Interesting idea from JS Giguere

[RadioGaGa 162]

During the Leafs/Ducks game tonight they were talking about some ideas that JS had to increase scoring.

Instead of totally round goal posts, have posts with an angle to them, so pucks that hit posts would have a greater likelihood of deflecting in rather than to the outside.

They didn't offer an illustration, but I assume something like this would achieve that result:

thoughts...?

[camhockey16 5]

i dont think its a bad idea - im just surprised a goalie actually suggested it.

they would have to stop calling the posts a goalie's best friend as well.

i think the biggest concern would be does it make running into the posts more dangerous - because players run or get pushed into the posts all the time.

my 2 cents..

[Chadd 916]

Need to avoid any sharp edges, not sure how they would pull that off.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Need to avoid any sharp edges, not sure how they would pull that off.

Yeah, I did think of that...a rounder bevel to that edge would be needed.

[Rustpot 1]

Scoring is fine. A 1-0 game is a hell of a lot more exciting than a 6-3 game.

Why is soccer so exciting? Not a lot of scoring. Why do fans watch basketball and football? Because getting up for a beer doesn't make them miss all the action. You can watch a whole basketball game or 2 minutes and aside from a big play here and there, you'll get to see plenty of scoring and action.

The big thing I hate about football- all the work getting down the field and if you can't make it you can kick it through the uprights. Might as well end every failed powerplay with an empty-net shot from the opposite blue line and confine the teams to the neutral zone and make it worth 1/3 of a goal. You can always go for the full point conversion by skating through the neutral zone without losing possession!

[RadioGaGa 162]

I think it's a better idea than BIGGER nets, or 4 on 4.

[Clark12 0]

Nets have always been the same shape and they worked in the past, so why change them now ?

If your going to change the shape of the nets you might as well move the original six, knock down MSG, ban fighting, bring back the cooperall and ruin everything else traditional about the game.

Anyone for a game of ice croquette??

[Chadd 916]

I think it's a better idea than BIGGER nets, or 4 on 4.

Having the refs call penalties or lose their job is another way.

[Rustpot 1]

It's better than a drastic change like 4 on 4 or changing the size of the goal, I'll agree, but I still think nothing needs to change to increase scoring.

A soft triangle would work for the deflections idea, but I don't think it would work. If with a circle the puck can have 1/4 or less hit the post and still go in, a sloped surface would still deflect unless only a small portion of the puck hit it.

Another idea would be to cushion the post with a softer plastic that would cause the puck to fall instead of bounce. Rebounds from hitting the post would fall much closer to the goal and allow more garbage rebounds.

I would rather them tweak the rules like allow bigger curves then change fundamentals of the game. Things like goals are used in every rink around the continent- changing them at the NHL level would have trickle down effect for years. Travel players would be at a loss, larger budget rinks making the switch and others not.

[camhockey16 5]

It's better than a drastic change like 4 on 4 or changing the size of the goal, I'll agree, but I still think nothing needs to change to increase scoring.

A soft triangle would work for the deflections idea, but I don't think it would work. If with a circle the puck can have 1/4 or less hit the post and still go in, a sloped surface would still deflect unless only a small portion of the puck hit it.

Another idea would be to cushion the post with a softer plastic that would cause the puck to fall instead of bounce. Rebounds from hitting the post would fall much closer to the goal and allow more garbage rebounds.

I would rather them tweak the rules like allow bigger curves then change fundamentals of the game. Things like goals are used in every rink around the continent- changing them at the NHL level would have trickle down effect for years. Travel players would be at a loss, larger budget rinks making the switch and others not.

to be honest - there are already plenty of players that skirt the line or flat out ignore the illegal curve rule - but i think that would be an easy rule to change that no one would likely have a problem with. i'm not saying get rid of the rule - just allow a little big larger curves if the player wants.

[UMWhockey 0]

might be a stupid idea, but what if you kept the same distance from the outside of one post to the outside of the other, but made the posts smaller. You would increast the size of the net since there is less metal in the way, but the goalies would still have the same distance to cover. Might not be a huge difference, but just about all thoes pucks that hit the inside of the post and go out the other side would hit net and stay in. Just a thought.

[RadioGaGa 162]

might be a stupid idea, but what if you kept the same distance from the outside of one post to the outside of the other, but made the posts smaller. You would increast the size of the net since there is less metal in the way, but the goalies would still have the same distance to cover. Might not be a huge difference, but just about all thoes pucks that hit the inside of the post and go out the other side would hit net and stay in. Just a thought.

Actually, when they were talking about it they did say smaller posts was something else he mentioned...but, yeah...as long as the outside dimension stayed the same I'd like that as an option.

It still leaves the problem Rustspot brings up...some rinks having different nets than others, and smaller communities not being able to afford to replace nets etc...

[Rustpot 1]

to be honest - there are already plenty of players that skirt the line or flat out ignore the illegal curve rule - but i think that would be an easy rule to change that no one would likely have a problem with. i'm not saying get rid of the rule - just allow a little big larger curves if the player wants.

They already bumped it up from 1/2" (which it was at for a long time) to 3/4" a season or two ago to allow players to no longer be illegal in this aspect. Doesn't help Selanne with his boat paddle though.

Changes like the trapezoid aren't too drastic and help speed the game up a bit more, but I'm not a fan of the goalie being so handcuffed all the time. I think they need to remove the trapezoid rule when your team is on the power play to help a ice-length dump get back to the offense quicker. I also think they should allow goalies to move through the corners if they have the puck, but can't enter it to get the puck, it makes them able to move the play, create more opportunities for mishandling it and giving up a turnover and still hinders the goalie in breaking up a dump-and-chase from the opposing team.

They need to start dishing out bigger suspensions for cheapshots, too. Any time your hit gets reviewed should be 1 game and a fine, and if they find you guilty of endangering another player it should carry a 10 game minimum. No more 1, 2 or 5 game suspensions for intent to injur. Exception for a fight in which both party is a willing combatant.

Allow a 6th man on a delayed penalty or pulled goalie situation to jump over the boards well before the goalie gets there so long as the goalie never touches the puck and moves immediately for the bench, no dilly-dally.

Add discretionary 30 second additions to penalties if the offender is overly rude or does not make progress toward the box when told to go.

Edit- changing the size of the bars isn't a good idea. The wide pucks still go wide, you'll just have less ringers. You would be very surprised how much it will throw off all of the goalies to have a 1/2" wider net. Plus they'll be lighter and will get bumped off the moorings- which will also have to be smaller- much more easily.

Edit 2- I think the most beneficial change to the net would be taller. Cut the crossbar in half or raise it an inch- more room to shoot over the shoulders for snipers, forces the goalies to not go to a default butterfly if they aren't covering 80% of the net anymore.

[Jason Harris 31]

Scoring is fine. A 1-0 game is a hell of a lot more exciting than a 6-3 game.

Why is soccer so exciting?

A true goaltenders' showcase at 1-0 is quite exciting, but the games of five years ago that were 15 shots versus 13 were often lethargic.

On the second topic, I recognize the world loves soccer, but I wouldn't classify most soccer games as exciting; I'd call them compelling, tactical dramas. Indeed, I've seen 0-0 games with nine total shots. I enjoyed them from a strategic perspective, but there was nothing exciting about them.

[UMWhockey 0]

shrinking the posts doesn't have to make it lighter if you increase the density of what is there. Not that I am a goalie, but they seem to use or feel the outside of the posts to see where they are in net... that won't change.

as far as local rinks are concerned, why is that even an issue. This is the NHL, not college, not juniors, not youth hockey. It's not like shooters are reallly going to change the way they shoot or goalies are going to have to change the way they play. I don't know too many goalies who are happy if a shot beats them and hits the post. I beleive they are all trying to make sure the puck eaither hits them or the glass behind.

Really what I am trying to say is this wouldn't be a change that would require players and goalies to learn and adapt to some radical change that would force all the leagues and programs all the way down to mites to change as well.... I really don't see too many no play zones for goalies in squirts

[Rustpot 1]

Scoring is fine. A 1-0 game is a hell of a lot more exciting than a 6-3 game.

Why is soccer so exciting?

A true goaltenders' showcase at 1-0 is quite exciting, but the games of five years ago that were 15 shots versus 13 were often lethargic.

On the second topic, I recognize the world loves soccer, but I wouldn't classify most soccer games as exciting; I'd call them compelling, tactical dramas. Indeed, I've seen 0-0 games with nine total shots. I enjoyed them from a strategic perspective, but there was nothing exciting about them.

I was going on soccer being so popular in most of the world, I don't particularly enjoy it. I guess exciting wasn't the best word, though you'd be hard-pressed to find a hooligan who isn't excited any time Manchester United or some other team I've never heard of takes the field.

I agree with you though. A 1-0 game with 30 shots per side and 5 really big scoring chances each. Clutch and grab shutdown games are nothing to be excited about.

The best games (IMO) are an early goal, a tying goal in the second, and a go-ahead with less than 10 to go in the third. Overtime with chances going constantly back and forth is exciting to watch, too. 2-1 or 3-2 back and forth games.

I do, however, think the shootout is getting a bit overdone. Leave it as an option, but go 10minutes 4 on 4 for overtime. Teams should not be seeing more than 3-5 shootouts per season, it ruins the fun.

Really what I am trying to say is this wouldn't be a change that would require players and goalies to learn and adapt to some radical change that would force all the leagues and programs all the way down to mites to change as well.... I really don't see too many no play zones for goalies in squirts

11" goalie pads. They're trickling down from an NHL rule change. An NHL goalie lives and breathes having the muscle memory of that net and crease. If you change the only concrete thing about it, it will screw them all up, at least for a little while. I doubt nets will change anyway, all the changes so far have been pretty soft changes- line location is just paint, goalies get new gear all the time anyway, rules are just on the books.

[gxc999 7]

I think the changing the post idea is putting a band-aid over a bullet wound. We need nets that are 4" taller and 6" wider, and goalie pads that are cutdown 30%, I don't care how much the players union complains. We need to all level and ask ourselves, is a 4-3 game more exciting or is 2-1? We all know the answer to that. Beautiful passes and beautiful goals are the foundation of the game, we need more of them at almost any cost.

[jcp2 2]

Beautiful passes and beautiful goals are the foundation of the game, we need more of them at almost any cost.

Are you describing Olympic women's hockey?

[chk hrd 164]

I think the changing the post idea is putting a band-aid over a bullet wound. We need nets that are 4" taller and 6" wider, and goalie pads that are cutdown 30%, I don't care how much the players union complains. We need to all level and ask ourselves, is a 4-3 game more exciting or is 2-1? We all know the answer to that. Beautiful passes and beautiful goals are the foundation of the game, we need more of them at almost any cost.

We've all seen 4-3 games that are terrible and 2-1 games that were legendary. I don't really care what the final score was. I don't get done watching a 1-0 game that was hard fought and go, "ya know if it was 8-7 the game would have been better". Leave the game alone, no change in nets, no smaller pads. If you want more scoring chances then make a player serve his full penalty time.

[RadioGaGa 162]

If you want more scoring chances then make a player serve his full penalty time.

I agree.

[jestrs 0]

I agree with chk hrd. I think if you are penalized for 2 minutes you should be short handed for the whole 2 minutes. Just because the other team scores in 45 seconds, you get your player back. That is not much of a deterent. Scoring would go up.

Also remove the red line from the ice. Use the blue lines for determining icings. And get rid of the trapezoid that is the dumbest rule yet.

[mrusse01 0]

I agree with chk hrd. I think if you are penalized for 2 minutes you should be short handed for the whole 2 minutes. Just because the other team scores in 45 seconds, you get your player back. That is not much of a deterent. Scoring would go up.

Also remove the red line from the ice. Use the blue lines for determining icings. And get rid of the trapezoid that is the dumbest rule yet.

I agree with the full 2 minute idea.

I wouldn't want to get rid of the trapezoid entirely because teams like the 90s era Devils just used Broduer as a third defenseman, and it was primarily a defensive tactic because you couldn't really dump it in on him easily. I would suggest a small change where the trapezoid rule isn't in effect if your team has a PP, so the goalie can get out to the corners and start a quick break out a la Steve Mason in the most recent World Juniors. Who doesn't like that rule? I think it's a great idea, might not make a huge difference, but what's the downside?

Another idea I heard (maybe on HNIC) was to eliminate the rule that you can ice the puck without a whistle on a penalty kill. I think that's a good idea as well, I mean you are REALLY going to see a difference with that because you can't change your players on an icing, and it would promote a skill of softly dumping the puck out without icing.

I guess the downside to all these ideas is that is further increases the advantage of a power play, and then you are putting more power in the hands of the refs.

[LegoDoom 0]

Need to avoid any sharp edges, not sure how they would pull that off.

Wouldn't changing the shape to oval pretty much accomplish the same thing and not have any sharp edges?

[Chadd 916]

Need to avoid any sharp edges, not sure how they would pull that off.

Wouldn't changing the shape to oval pretty much accomplish the same thing and not have any sharp edges?

That would work if you wanted to make them thinner and it would be much more aerodynamic as well. It still would redirect a similar number of pucks away from the net as the current round posts do though. At least I think they would.

[Rustpot 1]

That would work if you wanted to make them thinner and it would be much more aerodynamic as well. It still would redirect a similar number of pucks away from the net as the current round posts do though. At least I think they would.

No! You said they'd be more aerodynamic, now Bettman is certainly going to entertain the thought. New RBK E-tech ellipse posts with 14% less drag!

I will be quite pissed if the league heads think that drastic changes to fundamental things like the goals will result in a more exciting game with more TV viewers. Bullshit.