What if? Wednesday - 3/14/12 "Guy Hebert stays in 1997."

The 1997 playoffs.

Anaheim v. Detroit in the Western Conference semi-finals was one of the more exciting sweeps I have ever seen in my time as a Red Wings fan. 4 games, 3 go to Overtime. It was touted as a battle of goalies that had been playing extremely well in Detroit's Mike Vernon and Anaheim's Guy Hebert. Unfortunately for the Mighty Ducks Hebert went down in Game 1 with an injury. Mikael Shtalenkov did just fine between the pipes, but Hebert was the guy in southern California.

He was athletic and smart. The guy had the game down pat. Not quite Olaf Kolzig, but was capable of stealing games.

One has to remember that the sweep included 3 OT games and one 5-3 win for Detroit. For my money Hebert takes this series to 7 games. They have an entirely legitimate chance to win. The top line of Kariya/Selanne/Rucchin had been on fire, and Hebert had a chance to take two or three shutouts, even in Detroit. Jari Kurri and Brian Bellows had also been playing well.

That said, let's ask WhatIfSports.com how this series would have played out.

Game 1 goes to the Mighty Ducks. Goals by Yzerman, Mironov, Rucchin (2). Hebert with 39 saves in an incredible performance.

Game 2 is a shutout for Mike Vernon. Goals by Yzerman (2), Pushor.

Game 3 is a 5-3 win for the Ducks. Goals by Shanahan, Pushor (2), Rucchin (4), Selanne, Yzerman (3), Kurri

Game 4 gives Anaheim a 3-1 series lead with a 5-4 OT win. Hebert with 56 saves to Vernon's 44. Goals for Mironov, Rychel, Shanahan (4), Kariya, Sandstrom, Selanne (GWG) (2)

Detroit goes 2/2 on the powerplay which would prove to be the difference as they stay alive with a 4-2 victory back on home ice. Goals for Rucchin (5), Sandstrom (3), Dollas, Errey, Larionov

Detroit forces a Game 7 back on home ice with an emotional 3-2 OT win. Goals for Shanahan (5), Rucchin (6), Holmstrom, Kariya (2), McCarty (OT GWG)

Game 7 sees Detroit going down after an elite one goal performance by Guy Hebert. The game was tied until the last 4 minutes when back to back goals 60 seconds apart doomed the Red Wings. Goals by Kariya (3), Shanahan (6), Trebil, Rucchin (7)

Now let me reread my article...

"For my money Hebert takes this series to 7 games. They have an entirely legitimate chance to win. "

Welp.

NHL GM Meetings provide about zero surprises, roughly infinite potential for jokes

The first day of the newly annual GM meetings went down today. And about nothing that should surprise any NHL fan actually happened. But I felt obligated to write about it, so sit down and shut up.

Several GMs were on board with the return of the red line, and thereby the 2 line pass. A lot of the managers believe that this would essentially slow down the game, and make it safer. Most of the GMs have expressed that rules like Rule 48 and Rule 41 are as far as the NHL can go to remove concussions "on site," so to speak. The general consensus was that the only way to change the concussion problem is to fundamentally alter the game. A sentiment that has been brought about by the likes of Don Cherry since roughly the day after concussions became an issue.

There is something to be said about a GM who believes that things should not change due to the limited entertainment value of a game with the 2-line pass rule. I understand fully that the game would be slower, but I would gladly rather watch a slower game with the leagues best players. In a league where there is already a call to contract the league because players who barely deserve to have a guaranteed spot in the AHL becoming regular NHL players, an environment where the best player in the game can miss almost 2 years from a head injury, I see very little legitimacy in the 'entertainment' factor. Slow the game down and give me Sidney Crosby. I will take this trade any day of the week.

Oh, there's also that sorta "messed up" part about refusing to change a needlessly dangerous sport for entertainment value.

On this subject, there was certainly something to be said about Brendan Shanahan's presentation about rule changes in representation of the Department of Player Safety. It was a video presentation. So essentially, as any hockey fans know, if that video was longer than 4 minutes, that coffee machine got a workout.

There were a few more rule changes proposed. Most of which were pretty simple and have been discussed publicly before. The hybrid icing that has been adapted by many leagues was brought up, and finally has some massive support. My guess is that since the USHL and NCAA have adapted it, the way it actually looks has become more visible to North American scouts and GMs. Of course, Brian Burke was happy to see it so accepted, since he has brought it up for the last 5 meetings. If the rule is adapted it would mark a momentous achievement.

It would be the first time Brian Burke has made anything better in 5 years.

The basic idea of hybrid icing is that the race to the puck can be cancelled by the linesman if he believes that the race will be clearly won by the team that was iced against. The "finish line" can either be an imaginary (or real?) line across the tops of the circles, or the dots. Either really works for me. I advocated this rule change when the CCHA was considering it, and am glad to see it. Races to the pucks on icing calls are a dangerous part of the sport that can be changed without fundamentally changing the sport.

There was also a proposal to remove the rule to allow hand-passes in the defensive zone.

Yes please, this rule prevents scoring, and changing it won't put any players in danger, and on two thirds of the ice this action is already illegal, so just get rid of it.

Vancouver GM Mike Gillis thought it was important to complain about officiating in the Stanley Cup Finals, where his team went 2-31. Also his team had more powerplays than the other team. Maybe if Mike Gillis wants to complain about how the powerplay situation is going, perhaps he should talk to his players, instead of other GMs about the officiating.

Also, Kenny Holland of Detroit brought up the idea of a 3 on 3 overtime after the 4 on 4 overtime period, but before the shootout. Mike Gillis of Vancouver supported it. Gee, what an odd couple of GMs to support a wide open, skill based mockery of hockey with six skaters on the ice.

In closing, most hockey fans saw this coming, Gillis complains about officials, he and Holland ask for a more skill based ending to a game (though Holland might have upped his support of the shootout this year), hybrid icing gets some support and concussions dominated the conversation.

See you tomorrow, hopefully with some actual news.