What is "obstruction" in the NHL?

Question

What is "obstruction" in the NHL?

Answer 1

Melting...I remember the '95 series.  I wore a red shirt too...but my pants were black :-)  Great series...took everyone by surprise, even us Devils fans didn't expect a sweep, but Lemaire came up with this "new" style of defense.  Thanks for the memories.

Answer 2

obstruction was taken out before this year. It just meant that if it were obstruction hooking, someone was hooked behind the play. kinda like interference, just more precise

Answer 3

Obstruction is not an official penalty, it is a term used to classify all types of plays that impede the progress of a player. The actual penalties are hooking, tripping, and interference.

Answer 4

Anybody here remember the 1995 finals, when a brash young Red Wings team was schooled in four straight by the Devils?

I don't remember any complaining, just frustration. Heck, the Wings even scored the first goal more than once only to have Lemaire's boys and Brodeur shut them down. Clutching, light hooking and slashing were still allowed then, so the Wings had no excuses. They were just baffled by a better TEAM.

Draper, McCarty, Maltby, Osgood and Lidstrom were all on that team. They learned a hard lesson but applied it.

Perhaps my memory is selective, but all I can remember is being stunned at the sweep after watching the Wings breeze to the Cup Finals. I was wearing red to work, having fun talks with a Wings-hating coworker, and then the hammer dropped.

Answer 5

Right now its a plea from a desperate coach to call more hooking and holding calls on the Wings to gain more power plays. The only place the PENS seem to be able to skate with the Wings.

Answer 6

Obstruction is what is going on between Therrien's eyes and brain.

or

Obstruction is that Big Red wall the Pens keep bouncing off of

Answer 7

A vague and broad interpretation of a penalty that the refs call whenever they feel like it.

Answer 8

sidney crosby to reporter after losing the 2008 stanley cup finals: "we were moving our feet but they kept obstructing and wouldn't let us play!"



gary bettman at the beginning of the 2009 season: "we are happy to announce a new penalty this season for obstruction.  we think this will really improve the game and make it faster and more exciting for the fans!"



update to the rulebook: "Rule 354b, Obstruction: any player shall be called for obstruction if it is deemed by the referee that the player did wear a red jersey."