[grimes]

Today's hockey, where a midget like Koivu or Briere can stand in front of a net unharmed, are so much more exciting, aren't they? :nooooo :nooooo

I guess, in a way, the refs are scared of losing their jobs so they have to call penalty after penalty. In that regard, I suppose that I have a little bit of empathy for the position that they're in. Damn the NHL and the NHLPA and pussies like Brett Hull, who whined and whined and whined about being held.

I agree, defenceman should be able to move people from in front of their own net. What I do like about the post-lockout rules though is the crack down on all the hooking and holding calls on the player with the puck. I'd rather see one of those "midgets" display their explosive speed in the neutral zone and blow past a big, slow, awkward opponent, than have the big guy be able to just stick his arm out to slow him down and kill the play.