Life has recently changed for NHL forwards. Now more than ever, players have to be quick on the draw. If they're not, the linesmen are going to start without them.

Ever since the League adopted the new hurry-up rule on faceoffs (Rule 54) and line changes (Rule 17) at the beginning of last season, players and coaches have to be on the same page because every second counts.

After a whistle, players must either regroup quickly and get to the faceoff dot or hustle to the bench for a change. The coaches must also have their heads in the game during these stoppages so they can have the right guys on the ice at the right times.

With the new line change rule, visiting teams only have five seconds to get their players on the ice, while the home team gets eight. Then according to Rule 54, "as soon as the line change procedure has been completed by the referee and he lowers his hand to indicate no further changes, the linesman conducting the faceoff shall blow his whistle. This will signal to both teams that they have no more than five seconds to line up for the ensuing faceoff. At the end of the five seconds (or sooner if both centers are ready), the linesman will conduct a proper faceoff. If a center is not at the designated faceoff area once the five-second time limit has elapsed, the linesman will drop the puck immediately."

And the tardy are left swatting at air.

"I think it's been better for the game," Taylor said. "You don't have players go out there dictating where they're going to go with the draw, getting the alignment set up. In my own eyes, I believe the rule has probably quickened the game up 15-20 minutes. The coaches have to pay more attention to it and put the players they want out there right away.

"Last year it was more of a big deal when it was first brought in, but now this year every one is used to it," Taylor continued. "They know they have to get out there and get ready for the draw. The referees were forced to drop the puck out there when players weren't ready, but I don't think you see that too much this year. As long as everyone knows the rule and gets used to it, I think it's a lot better for the game."

While Taylor says the rule has changed the game for the better, 18-year veteran Vincent Damphousse believes that the new faceoff rule hasn't changed the game itself, just the player's preparation.

Life has recently changed for NHL forwards. Now more than ever, players have to be quick on the draw. If they're not, the linesmen are going to start without them.

"The rule hasn't changed the game at all," Damphousse insists. "I think it just prepares the guys before you get out there. You can't start talking like you used to. That's why they changed it. There was too much talking and guys were kind of making it like football. They would huddle a little bit and talk about it and they didn't want that any more, so you have to know the set plays before you actually get out there. It doesn't change anything, it just makes you prepare before you get out there."

Primeau agreed with his San Jose teammate.

"I don't think the rule changed the game itself," Primeau said. "If anything, the lines that they put where you can't turn and you have to be kind of straight now makes it that not that many guys can cheat on the faceoffs like they used to. The hurry-up rule I don't think changed the game. Most of the time now, guys are getting in there pretty quickly and most guys go in there set, knowing what their responsibilities are."

For a complete explanation on faceoffs go to the NHL Rule book on NHL.com.