Changes abound in NHL for 2014-15
October 8, 2014 at 3:27AM
Anaheim: Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu retired and Ryan Kesler and the Wild's Clayton Stoner and Dany Heatley arrived.
Arizona: Rebranded from the Phoenix Coyotes and acquired Sam Gagner.
Carolina: Named Hall of Famer Ron Francis GM.
Chicago: Signed Brad Richards (right) to be its No. 2 center.
Colorado: Acquired ripened vets Jarome Iginla and Daniel Briere.
Dallas: Traded for Jason Spezza and signed Ales Hemsky.
Edmonton: Signed Benoit Pouliot and Mark Fayne.
Florida: Named Gerard Gallant head coach.
Minnesota: Brought home former Gophers star Thomas Vanek.
Nashville: Hired Peter Laviolette as coach, traded for James Neal and signed Mike Ribeiro and Olli Jokinen.
N.Y. Islanders: Bolstered their blue line by trading for Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk and adding goalie Jaroslav Halak.
N.Y. Rangers: Signed vets Dan Boyle and Ryan Malone.
Philadelphia: Named former Flyers goalie Ron Hextall GM.
Pittsburgh: Longtime Carolina GM Jim Rutherford replaced Ray Shero as GM, and then the Penguins sacked Dan Bylsma as coach and botched the search, finally hiring WHL Portland's Mike Johnston.
St. Louis: In a Zach Parise-like homecoming, Paul Stastny returned to the place he grew up.
Tampa Bay: Acquired Jason Garrison and signed Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle.
Vancouver: Named Jim Benning GM and Willie Desjardins coach. Acquired Nick Bonino and signed Ryan Miller and Radim Vrbata.
Washington: Fired longtime GM George McPhee and replaced him with his assistant, Brian MacLellan. Replaced coach Adam Oates with longtime Nashville coach Barry Trotz. Signed defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik from Pittsburgh.
NEW RULES
There are a plethora of tweaks, but here are some you might notice:
Overtime
In order to decrease the number of shootouts, a "dry scrape" of the entire ice surface will take place before overtime beginning. Also, teams will switch sides, which will cause defenders to be farther away from their benches for line changes.
Tactics
In order to stop delay tactics after icings so teammates can rest, if the defending team is guilty of a faceoff violation, the defending player lined up as the center will be given a warning but required to remain in the circle. A second faceoff violation will result in a penalty.
Shootouts
No Pierre-Marc Bouchard-like Spin-O-Rama's anymore in the shootout. Also, head coaches no longer have to submit a list of the first three shooters in a shootout.
Goalies
Goaltender's trapezoid expanded by 2 feet to allow goalies more room to roam.
Replay
There will be a broader discretion for the video war room in Toronto to assist referees in determining good hockey goals. The revised rule will allow the NHL to correct a broader array of situations where video review clearly establishes that a "goal" or "no goal" call on the ice has been made in error. The expanded rule also will allow the NHL to provide guidance to referees on goal and potential goal plays where the referee has blown his whistle or intended to blow his whistle after losing sight of the puck.
Diving
The league will try to bring attention to serial divers and embellishers of calls. The first incident results in a warning. Each subsequent incident results in an increasing fine. After a fourth incident, the head coach gets fined.
Faceoffs
The hash marks at the end zone faceoff circles have been moved from 3 feet apart to 5 feet, 7 inches apart.
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Kirill Kaprizov had three assists after going two games without much offense and taking a cut to the face.
