In Red Wings Land
Taking Flight – From the ‘Q’ to the ‘D’ – Joe Veleno (RedWings.com)
After my first AHL season, I realized I needed to become stronger. I thought being in the gym was a big part of just getting stronger and that was a big part of my game so I felt that I needed to improve in that area off the ice. Then after a few conversations with Detroit’s player development staff, they told me that things weren’t looking too good on starting really anytime soon so my agent and the Wings had some contacts over in Sweden and with (Niklas) Kronwall, being in Sweden, they all helped me get to Malmö. The end result, I just wanted to play hockey and I ended up in a pretty good spot.
Lots of great stuff in here from Veleno on the differences in culture to the bigger ice, as well as his experiences with other Wings’ prospects and some insight into how the Wings have handled his development in Europe from afar. Great read here.
Around the NHL
NHL schedules expected to be released tomorrow afternoon
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 22, 2020
Looks like we’ll see what to expect later today.
The Washington Capitals have announced Capital One as the team’s season-long official helmet entitlement partner with the placement of the company’s branding on the team’s helmet.
Full Details: https://t.co/CWgaSNDsaF pic.twitter.com/FwUqP2Xa5R
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2020
I’m going to come out and say that as a person who is not bothered by the concept of helmet sticker ads or the execution of what I’m seeing on the Capitals’ helmets, I will say that the production of a hype video calling this a “historic moment” bugs me.
I understand the perspective of the people who hate the idea for what it is. I understand the perspective of the people who really dislike the idea for what it can lead to. I live in the perspective of the people who cynically accept the business side of the sport and won’t let this intrude on enjoyment. What I am not currently wrapping my head around is the idea of people who are watching this video and forming an emotional bond with a fucking mega-bank because they’re so thrilled at the watershed moment of seeing that company’s logo on a hockey helmet.
Offside Rule Change (NHL Press Release)
NHL Rule 83 (Off-side)
Beginning in the 2020-21 regular season, a player’s skate will not have to be in contact with the blue line in order to be on-side. The updated language for NHL Rule 83.1 follows.
83.1 Off-side – Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone.
The position of the player’s skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play.
(NEW) – A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line. On his own side of the line shall be defined by a “plane” of the blue line which shall extend from the leading edge of the blue line upwards. If a player’s skate has yet to break the “plane” prior to the puck crossing the leading edge, he is deemed to be on-side for the purpose of the off-side rule.
