Wouldn't the neutral zone trap prevent SHOTS and not necessarily scoring? I don't see any grand decrease in shots. I'm seeing lots of high 30 shot totals with only a goal or 2 given up.

What I see is

-goalies are getting bigger and they are not only big, but quick and athletic.
-goalie training/technique. goalies are well coached now in all facets of the game, not just the butterfly or hybrid technique, but in covering post, angles and depth. Competition for goalie positions is huge. My son went out for a Tier 1 (AAA) program lsat year and 15 goalies were on the ice trying out, so more kids are playing the position (I have no stats to back this up, just seems so many kids are specializing in goalie sooner than suggested)
-equipment. goalie gear is big and covers much net, BUT light...these athletes have less gear to move
- kwolf68

I think quality of shots is probably decreasing over the past few decades due to defensive strategies, pushing players to the outside, etc....but you cant get all the coaches to change into fire wagon coaches so I would say the biggest change should come in Goalie equipment. I hate anything that changes the fundamentals of the game like increasing net size, etc, because that would mean anyone who breaks a Gretzky record would have a big fat asterix next to his name.....ditto for counting shoot out goals as goals, thats just stupid.

If anything, less changes to the painted lines, no changing the net, or the rules of the game, but change the goalie eqipment. With technology today they should be able to design safe protective equipment that is no bigger than it was in the 80's.Cant stop tenders from growing to 7 feet tall but they dont need couch cushions on their shins neither.

No 100 pt. players?

I think its because this era lacks in skill overall. None of these players today compare to players like Lindros, Forsberg, Sakic, Hull, Lemieux, Gretzky, Bure, etc. etc.

No 100 pt. players?

I think its because this era lacks in skill overall. None of these players today compare to players like Lindros, Forsberg, Sakic, Hull, Lemieux, Gretzky, Bure, etc. etc.
- GOA88

Ummmm.....no, I think Stamkos, Sid, Malkin and a few others stack up well with alot of guys on your list. not Mario and 99 of course but.....

How about giving teams 10 pts for the win and 1 extra point in the standing for every goal scored. I guarantee that coaches will have offensive strategies.

Ummmm.....no, I think Stamkos, Sid, Malkin and a few others stack up well with alot of guys on your list. not Mario and 99 of course but.....
- Jeropotato

Well... you're wrong. So thats that.

Well... you're wrong. So thats that.
- GOA88

Nope.

How about giving teams 10 pts for the win and 1 extra point in the standing for every goal scored. I guarantee that coaches will have offensive strategies.
- porkchops1977

Less gimmicks.......please.

Instead of messing with size of goal, I would add 10 feet to glass behind end zone, and get rid of mesh netting. This would keep fans safe and give better sight lines, as well as keep more pucks in play.

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

No. Its one f'n year.

Jesus.

Great idea Ek, and you now scoring is down in the NBA so lets make the net bigger there too!!!! You don't change the basic structure of a game, nets in hoops and hockey, 90 feet to the base, and nobody wants to widen the nets in soccer (scary thought) or the goalposts in football. Coaches adjust and adjusting d is easier to implement. You are always looking how to stop an opponent. Oh and by the way with the exception of Johnny G in Calgary, everyone is getting bigger and faster on average. There is nothing wrong with 2-1 games 7-3 blowouts suck.

No 100 pt. players?

I think its because this era lacks in skill overall. None of these players today compare to players like Lindros, Forsberg, Sakic, Hull, Lemieux, Gretzky, Bure, etc. etc.
- GOA88

No.
Goalies are bigger and better.
Its one f'n year.

Also, Toews, Crosby, Kopitar, Stamkos say to Lindros, Forsberg and Bure.
No one compares to Lemieux and Gretzky, those others are easily comparable.

No 100 pt. players?

I think its because this era lacks in skill overall. None of these players today compare to players like Lindros, Forsberg, Sakic, Hull, Lemieux, Gretzky, Bure, etc. etc.
- GOA88

I'd have to disagree. Of course Gretzky and Lemieux are head and shoulders above but they are at the pinnacle regardless of 'era.' I think players like Ovie, Malkin, Crosby, Stamkos, Tavares, Kane all absolutely stack up. I think the biggest difference is that many of those you cited played in an era where they didn't have to be defensively responsible; they just had to score goals. I think about Ovie more than any other. The guy just posted his 7th 45 goal season (only gretzky, lemieux, bossey and dion have also done it) proving he is a generational scoring talent, yet he takes a lot of criticism for his lack of defensive play. Did Bure ever get criticized for hanging out in the neutral zone cherry picking? I doubt it.

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#Isles have traded Andrew MacDonald to the Flyers. More to come.

BREAKING

I'd have to disagree. Of course Gretzky and Lemieux are head and shoulders above but they are at the pinnacle regardless of 'era.' I think players like Ovie, Malkin, Crosby, Stamkos, Tavares, Kane all absolutely stack up. I think the biggest difference is that many of those you cited played in an era where they didn't have to be defensively responsible; they just had to score goals. I think about Ovie more than any other. The guy just posted his 7th 45 goal season (only gretzky, lemieux, bossey and dion have also done it) proving he is a generational scoring talent, yet he takes a lot of criticism for his lack of defensive play. Did Bure ever get criticized for hanging out in the neutral zone cherry picking? I doubt it.
- cornball

Actually Lindros, Sakic, Forsberg and Hull were all defensively responsible if not more than. These players played in an era where there was clutching and grabbing and bigger more physical players and they still have a better PPG average than one of those players you mentioned. A guy like Lindros would completely wreck this current league. Bure was in fact dogged on for cherry picking.... Did you grow up in this era??

FIRST!!!














any habs rumours?!?














nuff said

Actually Lindros, Sakic, Forsberg and Hull were all defensively responsible if not more than. These players played in an era where there was clutching and grabbing and bigger more physical players and they still have a better PPG average than one of those players you mentioned. A guy like Lindros would completely wreck this current league. Bure was in fact dogged on for cherry picking.... Did you grow up in this era??
- GOA88

Hull was criticized heavily in his career for being one-dimensional...

Less gimmicks.......please.
- Jeropotato

goalies must be under 6' on skates and leave everything else the same.

Hull was criticized heavily in his career for being one-dimensional...
- Blackstrom2

Yeah but then they invented 3D glasses

low scoring? Must be that everyone is tanking for mcdavid

Worst items in the NHL.

1 The use of normal black hockey pucks when there's clearly the technology for a Fox vapour puck

2 The 3 point game when it makes it's way into a skills competition shoot-out (please give maybe one bonus point to the winner, zero to the loser, let's limit the impact of the shoot-out if you want to keep them in there!)

3 Scrums at every whistle where grown men stick their dirty hockey gloves in another man's face but not wanting to take it any further.

You start adding higher shots near a goalies face and we'll increase the amount of scrums. Nobody wants more scrum. It's the dirtiest word in the English language. I'm not even sure if it qualifies as a word?

Actually Lindros, Sakic, Forsberg and Hull were all defensively responsible if not more than. These players played in an era where there was clutching and grabbing and bigger more physical players and they still have a better PPG average than one of those players you mentioned. A guy like Lindros would completely wreck this current league. Bure was in fact dogged on for cherry picking.... Did you grow up in this era??
- GOA88

None of those guys could produce like they did based on the speed in today's game. Lindros would get pick pocketed before he could get far enough for a defenseman to take his head off.

Worst items in the NHL.

1 The use of normal black hockey pucks when there's clearly the technology for a Fox vapour puck

2 The 3 point game when it makes it's way into a skills competition shoot-out (please give maybe one bonus point to the winner, zero to the loser, let's limit the impact of the shoot-out if you want to keep them in there!)

3 Scrums at every whistle where grown men stick their dirty hockey gloves in another man's face but not wanting to take it any further.

You start adding higher shots near a goalies face and we'll increase the amount of scrums. Nobody wants more scrum. It's the dirtiest word in the English language. I'm not even sure if it qualifies as a word?
- Fols19

Bring back the fox trax puck, bring back the tie, and do away with the salary cap.

No actually Richard Park being a superstar is the most moronic I have heard from Ek.
- Alexzanki

Wrong again. Ek should not have turned down Shania Twain's invitation to a date!

Imma hang out with Ek. Next time some hot up and coming star wants to date and he shuts her down I'm going to swoop in. Ek #1 Wingman

Bring back the fox trax puck, bring back the tie, and do away with the salary cap.
- Feds91Stammer

No, No and Hell NO. Greatest thing about the cap is Detroit stopped winning so many damn cups.

Hull was criticized heavily in his career for being one-dimensional...
- Blackstrom2

Needs more Oates