Monday Morning Musings With Me The Big E: The Maple Leafs and More

This past week has been interesting from a Toronto Maple Leafs perspective as stories began to surface early in the week about Tomas Kaberle's father and his interview with the Toronto Sun.

According to the Sun Frantisek Sr, Tomas' father had this say.

"I think that during the course of the year he will be traded to another club," Karberle said. "There is only one chance for Toronto to get something back in return for Tomas now. In my opinion, I can't see Tomas entering a new contract with Toronto. Not if Ron Wilson continues to be employed there."

"I still think though that some change would be welcomed."

For his part, Tomas has not come out and either denied or endorsed these comments made, nor for that matter have Brian Burke or Ron Wilson chosen to comment on the allegations.

An article appeared this past week in the Ottawa Citizen in which Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs wrote an article about the idea of the NHL participating in international competition.

"I submit that the best time to stage international competitions is in the offseason in a best-on-best format. For starters, this would require resurrecting the World Cup."

Burke goes on to say that while he does not believe that the best stage for growing the game is an international one, he does believe that the NHL needs to have a presence there.

This past week also featured the annual NHL Research and Development Camp. Aside from all of the proposed changes about how the point system was used, there were several small projects that were also on the agenda such as face off variations.

The fist of three proposals and the one that drew the most praise was the idea that the puck would be placed on the face off dot and the draw would commence on the officials whistle. The idea being to restore fairness to the draw.

This was a great idea and for the most part, there was no scuffle off the draw and would therefore improve the overall flow.

The face off wins using this variation were clean wins, which, if you have a very skilled center will work in your favor, and if you don't, you'd better get one.

Also on the table at the R&D Camp this year was a hybrid extra time rule. Ken Hitchcock seemed to be a big fan of it, I am not.

The basic idea is to extend the overtime to nine minutes,  three minutes each of four-on-four play, three-on-three play and two-on-two play.

From a fan perspective, I would rather see it the way it is, however, I do believe the point system needs to be changed.

No matter how the win is arrived at, the winning team gets two points, that's it. The losing team gets nothing.

One other rule change that would make sense and open up some ice is the way teams serve five minute fighting majors.

When two teams receive coincidental fighting majors, the teams still skate five on five. Why? Why not have them skate four on four and open up some more ice?

Even for the fans that aren't a fan of fighting this would be a good rule because teams who a heavily out skilled by their opponent, would not be prone to fighting as much for fear of giving up more scoring chances.

All in all the annual R&D camp is a very innovative idea and see many minor rule changes ushered in over the years.

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