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In the last 12 months the National Hockey League has undergone as massive associated with an overhaul every 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 of the sport that locked its doors a year ago. The changes reflect the NHL's new mantra - more scoring, increased parity and cost certainty. So forget everything you already know or think you already know regarding the NHL, which begins preseason play on Sept. 16, as even one with the most faithful and ardent fan jeremy scott adidas whitehas to admit that they have zero clue regarding how a game will try looking in 2005-06.

First, hockey viewers will need to get utilized to watching their game on a new station. ESPN took a gamble and refused to pick in the network's option about the NHL's broadcasting rights. The idea was that ESPN can be in a position to opt out of their deal, after which repurchase the rights at the substantially reduced rate. Instead, the Outdoor Living Network, a subsidiary of Comcast Cable, swooped in with 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 stress though - Barry Melrose and his man mullet have signed up with OLN.

However, OLN only reaches approximately 65 million homes through the United states of america and Canada. That's a substantial reduction in the 90 million subscribers that ESPN boasts, and the 89 million viewers that ESPN2 can reach. Also, since ESPN doesn't own the rights, the league shouldn't expect a lot 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 as well as a 309-day lockout will switch off any fan base. Right now hockey's popularity lies somewhere throughout the WNBA and extreme dodgeball.

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

1)	No more ties. Instead of records that read like Lotto picks, the league went back to good ol' fashioned wins and losses. At the conclusion of overtime a six-player shootout will ensue, followed with a sudden death shootout if necessary.

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

3)	Goaltenders can no longer "freeze" the puck, as well as a trapezoidal area has been create behind the goal line. The goalies are merely able to handle the puck within that area when behind the thing line.

4)	The offensive zone will likely be larger. The bluelines were each moved two feet closer to one another, shrinking the neutral zone. Also, the goal-lines have been moved two feet further in the boards, leaving more room behind the net.

5)	The red line is gone, and two-line passes are actually legal.

6)	Other minor changes have occurred. There's no flopping, a reason for emphasis on clutching and grabbing, anyone who instigates a fight inside last five minutes gets suspended, no flipping the puck in to the stands within your defensive zone, with out public complaints regarding the league.

The idea is that all of those rule modifications will start scoring and increase the speed in the game. They're hoping the new NHL will be similar towards the hockey played inside Olympics, featuring more scoring and skill in lieu of neutral zone traps along with the grind-it-out garbage which in fact had permeated the NHL on the last decade.

Finally, a whirlwind of player movement has completely reconfigured the check of talent through the league. Trying to find out that is going where has proven more tiresome than attempting to continue with which pitcher Alyssa Milano is banging now. In fact, when opening night comes (the Rangers open against the Flyers on Oct. 5) most fans will feel as if Guy Pierce's short-term-memory depraved character in Memento. They'll vaguely recognize where these are but have zero idea how they were given there.

I saw a post on another sports site which i felt best sums the player movement that's happened considering that the league went last business: "Don't you're feeling just like the new NHL may be the equivalent as someone stealing your NHL '95 game for Sega, randomizing the rosters, after which creating time for you?"

Laying a bet on NHL futures trying to predict who'll hoist the Cup next summer could possibly be an excellent possibility to fleece some unsuspecting oddsmakers. But, as always, wager at your personal risk. Here's a quick overview on some teams that is likely to be worth watching and could possibly be definitely worth the gamble:

Detroit Red Wings (17/2) - The favorites to the upcoming season reside in Hockeytown. It's a horrible bet,jeremy scott wings 2.0 and do not bite. Yes the Red Wings were the best team within 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 might have closed to the Wings and 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 to a deal) and/or Henrik Zetterberg. This team has holes, and now they are unable to 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 the ice for young speedsters Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Also, they managed to pilfer Peter Forsberg and Derian Hatcher, adding two in the top free agent talents to an already strong team. The Flyers should have a slight edge over Nj-new jersey inside their quest to defend their Atlantic Division championship.

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

Calgary Flames (13/1) - The runners-up for the 2004 champion Tampa Bay Lightning (man, that still sounds strange) is planning to be even better this season. The main element move they made was retaining superstar Jerome Iginla. Iginla was tied for that NHL lead with 41 goals in 03-04. The Flames upgraded the offense by attracting 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 to the preseason. As Detroit and Colorado will likely be most affected from the salary cap, New Jersey is planning to be most affected from 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 within the last decade. Offensively, they still have Scott Gomez (team leader in assists) and Patrick Elias (leader in goals and points) and I expect big numbers from both. They've won a minimum of 41 games in each with the past three seasons, with Martin Brodeur in goal they will have a shot.

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

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

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

Tampa Bay Lightning (15/1) - Winning the Stanley Cup a couple of weeks ahead of the lockout must've been sort of like winning the lottery after which learning we're heading back towards the barter system. Tampa Bay caught lightning inside a bottle inside summer of 2004, along with the defending Stanley Cup champions have brought back the principals involved in that run. Dave Andreychuk, Martin St. Louis, and Vincent Lecavalier are typical back and prepared to go. They roster reeks of old age, but they're still the champs and may have a look at the correct respect.

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

Atlanta Thrashers (33/1) - I such as this pick to the value. The Hossa-Heatley trade was pretty much a push, but finding a solid veteran defenseman like Greg deVries inside deal may shift the benefit within the Thrashers favor. They already posses a young 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 earned Bobby Holik to add a lot more firepower. They might be a year away, nevertheless it could be worth every penny to take a $10 or $20 flier on them jeremy scott adidas.