NHL GMs recommend massive changes

[dArKeR]

Henderson, Nev. — Aiming to restore offence and excitement to a game stifled by defence, National Hockey League general managers put forward a list of proposals yesterday that would result in the most radical changes in the league's modern history.


The following proposals are subject to further discussion and refinement but are likely to be adopted next season:

A reduction in the size of goaltenders' leg pads from 12 inches to 10.

Banning goaltenders from handling the puck behind the goal line.

Moving the nets and bluelines three feet closer to the end boards to simultaneously shrink the area behind the net and
increase the size of the neutral zone. Doing so will restore the dimensions to what they were before the nets were moved out prior to the 1990-91 season. The space from the end board to the goal line would shrink to 10 feet from 13.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040210.wgmgm10/BNStory/Sports/

[DK666]

1. Arggggg......

I agree with the goaltender pad thing. But for god sake leave the rest alone and just enforce the frigging rules you already have.

[mouse7]

2. Leave goalie pads alone and increase the size of the goal.

I'm not big on decreasing protection. Just make the goal bigger.

[tridim]

3. "Banning goaltenders from handling the puck behind the goal line"

Won't work. How will a goaltender play a wrap around shot? I'm not sure about moving the net back, but my guess is that it will cause lots of congestion behind the net and more injuries. Leave the rules alone, they're fine as they are.

[tridim]

8. Wasn't it George Carlin that suggested

there should be a gasoline fire buring at mid court? Talk about the fast break!

Edit: Oops, didn't mean to reply to my own post.

[madrchsod]

4. how about putting a

decent product out there? course i`m a blackhawk fan..but our local uhl team the icehogs are fairly bad, play in a shit hole of a civic center and have the third best attendence in the league. the team is also building their own hockey staduim in the next few years,which will really boost attendence. why are they successfull? cheap seats, cheap eats,and alot of promotions. you can meet the players at the bar down the street,they sign autograghs,do community promotions. and what the hell does the average nhl team do? they may be the best but it doesn`t mean anything to the fans if they don`t feel the team and its owners give a shit about them.

oh yea, they tried to juice up soccer,but that didn`t get anywhere

[mastein]

9. Dollar Bill needs to go

I grew up a huge Hawks fan back in the days of Savard, Magnuson (OBM) and Secord through the days when the Hawks had Belfour and Hasek on the same team and made it to the finals in 92. Chicago is a huge hockey town and if Dollar Bill didn't treat the team and fans as poorly as he does they would pack the UC (May the old Mad house rest in pece) every night, and make Detroit look like a minor league city.


I also agree that the red line needs to go, they need shootouts after the OT (in the reg. season. NOTHING beats staying up til 2 am watching a hockey game into the 3rd or more OT) and need to give ths skill players more room to skate so move the blue lines back.

[noaliases]

5. Open up the game

by doing away with the rule against 2-line passes.

[paranoid floyd]

6. I agree

Doing away with the two line off side would make the game much more exciting. That's how they do it in the Olympics and it creates more offense by keeping the defense a little more honest. There is nothing more exciting then a great outlet pass that gives a player a breakaway.

[dArKeR]

7. Issue guns to the goalies and captains!!!!