It makes the season exciting when records are challenged. It helps the league with revenue and expands the market.

Limit goalie equipment size, drop 2 teams, move 2 other teams to good markets, actually call penalties that are penalties, olympic rinks, players are bigger and faster today the ice gets jammed up, open it up for more skill.

Fixed
- bcallaway

All goalie gear has gotten progressively larger but with the crazy player sticks that are available now, good luck getting goalies to decrease the size of their equipment.

I would imagine most people arent huge fan of the game in the 80s compared to today as they were just born then, compared to people like me that were old enough to follow hockey closely in th 80s and being a kid playing. If you asked me back then I thought they game was great. Today the game is great as well. It does seem harder to score as the game, players, coaching and technology has advanced.

Euro size rink? Bigger nets? smaller gear all around? not sure any of this is the answer, but ask again in 5-7 years and maybe there will need to be a change. But for now the game is good.
- KOS

The 80's were full of clutching, grabbing, hooking etc. They had too back then because it was too bloody easy to score on those poor little goalies if players had time/space.

I prefer the game today a lot more.

I curse, you don't. (frank)ing life goes on...

The game is better than it has been in some time. Just stop with the tweaks already. There is no need for 100 points. If someone can achieve it consistently in this era that makes them a special player. That's way better than inflating numbers for guys who aren't truly on that level.
- glove_was_stuck

True. I'm happy about most of the rule changes that have gone on during the last 20 years.

I don't miss watching +3 hour games with constant whistles and players screwing around before face-offs.

The problem is the new technology in the hockey sticks. They snap in half every second scoring chance. Go back to the wooden Sherwood and watch the red light go!

I have wanted the league to make the net an inch wider and an inch taller for quite some time. It doesn't seem like a lot of extra space, but when you think about the number of shots that hit the post (or crossbar), surely many of those would become post-and-in goals.

I think there are other factors besides the size and style of the goalies, but I actually think this has some merit.

Just trying to think out load here, but I also believe that raising the height of the goal in leading to more "high" shots potentially will keep some defenders on their feet as the chance for a puck to the kisser goes up. This in turn will increase the number of pucks making it to the net.

While I don't think we will see a 25% increase in offense a 10% bump would be realistic if goalies do in fact hesitate before dropping to cover the bottom of the next and players are not as willing to put their face in front of the puck.

Perhaps a side effect of this would also be an increase in the size of the visors used by the players and leading to an overall reduction in the number of facial injuries.

I will also throw in the idea that the clutching and grabbing needs to stop and be enforced in full before we start actively changing other aspects of the game. If we don't enforce the rules we have equally and fairly there is no sense to making more rules or changing those that don't really solve the problem.

This season is on pace to be the highest scoring season since 2010-2011.

After the 2004-2005 lockout, coaching and players needed to adapt to the new rules. Also refs were calling EVERYTHING. So in 05-06, scoring was high. 06-07, it went down, and in 07-08 it's lower than this years pace.

Goalies haven't gotten better. Players haven't gotten worst.

The only difference Is likely the number of Powerplays.

In 2005-2006, there was a total of 14390 powerplays for an average of 5.85 PP/g for each team. This is about 12 power plays per game.

This year the league average is 3.11/team. This is about 1/2 the power plays then in 2005-2006.

I'm not saying refs should call more penalties because in 05-06, players needed adjusting, so more infractions called. However, if scoring is to go up and Crosby is to get 130 points, there needs to be more power play time.

This season is on pace to be the highest scoring season since 2010-2011.

After the 2004-2005 lockout, coaching and players needed to adapt to the new rules. Also refs were calling EVERYTHING. So in 05-06, scoring was high. 06-07, it went down, and in 07-08 it's lower than this years pace.

Goalies haven't gotten better. Players haven't gotten worst.

The only difference Is likely the number of Powerplays.

In 2005-2006, there was a total of 14390 powerplays for an average of 5.85 PP/g for each team. This is about 12 power plays per game.

This year the league average is 3.11/team. This is about 1/2 the power plays then in 2005-2006.

I'm not saying refs should call more penalties because in 05-06, players needed adjusting, so more infractions called. However, if scoring is to go up and Crosby is to get 130 points, there needs to be more power play time.
- l3ig_l2ecl

Imagine what the Habs could do with more PP time!

Comparing to the NFL, players are bigger, stronger, faster and still records are being challenged. Its fun to watch. If 87 and 71 can't hit 80+pts in a season for the Pens, best to move them. Cant pay star players star money if they can't go above and beyond.

Imagine what the Habs could with more PP time!

- glove_was_stuck

Score 5 goals more before the end of the year...






Probably not even that much

Outlaw intentional shot blocking...it used to be a noble sacrifice to block a shot, but with the body armor worn by today's skaters it is customary for all skaters to block shots.

It is not just because of goalies that there are less 100 point players, Eklund.

The players these days are much bigger, stronger and faster and there is way less room on the ice. Watch some old games then watch a live game. No comparison.

This obsession with goals and "fixing" the game to make it as it once was is loony though. I prefer watching hockey today as opposed to 20, 30 years ago. Leave the game alone. The more people tamper with it the worse it gets.

Look at these size comparisons.



- woopstash

Tony 0 was quoted as saying the old leather pads would saturate and get heavier as the game went on. I had heard up to 30lbs (total I'm guessing) so we should leave the goalie equipment alone. Look at the players sticks, I picked one up after not being on the ice for 15 years. Amazingly enough my slapshot was 17 mph faster now then when I played. Goalies are just tremendous athletes, they would adjust to larger nets, so go ahead and try it out in the minors

If anything they should shrink the nets by 30-40%. Games should have no more than 3 goals combined, anymore and it becomes a clown show
- mkolchenkov

Is this the only way Toronto can make the game less of a clown show?

This season is on pace to be the highest scoring season since 2010-2011.

After the 2004-2005 lockout, coaching and players needed to adapt to the new rules. Also refs were calling EVERYTHING. So in 05-06, scoring was high. 06-07, it went down, and in 07-08 it's lower than this years pace.

Goalies haven't gotten better. Players haven't gotten worst.

The only difference Is likely the number of Powerplays.

In 2005-2006, there was a total of 14390 powerplays for an average of 5.85 PP/g for each team. This is about 12 power plays per game.

This year the league average is 3.11/team. This is about 1/2 the power plays then in 2005-2006.

I'm not saying refs should call more penalties because in 05-06, players needed adjusting, so more infractions called. However, if scoring is to go up and Crosby is to get 130 points, there needs to be more power play time.
- l3ig_l2ecl

Goalies have gotten larger and better for sure. They're substantially more athletic and the advent of hybrid/butterfly pad design has helped enormously.

I do agree that players haven't gotten worse.

Score 5 goals more before the end of the year...






Probably not even that much
- l3ig_l2ecl

Yeah...I can't really say much either.

EDIT: NM looked up the numbers. I am very surprised were both teams sit. I figured it was the opposite.

Just use soccer nets. Problem solved.

Maybe call the game as it is intended and stop the clutch and grab and hack that is making this happen.
- Doogs

What? Watch the old Canada Cup 87 series. Mario and Wayne did what they did in that series with a stick firmly placed on their hips. The 80's was some of the most exciting offensive hockey and it had more clutching and grabbing than the game does now.

just look at a pic of a goalie from the 80's compared to one today. the pads and players today are both huge!!! force goalies to use smaller equipment and scoring will go way up

just look at a pic of a goalie from the 80's compared to one today. the pads and players today are both huge!!! force goalies to use smaller equipment and scoring will go way up
- Ravenz93

They should also limit the age goalies can start playing hockey so they are not as good.

Like say hockey should have no goalies until Bantam.

Is Jabba the Hutt or Honey Boo Boos mome available?

- MnGump

They should also limit the age goalies can start playing hockey so they are not as good.

Like say hockey should have no goalies until Bantam.
- l3ig_l2ecl

Yep and make their pads out of paper mache! That way by the 3rd period there will be nothing left and they'll jump out of the way thus increasing scroing!

Yep and make their pads out of paper mache! That way by the 3rd period there will be nothing left and they'll jump out of the way thus increasing scroing!
- MnGump

And they should use player gloves and a regular hockey stick.

just look at a pic of a goalie from the 80's compared to one today. the pads and players today are both huge!!! force goalies to use smaller equipment and scoring will go way up
- Ravenz93

Force players to use wooden sticks then you can force goalies to reduce their equipment.

While some players in the past had hard shots - no doubt, new stick technology increases the average shot speed.

Eklund: Why No 100 Point Players? Should We Raise the Bar? Buzzcast 1pm
- Eklund

Goalies are bigger, pads are MUCH bigger...
Why not make the nets bigger?
Doesn't have to be a huge difference. Maybe just an inch or two in each direction.
And go back to "post lockout" ways of calling interference, clutching & grabbing, etc

For the NHL to really grow in these non traditional markets, you're gonna need more scoring...
I'm sure most of us on here are just fine with a 2-1 game... But the casual sports fan would much prefer a 6-5 one