Now that the teams are starting to gear up for the start of the next NHL season (thank God – I don’t know how many more replays of home runs I can stand watching on SportsCentre… yawn), there are an interesting few days of rule experimentation coming up August 18th and 19th in Toronto.
A few of the more interesting ones:
- Overtime with 3 minutes of 4 on 4, followed by 3 minutes of 3 on 3, then 3 minutes of 2 on 2, then a shootout.
- Hey, why stop there? Go all the way with another 3 minutes of 1 on 1 before the shootout. This sounds more like my pickup hockey games in the summer when our turnout numbers dwindle due to vacations.
- No icing the puck while shorthanded.
- Uh…what? This will lead to a whole bunch of players trying to figure out how to lob the puck over defencemen’s heads and into the neutral zone.
- After a face-off violation, opposition center may choose his face-off opponent.
- This almost feels like bullying, or picking on the smallest kid in school.
It seems strange that the NHL tinkers with its rules every year. I just don’t get it. Is the game really that bad? Do we really need rule changes? It amazes me why the NHL does this to OUR game. Other professional sports don’t goof around this much with their rules. Can you imagine the uproar if Major League Baseball changed rules as often?
Stay classy, hockey fans.
dude i love the no-icing on the PK, a team commits an infraction and they should have to suffer not be helped out by the ability to ice the puck freely.
Personally, I’m not for the no icing while killing a penalty. I’d hate to see the PKing team lobbing pucks over opposing players and then seeing them jump to keep pucks in the offensive zone. But that’s just me. Baxter, over to you!
I honestly had to check the link to make it’s not a joke! Seriously pick my opponent, this is 1st grade all over again! I have mixed feels about no icing, it just seems too harsh esp if you’re two men down
As for OT, how about prolonging it to 10 mins with 4 on 4 that’s gotta be more entertaining and less need for shootouts
Agreed with the first 2, but I’m game with the last one. Why not? They’re grown men, they should be able to take it.
And to answer your question, the only rule change the NHL needs is no touch icing.
@ SensDew19 – I love that you are back on SC! Anyways, I
likelove 4 on 4 too. I think they should have 10 minutes of opposite sides (more difficult line changes). Picking your opponents for faceoffs is weak.@ Karmela – Yes. I absolutely agree with you. It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion in my mind.
I have not been fulfilling my duties as a hardcore SC fan, I apologize I’ve had a wacky summer but I’m back full time till you kick me out hehe
Also are there no rule changes regarding Bettman being NHL commissioner :p
@SensDew19 – I know what you mean about this not being a joke. I had to check to make sure I wasn’t misreading the article. Lots of variations for OT for sure. I think your suggestion is quite good. I always thought that ending the game with an all-too-brief five minute overtime and then a shootout was not quite the right way to do it.
@Awesome-O – I see your point, but isn’t being short-handed the punishment in itself?
1) No touch icing, yes.
2) I’d prefer 10 min 4 on 4, 5 min 3 on 3 before a shootout.
The theory – more goals scored that actually count in the players stats, more excitement and less shootouts.
The players make so much money a few extra minutes here or there won’t kill them.
I vote no on the no PK free icing. Two rule changes are enough.
@ Baxter Yes being a man down is obviously punishment in itself but giving the offending team an opportunity to break a rule (icing) just seems like it’s working toward negating the penalty they suffered in the first place. IMO you break the rules, you shouldn’t get to break another in order to help you weather your initial punishment.