[grimes]

The NHL should just go to no touch icing. What the f*ck is wrong with them? :nooooo Now, the referee's are gonna have to make judgement calls on whether or not the player went to touch the puck or just eliminate his man. We all know how pathetic NHL referees are at making judgement calls.

Agreed...although Pierre McGuire was on the radio yesterday and said the way the new rule will be enforced is essentially how it's done in the USHL (or was it the ECHL - I can't remember)...basically the linesmen will judge the play when the players racing for the puck are at about the top of the circle - if the offensive player is ahead he'll let them go for it, but if not it will be called immediately (i.e. no touch icing at that point). Not sure if this is actually true of if Pierre just made it up, but it sounds like a reasonable compromise.