Jim Bob
December 18th, 2003, 11:03:52 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=kelley_jim&id=1688699
Critics blame Armstrong for that, but to be fair, he's not alone. A great many GMs bought into the notion that the league was going to make good on its oft-stated promise to enforce the crackdown on obstruction fouls. Several reacted by populating their lineups with skilled (and sometimes smallish) players. That lack of enforcement has been a distinct advantage to bigger teams like Philadelphia, Toronto, and, to some degree at least, Boston, New Jersey and Colorado. It's been a decided disadvantage to smaller, speedier teams like Ottawa, Buffalo, Chicago, Minnesota, the Mighty Ducks and the like.
Critics blame Armstrong for that, but to be fair, he's not alone. A great many GMs bought into the notion that the league was going to make good on its oft-stated promise to enforce the crackdown on obstruction fouls. Several reacted by populating their lineups with skilled (and sometimes smallish) players. That lack of enforcement has been a distinct advantage to bigger teams like Philadelphia, Toronto, and, to some degree at least, Boston, New Jersey and Colorado. It's been a decided disadvantage to smaller, speedier teams like Ottawa, Buffalo, Chicago, Minnesota, the Mighty Ducks and the like.