Q: Best under-the-radar offseason move?
— Michael from New Jersey
A: Great question, Michael, and with all the attention that free agency receives these days in the NHL (July 1 might be the most exciting day of the year), there isn't a lot that qualifies as ''under-the-radar.''

Nonetheless, the top three ''low-profile'' moves I liked in the offseason:

1. Erik Cole — The smooth-skating Yank was dealt from Carolina to Edmonton, and he'll add some polish, speed and finish to a young Oilers attack.

2. Glen Metropolit — A role player, for sure, but the journeyman landed a two-year deal in Philly after becoming a versatile and valuable player last season in Boston after winning a job as a walk-on last September.

3. Robert Lang — The Blackhawks needed some cap space and dished the stylish Czech winger to the Habs late in the summer for financial relief. Valuable depth for sometimes-shaky Montreal attack.

Q: Any new rules I need to know about this season? What happened to all the talk about minimizing the goalie’s equipment and/or uniform?
— N. Matthews from Foster City, Calif.
A: Thankfully, no monumental changes in the rulebook to report.

As for the goalies, there were some important tweaks made to their gear, which won't be all that visible to the naked eye. Most notably, the leg pads and catching glove were nipped and tucked, as were goalie sweaters and clavicle protectors. I don't suspect anyone will notice the difference, and I also don't expect to see a sizeable uptick in goal-scoring as a result.

If the league ever really wants to get around to increasing the action around the net, and having more goals scored because of it, then the obvious fix is to have the goalies work without sticks, or with sticks equal in dimension to those used by all skaters. The huge paddle is unnecessary, and it allows goalies to handle the puck too easily, control rebounds, and constantly short-circuit the electricity around the net. Give them their padding, but take away that baton that controls way too much of the orchestra!

Q: Why doesn't the NHL hire women to be penalty timekeepers or goal judges? Are there specific requirements to be off-ice officials?
— Sue from Albany, N.Y.
A: The league, to the best to my knowledge, does not discourage women from applying for these jobs. According to a league spokesperson, there are some 450 off-ice officials employed by the NHL. It's a good bet that less than 10 percent of them are women — none yet in the positions you've mentioned here.

''True, maybe they're not in the jobs that the TV cameras focus on,'' said spokesperson Benny Ercolani. ''But I know we have a few women doing some valuable off-ice work on these crews — helping with scoring, stats, and [recording] time on ice. I know a few around the league who are simply outstanding. And there will be more, partly because of the growing success of women's hockey. You have to know the game, and you have to love it, and those are the qualifications we're looking for.''

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