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In the last Yr the National Hockey League has undergone as massive of an overhaul as any sports league in the last half century. With revamped rules, a restructured salary system along with a new television partner, professional hockey will be the shell in the sport that locked its doors annually ago. The changes reflect the NHL's new mantra - more scoring, increased parity and value certainty. So forget everything you know or think you know concerning the NHL, which begins preseason play on Sept. 16, as even essentially the most faithful and ardent fan jeremy scott adidas whiteneeds to admit that they haven't any clue as to how a game will try 2005-06.

First, hockey viewers will have to get employed to watching their game on a whole new station. ESPN took a gamble and refused to pick up the network's option for the NHL's broadcasting rights. The idea was that ESPN would be capable of opt beyond their deal, after which repurchase the rights at a substantially reduced rate. Instead, the Outdoor Living Network, a subsidiary of Comcast Cable, swooped in using a very lucrative offer and purchased the rights to broadcast the NHL regular season and playoffs for $65 million this season, $70 million in 2006-2007, and $72.5 million in 2007-2008. Not to fret though - Barry Melrose with his fantastic man mullet have signed on with OLN.

However, OLN only reaches around 65 million homes through the entire Usa and Canada. That's a considerable reduction through the 90 million subscribers that ESPN boasts, and also the 89 million viewers that ESPN2 can reach. Also, since ESPN doesn't own the rights, the league shouldn't expect an excessive amount of coverage from those Bristol bastards. The new deal - while a relative windfall for the sport with flailing TV ratings - definitely relegates the NHL to Niche Sport status. Well, that and a 309-day lockout will turn off any fan base. Right now hockey's popularity lies somewhere across the WNBA and extreme dodgeball.

Next, besides the ideological alterations how the league has experienced, there are actually considerable changes on the practical aspects with the game. A competition committee revisited several issues that have been pinpointed as troublesome areas throughout the pre-lockout days. The highlights of their adopted rule changes are:

1)	No more ties. Rather than records that read like Lotto picks, the league has gone time for good ol' fashioned wins and losses. At the end of overtime a six-player shootout will ensue, followed by the sudden death shootout if necessary.

2)	Goalies will no more be allowed to be built like Optimus Prime. Their allotted padding has been reduced 11 percent. The rule is backed by $25,000 fines and suspensions.

3)	Goaltenders can don't "freeze" the puck, and a trapezoidal area may be setup behind the thing line. The goalies are merely able to handle the puck within that area when behind the aim line.

4)	The offensive zone is going to be larger. The bluelines were each moved two feet closer to one another, shrinking the neutral zone. Also, the goal-lines are already moved two feet further from your boards, leaving more room behind the net.

5)	The red lines are gone, and two-line passes have become legal.

6)	Other minor changes have occurred. There's no flopping, a reason for increased exposure of clutching and grabbing, anyone who instigates a fight in the last five minutes gets suspended, no flipping the puck in to the stands in your defensive zone, with no public complaints in relation to its the league.

The idea is that all of the rule modifications will open up scoring and increase the speed of the game. They're hoping that this new NHL is gonna be similar to the hockey played inside Olympics, featuring more scoring and skill instead of neutral zone traps along with the grind-it-out garbage that had permeated the NHL within the last decade.

Finally, a whirlwind of player movement has completely reconfigured the check of talent throughout the league. Trying to determine that is going where has proven more tiresome than looking to keep up that pitcher Alyssa Milano is banging now. In fact, when opening night comes (the Rangers open contrary to the Flyers on Oct. 5) most fans will seem like Guy Pierce's short-term-memory depraved character in Memento. They'll vaguely recognize where they are but haven't any idea how they were given there.

I saw a post on another sports site that I felt best sums in the player movement that's happened considering that the league went in business: "Don't you feel much like the new NHL will be the equivalent someone stealing your NHL '95 game for Sega, randomizing the rosters, after which passing it on to you?"

Laying a bet on NHL futures wanting to predict that will hoist the Cup next summer could be an excellent opportunity to fleece some unsuspecting oddsmakers. But, as always, wager at your own personal risk. Here's a quick overview on some teams that is likely to be worth watching and may be well worth the gamble:

Detroit Red Wings (17/2) - The favorites for that upcoming season reside in Hockeytown. It's a terrible bet,jeremy scott wings 2.0, nor bite. Yes the Red Wings were the best team inside the 2003-04 regular season with 109 overall points, but perhaps no team was hurt more from the year off. Steve Yzerman is now 40, Chris Chelios is 43 and Brendan Shanahan is turning 37. The window may have closed for the Wings in addition to their AARP roster. Also, Detroit only has about $7 million to resign Pavel Datsyuk (who's said he's even if it's just near a deal) and/or Henrik Zetterberg. This team has holes, and today they can not plug it with money.

Philadelphia Flyers (9/1) - The Flyers waived goodbye to its nucleus of Jeremy Roenick, John LeClair and Mark Recchi. Their absence will open in the ice for young speedsters Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Also, they been able to pilfer Peter Forsberg and Derian Hatcher, adding two of the top free agent talents to an already strong team. The Flyers should have a small edge over Nj-new jersey within their quest to defend their Atlantic Division championship.

Ottawa Senators (11/1) - The Sens were the very best scoring team in the Eastern Conference in 2003-04 (262 goals), and they added the dynamic Dany Heatley in a blockbuster deal that included Marian Hossa. So long as as no person asks Heatley to become the designated driver, he should add a lot more pop to Ottawa's offense. Daniel Alfredsson led the team with 48 assists in 03-04, and will be setting the table for Heatley. This squad is deep and strong, and will probably be relying on Ray Emery and Dominick Hasek inside the net.

Calgary Flames (13/1) - The runners-up to the 2004 champion Tampa Bay Lightning (man, that still sounds strange) will likely be best of all this season. The true secret move they provided was retaining superstar Jerome Iginla. Iginla was tied for that NHL lead with 41 goals in 03-04. The Flames upgraded the offense by bringing in Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty. Also, Roman Hamrlik was acquired to shore up an already stout defense.

New Jersey Devils (14/1) - This is often a very worthwhile team going in the preseason. As Detroit and Colorado is going to be most affected by the salary cap, Nj will likely be most affected by the rule changes. Many blame the Devils for pioneering the neutral zone trap and also the clutch-and-grab style that took over the league inside last decade. Offensively, they still need Scott Gomez (team leader in assists) and Patrick Elias (leader in goals and points) and i also expect big numbers from both. They've won at the very least 41 games in each from the past three seasons, along with Martin Brodeur in goal they will have a shot.

Colorado Avalance (14/1) - The Avs still have Joe Sakic and Pierre Turgeon in the center, Brad May and Alex Tanguay on the left and Milan Hejduk around the right. So in other words, they still use a chance. Colorado has put up an average of 42 wins a year the last three seasons, and its core remains intact. Rob Blake is to anchor the defense and David Aebischer is the man inside the cage. I expect these phones figure prominently within the Western Conference, however don't think they have enough depth to hoist the Cup.

Boston Bruins (15/1) - The Bruins were one with the teams that benefited the most in the outlandish free agency. They were able to lock up captain Joe Thornton for 3 years, whilst Glen Murray around the club. Also, we were holding capable of add seasoned vets Shawn McEachern and Brian Leetch, at exactly the same time as Alexi Zhamnov and Dave Scatchard. That talent infusion improves a team that's already pretty tough (defending Northeast Division champions). The pressure is gonna be on Andrew Raycroft, the sole goalie on the roster.

Pittsburgh Penguins (15/1) - The March from the Penguins time for hockey's elite may begin this season. Besides being a fiscal farce over ice, they have been one from the worst teams about it for that past several years, managing just 78 wins inside last three seasons. They put up only 2.3 goals a game while winning 23 games in 03-04. But the Steel City won the Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes, along with the "next Gretzky" gives them instant credibility. They resigned leading scorer Dick Tarnstrom and acquired Lyle Odelein, and that young talent might be ready to take the following step.

Tampa Bay Lightning (15/1) - Winning the Stanley Cup a number of weeks ahead of the lockout must've been type of like winning the lottery then learning we're returning on the barter system. Tampa Bay caught lightning inside a bottle inside the summer of 2004, and the defending Stanley Cup champions have brought back the principals involved because run. Dave Andreychuk, Martin St. Louis, and Vincent Lecavalier are all back and ready to go. They roster reeks of old age, but they're still the champs and will be shown the right respect.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks (30/1) - Team Teemu returns because the head in the Flying V. Sergie Federov is trying to salvage a burnt out career, and Scott Niedermeyer should flourish in Anaheim's wide-open attack. Also, the Ducks have a huge advantage with J-S Giguere minding the net. That's one guy who won't need the extra padding to dominate. A drawback is which they traded captain Steve Rucchin to the Rangers.

Atlanta Thrashers (33/1) - I this way pick to the value. The Hossa-Heatley trade was basically a push, but finding a solid veteran defenseman like Greg deVries within the deal may shift the bonus inside Thrashers favor. They already posses a little daughter core led with the very talented Ilya Kovalchuk (team leader in goals and assists) and Hossa's playmaking style (36 goals and 82 points) will fit right in. They signed Mike Dunham to mentor talented youngster Kari Lehtonen, and introduced Bobby Holik to add a lot more firepower. They might be per year away, but it may be worth it to look at a $10 or $20 flier on them jeremy scott adidas.