Not much going on with the Sabres. They keep losing and don't look to be improving. What else do you want me to tell you?
Corey Tropp, Cody McCormick and Ville Leino all practiced today. Ristolainen is back with the team...even though he never really left.
Below is a list of some changes that I think we will see over the next decade.
5 things we will see in the NHL over the next 10 years:
1. Automatic icing - I understand what the league is trying to do with the icing calls, but so far, hybrid icing hasn't been the best answer. It may result in fewer injuries, but they are judgement calls, and we want as few of those as possible in this league. Automatic icing would be taking it a step further. The only judgement the official would have to make is whether or not a defender was close enough to touch the puck, which we have now anyway. The hybrid icing is still a race for the puck going toward the boards. While injuries may decrease because of it, players can still hit the boards hard.
2. Trapezoid eliminated - this is one of the dumbest rules that was implemented besides the two line pass. The trapezoid behind the net was meant to prevent goaltenders from playing the puck in the corners. It doesn't make much sense to me. Martin Brodeur played the puck all the time behind the net, but it has become more of an annoyance to me than anything. Let the goaltenders play it if they want to. They're the ones taking the risk of leaving the net. I think this is something we'll see thrown away.
3. Mandatory visors - it's going to happen eventually. You'll see every single player required to wear a visor. Whenever I watch highlights of hockey back in the old days, I can't believe players didn't wear helmets, especially goaltenders. I think years from now we'll be saying the same thing about players not wearing visors or full cages. It's a simple way to protect the players and they should be for it. Players can easily take a puck, stick, skate or anything else to the face and it can cause a lot of damage. Even when players are getting checked from behind into the boards, a visor/cage can help. It's scary to see what can happen when a player can't avoid a shot, and takes it in the face. Visors will not stop everything, but they will help protect the players.
4. A 3-2-1 point system - This has to happen sooner or later. The current point system isn't terrible, but it could be much better. If you're not familiar with this suggested system, here you go:
Regulation win = 3 points
Overtime/shootout win = 2 points
Overtime/shootout loss = 1 point
What it does is make regulation wins much more important. It would really help separate the better teams from the rest of the pack. This system could help prevent teams from "playing it safe" to reach overtime and to get that one point. We could even see goaltenders pulled during regulation in order to get all three points in a game. It'd be a wise decision and I hope to see it happen.
5. 3-on-3 hockeyThe NHL is slowly realizing that shootouts are not the best way to end games, but at least they prevent ties. I think we're going to see the NHL insert 5 minutes of 3-on-3 hockey into overtime. It would be 5 minutes of 4-on-4, if no one scores go to 3-on-3, then go to the shootout if needed.
This would be exciting to watch and would decrease the number of shootouts.
Buffalo Sabres Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»