New Tiebreaker Rule to Be Approved

According to Frank Seravalli's column and EJ Hradek of ESPN, the NHL will approve a rule change of how tiebreakers will be used at the end of the season.

The change is in the event a tiebreaker is needed at the end of the season to determine playoff seeds.

The tiebreaker is still total wins, however the only wins considered are those in regulation and overtime. Prior to this ruling it was all of a team's wins (regulation, overtime, and shootout).

Here's my take on the rule:

-It's unnecessary: Why is this needed? If a team wins a game, they win a game. The NHL can only blame themselves since they instituted the shootout in the first place.

-Mindset: This changes nothing on the ice itself. Teams are still going to execute their game plans in order to win, even if that means stalling to the shootout. Teams with shootout skill depth (Penguins, Blackhawks, etc.) have no more incentive to go for it all at the end of overtime now than they did last year.

-Over-the-Top: Another rule being considered is switching from 4 on 4 in overtime to 3 on 3 with less than three minutes to play. How much more can the game be devolved? The game was meant to be played 5 on 5, not in a roller hockey, nonsense style.

We'll see if the changes have an actual impact come April. Training camp is just around the corner get ready!

Cote Retires, Becomes Phantoms Assistant

Riley Cote retired Monday after spending parts of four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Cote, 28, was then named as an Assistant Coach to the Flyers AHL affiliate the Adirondack Phantoms.

"I will do the best job I can to help teach and develop all the players in Glens Falls on and off the ice," he said. "I'm looking forward to a new challenge in life."

While the Flyers were often criticized for using a spot on a player who played one or two shifts a game, there is no denying the kind of heart Riley Cote possessed. He did whatever was asked of him and was fearless in sacrificing himself to give his team a spark. That said, this move does relieve the Flyers of some cap space that they were not likely to use.

Also, it has been reported within the past couple of days that Chris Pronger may not be ready for the start of the season.

Pronger had arthroscopic knee surgery and has been rehabbing ever since to start getting ready for training camp.

If unfortunately Pronger does miss some time, better off early in the year than in April and May when it matters. This is why the Flyers addressed defensive depth in the offseason. That's all for now, probably won't be picking up until around training camp.