing in the morning?), they brought up a few ideas such as 3 on 3s or lengthening OT to 8 or 10 minutes.

I got a crazy idea.  And yeah, it's crazy.  Instead of doing a shootout, why not solve the game outside of OT via the powerplay?  If OT ends and it is still a tie, they resurface the ice and put two minutes up on the clock.  The home team starts off with a 4 on 3 powerplay for 2 minutes.  If the home team scores, the visiting team gets a 4 on 3 powerplay to tie it up.  If they don't score, game over.  If they do, they reset and move to 5 on 3 powerplay for 2 minutes.  I should say:  Shorthanded goals end the game immediately (sort of sudden death).  It's sortof a restating of the college football OT rules.

My original idea, which is you play 10 minute OT periods until someone scores, seems to no longer be ok, so what about this crazy idea?

Can you come up with a better idea? 

Former UND forward Corban Knight to test free agent market.

Corban Knight is headed for free agency. “@Lowetide_: Jason Gregor with a story about a center with size. Hmmm. http://t.co/qaVktgAsIE”
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) June 17, 2013

There has been some speculation on-line this summer where the former Hobey Baker Memorial Candidate might end up. It's beginning to sound like it might be the Edmonton Oilers organization.

Jason Gregor, Edmonton Journal - So why didn’t the Panthers sign the resident of High River?

“After my season finished, we had talks with Florida and negotiations took place, but it turned out it wasn’t going to work out for both parties. We told Florida we were going to wait until free agency (Aug. 15) or a trade,” explained Knight.

The Panthers have drafted Jonathon Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad and Quinton Howden in the past three years, and they want to give them a shot. After speaking with the Panthers and looking at their depth chart Knight and his agent felt it was in his best interest to test the free-agent market.

Three teams have contacted the Panthers about acquiring Knight, and the Oilers are one of them, according to my sources. Will they sign another top college free agent two years in a row?

Is Knight ready to play in the NHL this season?

“To be honest, four years ago and even two years ago I would tell you there was no chance that I was ready to step into professional hockey, and more specifically the NHL,” said Knight.

“However, with my development at UND I was able to get stronger and more physically mature, and I’ve taken big steps improving my foot speed. Obviously, I have a lot of respect for the NHL and the guys playing there, it is the best league in the world. However, I think if I was able to come into a training camp, have a good camp and get some lucky breaks, I’d like to think I’d have a chance to crack an opening-day roster.”

Summer dreaming

It's 90 degrees today and I am wondering like many other hockey fans - where is Zach Parise going to sign and for how much? Zach's decision on where he is going to sign, isn't going to happen today, according to Michael Russo.  Also, it sounds like the Penguins are Zach's front-runner, I suppose none of us should be shocked with that because they cleared a bunch of cap space. If you're a Wild fan I am sure you're hoping that Parise changes his mind.

 Sounds like free agent players like Jason Garrison, Florida and  Matt Carle, Philadelphia are also going to wait and see where Ryan Suter, Nashville goes before they make their decisions as well.
 

Flames sign former Bruins pylon Dennis Wideman

The Calgary Flames just pulled off what many would probably consider as one of the worst moves of the summer to date. In what universe is Wideman worth that kind of money? While Wideman is a is a good offensive defensman -  he is not what I would consider a very good defenseman in the defensive zone and was a minus 26 in 2010-11.

Wideman also has a no movement clause as well.Thank God that Wideman is going to he Calgary Flames and not some team that I follow.

CALGARY, AB – The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired and signed defenceman Dennis Wideman from Washington in exchange for Jordan Henry and a 5th round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Wideman, a native of Kitchener, Ontario, has played over 500 career games with 67 goals, 184 assists for 251 points over the course of seven NHL seasons with time spent in St. Louis, Boston, Florida and Washington. Last season with the Capitals, Wideman had his second best offensive season tallying 11 goals along with a team high 35 assists for 46 points in 82 games which tied him for third in team scoring and lead all blue-liners with the Capitals.

Contract terms: 5 year contract with an Average Annual Value of $5,250,000

Wednesday Links - thanks 2 Million

First, I would like to thank the readers of this blog as Goon's World has reached the 2 million hit mark. Thanks to everyone that has visited this blog.

At the Wednesday Media day, coach Hakstol said that there isn't much to report on Fighting Sioux junior goalie Aaron Dell, other than he was back practicing with the team yesterday and I think we can list him as a day-to-day. That's if I understand coach speak correctly, I would probably list him as a game time decision. I can confirm that Dell looked good from my vantage point in practice today.

Also, Senior goalie Brad Eidsness looks like he has returned to form and in my opinion appears to be the same goalie that once won two All-WCHA honors (X2). While he got some lucky bounces he also made some huge saves to probably steal a point for UND when they weren't at their best.

Here is what Hockey Futures had to say about junior forward Corbin Knight.

12. (15) Corban Knight, C, 6.5C
Acquired: 5th round, 135th overall, 2009

Knight, too, got caught up in the injury trend for 2011-12, and has spent time in and out of the UND lineup. However, when he has been on the ice, he has shown why he should still be considered a rising talent in the Florida organization. He has been a point-per-game player for the Sioux, has been once again terrific in the faceoff circle and a demon in the corners. He has the skill to get the puck up ice and to his linemates, the hands to get a good release on his shot even in heavy traffic, and has sound hockey smarts.

Here is what Hockey Futures had to say about freshman Roco Grimaldi.

11. (8) Rocco Grimaldi, C, 8D
Acquired: 2nd round, 33rd overall, 2011

The 2011-12 campaign was a lost season for Grimaldi, who suffered a knee injury early in training camp for the University of North Dakota. He struggled to return to the lineup, and managed to find ice time in four games before having knee surgery that brought a close to his freshman year. Grimaldi will be eligible to take a redshirt, if necessary, but more important is the lost development time for the offensive wizard.

As a result, Grimaldi drops down the ranks for now. Once he gets back on the ice, and gets the opportunity to show off his dazzling offensive skills and skating, he should begin a steady march back up the ranks.

Related articles

• Lucky Bounces Save Sioux in Tie (insidehockey.com)
• Eidsness leads UND past MTU 4-2 (insidehockey.com)
• Michigan Tech vs. North Dakota Series Notes (insidehockey.com)
• Ten thoughts on the weekend (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND vs. UMD Series Notes (insidehockey.com)
• MTU vs. UND series Notes (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Slightly Chilled on Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi

USHL Photo

Ryan Clark from the Fargo Forum has a really nice article on Fighting Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi who is coming to UND this fall. Some have compared Roco Grimaldi to players like Brian Gionta or a Nate Gerbie because of the type of game that he plays. Roco coach on the U-18 team has already compared him to Brian Gionta. Personally, I hope Roco is half a good as the two aforementioned players.

Slightly Chill ---- Just about anyone following sports or even pop culture knows that Tebow is a God-first athlete that’s just about as devout as it gets. He did mission trips to the Philippines where he was born and during spring break at Florida, he did ministry with inmates in the Florida prison system.


Has Grimaldi done that? No. Should he? No. But can he leave a mark on college hockey like Tebow did with college football? Absolutely. It has come out that Grimaldi is an extremely devout young man. Sit down and hear the kid talk and you know this isn’t an act. He has his favorite Bible verses, he understands the stories in the Bible and furthermore, you know he’s the kind of kid that’s grateful for everything.

Every sport has its knuckleheads and its good guys. Hockey, whether it be pro or college, has its good guys but there’s a chance Grimaldi could become that shining example. He’s going to a school where hockey is religion and at that place, if you’re good enough, people will treat you as if you are larger than life.

That’s a lot for a 18-year-old to handle. Really, it is a lot for many people to handle. The pressure of a fan base can cripple anyone but this is what makes kids like Grimaldi so different. His faith, he feels, can lift that burden and make him stronger for it.

Grimaldi might not give “The Speech” like Tebow but he can certainly have an impact on a locker room and his infectious attitude and views can spread further. Colten St. Clair, who’ll also be at UND next year, said he was impressed with the way Grimaldi handles himself and how he is strong in his faith.

His faith could also be the other thing that really impresses people. We all have heard the jokes regarding Tebow and his faith and we saw the way he dealt with it. Of course, Grimaldi won’t get nearly the national attention Tebow got, but we all know whether it be in the stands or through a message board, people can be pretty vocal. Just ask Todd Reynolds about it.

EDIT: This blog post was lost in hyperspace and reappeared today.