NHL improvements?

[Takumifujiwara]

I want to know what you Hockey fans think about the current state of affairs in our sport. I also want to know what improvements you think we should make and what things you think we should generally change in the NHL.

I will start off with 2 things.

1) We get rid of the instigator rule. Reason being is that it has caused a major increase in cheap trips and slashes, before the rule the players fought it out like men and it helped to avoid some of the career ending cheap shots we have seen over recent years.

2) I think the NHL should start using the Olympic sized hockey standard. For those that don't know, it makes the ice a bit wider which lets players take more advantage of their speed.

Throw some stuff out there guys. Thoughts on Bettman's NHL?

 

[Tim Wakefield]

I think both of your ideas are valid. Definitely the instigator one, thats just ridiculous.

I really like the NHL the way it is right now. Fast paced, decent scoring per-game. Maybe some form of Automatic Icing would be a decent change.

 

[Sapster]

Yeah after watching a few games, my beloved pens vs the wings, i would love to see wider ice. It would make the neutral zone trap harder to manage.

 

[Blazeoffury]

Taku took the words right out of my mouth

 

[Audino]

1) We get rid of the instigator rule. Reason being is that it has caused a major increase in cheap trips and slashes, before the rule the players fought it out like men and it helped to avoid some of the career ending cheap shots we have seen over recent years.

Yes, yes and yes. Bring back the days where guys didn't have to be so hesitant to protect their stars.

 

[Taurothar]

After watching the game 5 overtime, I think the refs need some serious reschooling. That was so bad how they called not one but two terrible interference calls on the Wings. I'm an impartial party to this Stanley Cup, as my team is the Ducks (always has been since the Whalers moved out of CT, and even then they were tied). I just wanted to see a fair overtime, and that was two bad calls not balanced out. Luckily no goals were scored. I also saw a TON of calls they ignored that were far more obvious but let slip.

I think your ideas about opening up the ice would be nice, but not totally necessary, and very expensive an endeavor for a struggling league. The instigator rule is as good as it is bad, but I'd rather see it disappear and let them punch it out. I'd like to see a few small adjustments to interference obstruction calls too, they seem to be far too common to be called/ignored on the wrong plays, but I guess those balance out more often than not.

I think that playoff overtime should be 4 on 4, no shootout. That would open up the ice and lead to some exciting moments. I understand the tradition and its a great one, but unless you do make the rinks wider, it's a little less of a game of skill at that time and more who can keep their energy longer. Also, I think a game 7 double overtime shootout would be one of the most unbelievable ways to win the cup.