With the KHL rapidly growing to the heights of the North American NHL, Hockey Europe was formed not long ago to safeguard the interests of the top professional leagues in the rest of Europe. This new union, representing the leagues in the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, recently chose a new General Manager in Sweden's Peter Gudmundsson, replacing Finn Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen, to lead Hockey Europe in its work to strengthen the position of the member leagues and develop European club hockey. He stated his main objective was the reinstatement of the Champions Hockey League, which was dropped this season despite being deemed a success in its inaugural year.
Recent studies in Europe and the US have shown that the three-point system employed in most leagues today has increased the game's attraction and reduced defensive play. Two systems have become widespread since the old two-point system disappeared. A 2 1 point system was started in the NHL for the 99-00 season where the winner in regular time would get two points and the loser none. If the game finished in a tie after 60 minutes though, a five minute overtime period would be played with the eventual winner getting two points while the losing team was awarded 1 point. In case of a tie even after overtime, the teams would get one point each. However, the NHL subsequently introduced a penalty shootout after overtime, to ensure there were no ties at all. The 3-point system employed in Europe is very similar to that used in the NHL, with one big difference; the winning team after 60 minutes is awarded 3 points and the losing team none. If the game goes to overtime or penalties, the points are distributed the same as in the NHL. Despite their differences, the two systems are intended to reduce defensive play in a drawn game as the time approaches the final whistle and the studies deduce that this has been the case.
Over in North America, the nth episode of the Phoenix Coyotes saga may be coming to the end after the official auction took place last Friday. Judge Redfield T Baum received two bids for the franchise, one from Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie and the other from the NHL itself through commissioner Gary Bettman. Judge Baum is expected to announce the winner within the next 7-10 days. If Balsillie wins, he plans on taking the franchise over the border to Hamilton in Canada while, if the NHL wins, the franchise will stay where it is while the league conducts a sale outside of the bankruptcy process. More to come, no doubt.
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