NHl Rule Changes

[$-Money9 0]

Lately, everyone has been talking about the rule changes that the NHL is planning to make when the lockout is over. I would to know if everyone agrees with the rule changes that they are planning to do. Also if anyone has suggestions on what the Nhl needs to do to make the game more exciting.

[jjtt99 0]

REDUCTION OF GOALIE EQUIPMENT

- I like it. Protect the goalie, but really, who has 12" wide shins!

TAG UP OFFSIDE

- I'm game to give it a go. Easy to change.

CALLING OBSTRUCTION

- Too bad they let it get out of control in the first place. It will be really, really tough to be happy with a parade to the penality box, but if we all stick with it, eventually it will get better. (I think I hope.)

SHOOT OUTS

- Okay, after the 4-on-4 OT. Definitely not for play off games.

SCOTTY BOWMAN PASS LINE

- Interesting idea, needs more testing.

LARGER NETS

- No thanks. Reduction in goalie equipment make this not necessary.

GOALIE NO PLAY PUCK ZONE

- Sorry, no opinion on that as I don't have enough information.

WIDER LINES

- It sure looks funny, but like the goalie no play puck zone, I didn't follow the AHL this year so I don't know much about it.

INSTIGATOR RULE

- Get rid of it as it's leading to more cheap shots. I don't know if that's even on the table though.

Cheers,

JJ

[Dangles 0]

Essential:

Tag-Up Offsides

Get rid of red line

Goalie No Play Puck Zone

Shootouts

Non-Essential:

Wider nets

Instigator Rule

Larger Nets

[headonaswivel 1]

No red line does more harm than good. Defensive mindedness creeps in and guys hover further back. The torpedo and the 1-4 like forecheck all stem from European hockey.

Watching a handful of AHL games this year as well as having many buddies in the A and East Coast allows me to say that the wider lines affect was not substantial, but it was noticeable.

Goalie zone was effective.

As for the pads, it would allow a tender to rely more on skill than just gettin in the way.

[Chadd 916]

I watched a few games in the AHL this year and I liked the goalie restrictions. The NHL should go with it. I think the Bowman lines and the Sinden bastardization of them would be the worst thing the NHL could do.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I'm not a fan of either of the lines. T

Take out the Red-line

Reduce equipment sizes (not just pads)

Shoot-outs after 4 on 4, but not in playoffs

Enforce the Rule Book

Wider Lines

Tag-Ups

No Touch Icing (Injuries only), but wave off any attempted passes and such. It should only be intentional dumps

Full 2 minute minors regardless of goals scored

No Icing when killing penalties

Bigger nets

[Chadd 916]

I like the idea of not permitting icing while shorthanded. I also think if they are going to enforce interference calls that they should also fine any coach, GM or player $25k for complaining about it. That should keep them quiet long enough for people to get used to the calls.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I wonder about the fines. Think outside the box, make it EXTREME. Say, A 5 minute major at the start of the first period, then a 2 minute minor at the start of the 2nd and 3rd periods instead. Money is replacable, but would a team risk a game to make that point?

[seanmccann 3]

I would like to see the following in the NHL within the next 3 years, but tested in the AHL first(if hasn't been already):

• no red line
  
• no shorthanded icing
  
• 4on4 for 5min then 3on3 for 5min, then 5 man shootout
  
• smaller goal equipment
  
• same size nets
  
• wider lines
  
• goalie no play zone
  
• wider ice surface (not possible for most rinks)
  

In some ways I want to add no touch icing to the list but there are some good points to touch icing.

[Adam91 0]

Essential:

Tag-Up Offsides

Get rid of red line

Goalie No Play Puck Zone

Shootouts

Non-Essential:

Wider nets

Instigator Rule

Larger Nets

Dangles I'd have to agree with you other then the goalies not being able to play the puck and shootouts. I don't see why goalies who are good puck handlers have to be punished and in terms of shootouts why should an entire teams game come down to one shooter and one goalie, why not just have a 4on4 OT for 10mins

[Eazy_b97 1]

Shoot-Outs are more exciting. That's pretty much what it comes down to. For the "why should 5 players determine the game" comments, I don't see how thats differen't from now. In 4 on 4 OT, you generally see the 4 D and 6-8 forwards. If they bring in another way to determine games, maybe a way to "Earn" shooters, I am for that as well. How about for every 10 shots in a game, you get a shooter. You outshoot the opponent 38-15, you're shootout will be 3 shooters to 1. Alright, now I am just being crazy. As for the goalies, sometimes there needs to be restrictions. Hockey used to be played with 7 people on the ice, but it was reduced to 6. There was no redline at one point, but it was added to create offense. There is now a restriction on curves. It was never thought goalies would have this ability, and it hurts the game to a point. After watching some of the talking heads made a really good point. He said the NHL, unlike other sports, has stuck to basically the same game over the years, while other sports have evolved. When this happens, since change is inevitable, the sport is forced to make radical changes rather than small tweaking because they haven't been making minor alterations over the years.

[seanmccann 3]

Shoot-Outs are more exciting. That's pretty much what it comes down to. For the "why should 5 players determine the game" comments, I don't see how thats differen't from now. In 4 on 4 OT, you generally see the 4 D and 6-8 forwards. If they bring in another way to determine games, maybe a way to "Earn" shooters, I am for that as well. How about for every 10 shots in a game, you get a shooter. You outshoot the opponent 38-15, you're shootout will be 3 shooters to 1. Alright, now I am just being crazy. As for the goalies, sometimes there needs to be restrictions. Hockey used to be played with 7 people on the ice, but it was reduced to 6. There was no redline at one point, but it was added to create offense. There is now a restriction on curves. It was never thought goalies would have this ability, and it hurts the game to a point. After watching some of the talking heads made a really good point. He said the NHL, unlike other sports, has stuck to basically the same game over the years, while other sports have evolved. When this happens, since change is inevitable, the sport is forced to make radical changes rather than small tweaking because they haven't been making minor alterations over the years.

I don't know about the earning shooters. It is a good idea but if you have kept the game tied and been outshot by 10/20 then it was your goalie who kept you in it and then it would be all down to him in the shootout. Besides that though it is a cool idea.

You start with 3 shooters and gain 1 shooter per 10 shots over the opposing team -?

[RadioGaGa 162]

I don't know if it has ever been officially brought up by people who can make the change, but I like the idea of making all penalties last the full time regardless of how many goals are scored.

Scoring would increase and being disciplined would be even more important.

[Puck You 25 0]

Goalies gear needs to be restricted. That comes first. As a defenseman, I hate the goalie not being allowed to play the puck, but if it helps the game, then go for it. I like the line system they tested in the R&D camp, where you get it over the blue, then the zone expands to the red, but if it comes out, then it's gotta go back in over the blue. That should lead to some good chances, I think. As for the shootout, go to it after 5 minutes of four-on-four.

J

[Chadd 916]

I wonder about the fines. Think outside the box, make it EXTREME. Say, A 5 minute major at the start of the first period, then a 2 minute minor at the start of the 2nd and 3rd periods instead. Money is replacable, but would a team risk a game to make that point?

You can't penalize a team like that for comments, there has to be a basic element of fairness to the punishment. Plus there are reporters who will bait the players with leading questions.

I do like the idea of teams serving the full penalty time. It was a rule for years and I like the rules that go back to the roots of the game.

I'd like to see OT go to 10 minutes before the shootout. You can ride two lines for 5 minutes, you can't do it for 10.

I think the rules like crossing the blue and then you can use the entire half of the ice would be more confusing to new viewers than the current rules. The NHL has to try and make the game easier for new fans to grasp, not more obtuse.

[Jason Harris 31]

If they bring in another way to determine games, maybe a way to "Earn" shooters, I am for that as well. How about for every 10 shots in a game, you get a shooter. You outshoot the opponent 38-15, you're shootout will be 3 shooters to 1.....There was no redline at one point, but it was added to create offense.

Interesting idea about adding a shooter per shots taken. It would appear to put more of a premium on playing an aggressive offensive style, but perhaps some coach will say, "If I win the game in regulation due to defense, then who cares how many extra shooters I would have earned?"

I don't think that's correct about the redline being added to create offense. I've read it was added by the Board of Governors in the forties to slow down Montreal, since their teams were so much faster than the other five teams. I'm guessing the two-line pass was in existence, but adding the red line prevented long outlet passes by the Canadiens.

I have no problem with penalties having to be fully served, but I don't think it's going to to have as much impact as people are expecting; I think no icing while shorthanded will have a bigger effect. Think about it. Teams average somewhere around 10%-20% success on power plays. That means that teams might pick up an extra forty-five seconds on 10-20 percent of the power plays. There's no doubt there will be more goals, but now you'd probably be down to 5%.

[jbyun04 7]

YAY

Tag-Up Offsides

Get rid of center ice line

Shootouts

NAY

Wider nets

Instigator Rule

Smaller Goalie Equpiment

[$-Money9 0]

I'd say take out the red line and let the goalies handle the puck. I guy like Brodeur could easily give his team a good scoreing chance. I don't think shootouts are a bad idea but in the playoffs they would be terrible.

[SB39 2]

Another small change that Ilya Kovalchuk would love is allowing any curvature of the blade, as long as it's not dangerous somehow.

[Jason Harris 31]

A small blurb in today's Boston Globe implied the more radical element at this "conference" lobbied for a permanent change to four-on-four hockey.

You know it won't go anywhere, but I will say that four-on-four could be a lot of fun IF you have enough players. We always play four-on-four whenever there's only five guys a side, so we're all exhausted. But, if there were ten guys on a side, four-on-four could be very fast paced. One team can have a three on two break, the defenseman can poke check the puck, and the next thing you know it's two on one the other way.

[Chadd 916]

A small blurb in today's Boston Globe implied the more radical element at this "conference" lobbied for a permanent change to four-on-four hockey.

You know it won't go anywhere, but I will say that four-on-four could be a lot of fun IF you have enough players. We always play four-on-four whenever there's only five guys a side, so we're all exhausted. But, if there were ten guys on a side, four-on-four could be very fast paced. One team can have a three on two break, the defenseman can poke check the puck, and the next thing you know it's two on one the other way.

As long as you don't like hitting or most of the physical aspects of the game, going to 4 on 4 would be just fine. I think you would see coaches getting even more conservative and trying not to give up odd man rishes. I've lost count of the number of times a team has a great scoring chance at one end, then breaks the other way with an odd man rush and scores in OT.

That's just a prelude to cutting roster sizes as well.

[Hipster 5]

A small blurb in today's Boston Globe implied the more radical element at this "conference" lobbied for a permanent change to four-on-four hockey.

You know it won't go anywhere, but I will say that four-on-four could be a lot of fun IF you have enough players. We always play four-on-four whenever there's only five guys a side, so we're all exhausted. But, if there were ten guys on a side, four-on-four could be very fast paced. One team can have a three on two break, the defenseman can poke check the puck, and the next thing you know it's two on one the other way.

Four on Four is a great work out and it opens up the ice alot, I agree with all the good benefits that Jason mentions.....but I doubt the NHLPA would ever go for a 20% reduction in jobs.

[cupcrazy16 0]

Needs to happen

1. Smaller goal eqpuipment so goalies have to rely more on reflexes than just positioning.

2. Tag-up offsides - Just keeps the flow of the game

3. Move nets back to original position - While there is a certain beauty to a good cycle, moving the nets back will give players a bit more length to play with, since larger ice surfaces are out of the question

4. No-touch icing

5. Single referee - The second ref is supposed to call obstruction, but that hasn't worked, so get rid of another body on the ice. Maybe allow linesman to make obstruction calls or something.

6. Shoot-outs

Unsure

1. Wider lines - I've seen a few AHL games on TV and wider lines do help the pace of the game and enlarge the offensive and reduce offsides, but from a purists perspective I am not sure whether I want to see this happen.

2. No red line - I have heard of the torpedo defensive scheme and that it would be worse than the current trap. However, without the red line, there will probably be a breakaway a game when a forward is able to sneak behind the D.

3. Different shaped net - I wonder if making the depth of the net smaller would make a difference opening up a little bit more room on the ice.

Wouldn't want to see

1. Larger nets - It would destroy the integrity of any records set w/ the larger nets, larger nets is too drastic a measure.

2. Goalies not allowed to play puck - If a goalie has honed that skill, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to play the puck. Teams would just change their dump-ins if goalies couldn't play the puck as seen in the AHL.

[ktang 34]

I thought the Torpedo was an offensive scheme?

[Eazy_b97 1]

The Torpedo was first implemented in Sweeden as an offensive system, it slowly worked its way to be a defensive system and then after a few minor tweaks, has come to be known as our "trap" or 'left wing lock". Or at least thats how I've seen the transformation go.