Ft. LAUDERDALE -- So, among the items on the agenda at next weeks General Manager Meetings in Toronto isthe trap.
Depending upon what happens here, it could very well end up at the Board of Governor Meetings in December too, as some have suggested.
First, the GMs get a shot at it.
Im sure theyll talk about if its on an agenda, then it will get addressed and theyll talk about it, said Flyers coach Peter Laviolette.
I kind of stand by what I said on Thursday. We didnt do it to make a pointwe did it to try and get two points. We felt it would give us our best opportunity to be successful.
ESPN.com first reported that the issue had been added to the general managers' agenda.
Sources say the Flyers don't have any specific recommendations for the matter.
NHL
Chris Pronger has taken some rips at Tampa Bay on this matter and was asked on Friday whether he has any recommendations for the GMs.
Nope, Capt. Warmth replied. Theyve done a good enough job figuring everything else out, so Ill let them figure that out on their own.
Scott Hartnell got his two cents in, as well.
The game the other day was a little bit ridiculous, Hartnell said. I dont know what the fans reaction was watching on TV, but being there live and playing it, it wasnt hockey. I didnt think it was good to watch, it wasnt fun to play.
Its definitely not good for the fans to see that kind of hockey. Something like that needs to be addressed. Weve got the fastest sport in the world. Its action packed, and to see someone hold the puck for a minute just to go up and back a couple feet isnt hockey.
Do you have a solution?
Well I havent really thought about it too much, but theres a rule when you sit there with the puck and the puck doesnt move, the whistles blown, Hartnell replied.
People dont attack the puck like Tampa Bay was doing last game, theres definitely something that could be addressed in that regard for sure.
Heres the simple solution. There isnt an obvious one.
Every team has the right to trap. If the other team goes into a stall, then the only option is to whistle the play dead and go to a faceoff.
My suggestion?
If the offensive team with the puck has advanced out of is own zone to neutral ice, then the faceoff should go into the defensive zone instead of center ice.
That would act as a deterrent to the defensive club.
If the puck has not advanced outside the defensive zone, then the faceoff stays in that zone. That would be motivation for the team with the puck to move forward up the ice.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.