The Playoffs have been pretty alright (considering I don't have a rooting interest and all) but I'm happy to see some new teams in the final four and there have been some good games.
Still, it could be better. The game is too dangerous, occasionally boring, too low-scoring and there are clearly some things that could be done to improve it. So here's what I'd do to fix the league, where I charge. (Que guy saying 'good thing you're not in charge.')
1). Make Goalie Equipment Smaller.
This is first on my list because it's going to happen anyways. Goalies are massive and while no one is asking them to look like goalies from the 80s, smaller pads would at least increase scoring a little bit, which is necessary.
How necessary? Well, Alex Ovechkin's career high in goals is 65 vs Wayne Gretzky's 92. Ovechkin has one season with 60+ goals, Gretzky had five - and yet, adjusted for era, Ovechkin is said to be the best goal scorer of all time.
Now, dismiss the math nerds if you want, but the fact that someone can even make that argument shows a massive discrepancy between the two eras, and so some adjustment is warranted.
2) Show a Bigger Commitment to Safety
This is a multi-part step, but since they are all related, I thought I'd keep it under one heading.
a) Eliminate Fighting.
Unpopular as it may be to do so, their is enough evidence to state unequivocally that bare-fisted face punching between guys trying to balance on skates is way too dangerous, and comes with too high of a post-career risk to continue.
If an occasional brawl breaks out organically, so be it. The NHL, however, has no choice but to remove fighting from being a semi-regular occurrence. Since it's happening eventually, the league should get out in front of it, show some leadership and ban it from the game today.
b) Eliminate Dangerous Equipment from Skaters.
Are the makers of the NHL's equipment a subsidiary of tobacco companies? How else to explain the unwillingness of the league to tackle a problem people have been talking about since at least the 90s?
You would think they'd welcome a chance to have every player in every league be forced to order new equipment. You'd have to think that a league that pays even Kevan Miller $2+ million dollars per year could invest in the development of softer equipment that offers the same protection.
c) Allow Some Obstruction Back into the Game
Admittedly this would need to be tested (ideally from tracking old games from before the crackdown on obstruction and comparing them to today's) but it at least seems like the game is faster than it used to be and that this is leading to more injuries.
It's possible it just seems this way, but enough people talk about it that it should at least be looked into, and possible changed.
d) Increase Suspensions Tenfold
The NHL needs to continue to crack down on head-shots and to improve how they deal with stick swinging and hits from behind.
Hockey is an emotional game and so people may act before thinking regardless of the punishment, so it is debatable how much harsher suspensions would change anything - but they're unlikely to hurt.
The Duncan Keith's stick swinging suspension was indefensibly light, and, at the very least, harsher suspensions would make it look like they have some interest in players safety - which, currently, it doesn't seem like they do.
If players have to adapt to play a less aggressive, more skill-based game to avoid being suspended for 40 games, then so be it. You know what half the people reading this will say, but I'm fine with it. There's too much violence, the sport is too dangerous and if the game has to be fundamentally changed, then who cares? Ultimately, people want to watch Stamkos and McDavid more than they want to see Matt Cooke murder someone.
3. Eliminate the Coaches Challenge
Referees are occasionally going to make errors. You cannot remove subjectivity from the referee entirely, so it makes no sense to arbitrarily deny him a choice on certain plays.
(From a logical perspective, reviewing only when a goal occurs doesn't even make sense, because lots of other plays lead to the goal and the goal is just a final outcome).
This madness to make sure 'every call is right' has been exposed as time consuming and annoying, on top of adding nothing positive to the game. All those off-side reviews and goals overturned on the slimmest of technicalities are not worth the once-in-a-blue-moon prevention of a grievous error.
4. Allow Subjectivity on Goal Reviews
Every once in a while there is a situation where the goal obviously went into the net, but it was spinning, or the goalie blocked the camera and there is no 'definitive' proof that the puck went in.
When that happens, let the ref decide. If it's inconclusive, let him use his knowledge of psychics and common sense to determine what probably happened.
5. Switch Back to Wooden Sticks
The MLB never let players use aluminum bats for a reason, and the NHL for whatever reason didn't care. But players shoot the puck way too hard, more shots from the point are wild, and also, sticks break and ruin scoring chances.
Watching those cheap $500 sticks break in half is pretty annoying, not to mention offensive to anyone who can't even afford to order a pizza while they're watching the game!
6. Vow to Never Put Adds on Jerseys
For the fractionally tiny amount of money this will bring in, why go to the trouble of making yourself look so greedy and small? The NHL should put the kybosh on this immediately and take a stand of self-respect.
7. Find a Way to Let Drafted Underage Players Play in the AHL
Fairly self-explanatory.
8. Find a Way to Curb Shot-Blocking
One of the reasons scoring is down so much from the early 90s is that players block tons more shots now than they used to. It might seem weird at first, but it would be less revolutionary to curb shot blocking instead of say making the nets bigger or putting in illegal defense.
Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»