Don't allow players to leave their feet to block shots!

It will:
**allow more pucks to get through/shots on net
**safer for players as well
**assess a penalty
- rrentz

Agreed. I don't get turned on when a player turns into a windshield wiper

-Implement stricter line changing the outgoing players skates need to leave the ice before the incoming player touched down

-make it illegal to deliberately body slide along the ice in order to block a shot or a pass. Going down to a knee is ok
- Just5

I agree with the first part, but shot blocking is part of the game and it won't be going away.

I agree with the first part, but shot blocking is part of the game and it won't be going away.
- Lord_Ricky51

I agree entirely. It's impossible to enforce a no shot blocking rule. I also think line changes should be stricter and that would open up more ice and odd man chances.

I agree with the first part, but shot blocking is part of the game and it won't be going away.
- Lord_Ricky51

Go to a knee then. Let the goalies do their job. No reason for players to be sprawling out of control on the ice. I don't get the excitement there

Agreed. I don't get turned on when a player turns into a windshield wiper
- Just5

But you get turned on when players go to their knees?

But you get turned on when players go to their knees?
- eichiefs9

Yes with stick in hand

Eh, I'm not seeing a need for drastic measures.

http://www.quanthockey.com/TS/TS_GoalsPerGame.php

Rule changes are nice but enforcement is subjective so even if there is a spike in scoring with new rules, over a few years things will settle back to the current level.

I don't favor making the net bigger.

I do favor reducing the size of goaltender equipment. Proper protection is paramount, but with today's technology and materials protection can be provided while reducing the size of the equipment. For example, check out Lundqvist's shorts in this video. Compare his to McDonagh's.

http://www.nydailynews.co...nice-blog-entry-1.2217912

What would really help, but is the most difficult and expensive solution to implement, would be to go to the international sized ice. It would give more room for the fleet of foot to operate while simultaneously taking the clutch-and-grab factor out of the game.

Wow

I feel, personally, that power plays are boring hockey. It's 9 guys in a more or less stationary position. Even strength hockey results in more movement, and more back-and forth motion. I'd rather watch a 2-1 game where it's mostly 5-on-5 that a 6-4 game where there are 9 PP goals. To me, offense does not equate to "good hockey."

- jmatchett383

But power plays will go down as players adjust and stop obstructing, which will mean a more open game and more excitement.


As to outlawing shot blocking, I just don't see any way that it is enforceable.

I am also a proponent of increasing the size of the goal the width of the post all around. Basically resulting in pucks that hit the post square now will be goals.

All these rule changes. I don't get it.

Look at the average shots per game. It hasn't changed much. Sure, there are bad games with few shots, but there are also others with 70 + shots on net.

Stopping players from blocking shots just isn't feasible. As I said before about the illegal defense, we can't put more rules on the refs shoulders. They have a hard enough time enforcing the rules that the league has now. The last thing I want to see is off-ice officials making penalty calls.

Just regulate the damn goalie equipment. It's pretty simple. Scoring is down, cause goalies are bigger. Every single game you see goalies make saves where they didn't see the puck at all and it just 'hit' them.

If shots were way down, then I would look to change some of the rules, but they aren't. The game itself is fine. There are plenty of chances in every game. We just need more of those chances to find the back of the net.

I agree entirely. It's impossible to enforce a no shot blocking rule. I also think line changes should be stricter and that would open up more ice and odd man chances.
- jfkst1

Agreed. Goalie pad size, line changes being enforced and obstruction are the only things that need changed really.

But power plays will go down as players adjust and stop obstructing, which will mean a more open game and more excitement.


As to outlawing shot blocking, I just don't see any way that it is enforceable.

I am also a proponent of increasing the size of the goal the width of the post all around. Basically resulting in pucks that hit the post square now will be goals.
- rival22

If you do this, in 5 years, people will be saying the same thing about the new extents of the net until we're basically using a soccer-sized net.

But power plays will go down as players adjust and stop obstructing, which will mean a more open game and more excitement.


As to outlawing shot blocking, I just don't see any way that it is enforceable.

I am also a proponent of increasing the size of the goal the width of the post all around. Basically resulting in pucks that hit the post square now will be goals.
- rival22

This exactly. When a player realizes he needs to skate instead of reaching out and grabbing a guy, the game will open up. Either the slower less talented guy will end up in the box or he'll be left in the dust. Either way, the game will open up and more goals will be scored.

Remember the "free hand" thing. Think about that when watching Rags/Caps on Wednesday.

If you do this, in 5 years, people will be saying the same thing about the new extents of the net until we're basically using a soccer-sized net.
- jmatchett383

I don't buy that slippery slope argument.

Goalie size didn't happen overnight. If in 5 years we have 7 foot goalies then we can have that discussion again.

don't get this obsession with goal scoring.

we're in the midst of one of the most exciting playoffs in a long time.

all the games save for a handful have been tight, teams are coming back from deficits in games and series, lots of scoring chances.

only thing I'd be ok with is the freaking goalie equipment but other than that leave it the (frank) alone.

Remember the "free hand" thing. Think about that when watching Rags/Caps on Wednesday.

- madmike71

And remember the stick paralled to the ice was an automatic call when it made any contact?

Now it's back to first hook ignored, second one maybe looked at, and third hook possibly called if it looks really bad.

No wonder players are embellishing everything, it has to look horrible for a chance at a penalty.

But you get turned on when players go to their knees?
- eichiefs9

I've been saying this for years, emailing Hockey writers and such to get the word out but no one listens. The best and easiest way to accomplish this while reducing penalties...

PLAYER SERVES THE FULL PENALTY REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PP GOALS ARE SCORED.

2 minute PP can lead to 3 goals and this can happen quite frequently. And it will get people to stop diving and embellishment etc.

I read 'more scoring' and interpret that as 'more goals, more scoring chances, more interesting.' Maybe I'm wrong.

I'm not really up for huge sweeping changes and honestly not a fan of making the net bigger or goalie equipment smaller.

I do think clutch and grab/interference hockey is boring, frustrating, and confusing for new fans as to why it isn't a penalty. I also don't like it when teams ice the puck to offset pressure...even on the penalty kill.

I've been saying this for years, emailing Hockey writers and such to get the word out but no one listens. The best and easiest way to accomplish this while reducing penalties...

PLAYER SERVES THE FULL PENALTY REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PP GOALS ARE SCORED.

2 minute PP can lead to 3 goals and this can happen quite frequently. And it will get people to stop diving and embellishment etc.
- Leniwm1

I don't mind that at all, but it'd be great if the league just enforced it's rules to the letter. They've gotten away from it and seem to have looked at many things but pushing the officials to make calls to a T. Add that to your idea and you've got something insanely entertaining.

I've been saying this for years, emailing Hockey writers and such to get the word out but no one listens. The best and easiest way to accomplish this while reducing penalties...

PLAYER SERVES THE FULL PENALTY REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PP GOALS ARE SCORED.

2 minute PP can lead to 3 goals and this can happen quite frequently. And it will get people to stop diving and embellishment etc.
- Leniwm1

Why is no one talking about the zebras?
The rules against obstruction are already on the books,
they just aren't calling it that way.
Linesmen should also be allowed to call penalties.
Keeping 4 eyes on the ice just for calling offsides and face offs is silly.

If the refs would just call the game as it is supposed to be called it would be fine. Eliminating things like the Red Wings bump or the idea of that skill players have to have three guys on top of them would increase chances and increase scoring.

I have a general question for the people complaining about the horrible, awful obstruction that is so prevalent in today's NHL:

If you really feel that it is so awful and makes the game boring, then why the hell do you still watch? Why waste hours of your life to watch and then discuss something you find so boring?
- jmatchett383

Couldn't agree more. I've watched less of the playoffs this year. And I consider myself a hardcore fan.

Just getting sick of the slogfest. Teams with all this offensive talent trying to win games 2-1. That's like the Clippers or Warriors trying to win NBA games 80-79. The NBA stepped in when their gameplay was turning into a slugfest. And look at them now. A free flowing product that's fun to watch, rating are through the roof, and the game is designed to promote skill which it what people ultimately pay to see.

You seem to enjoy these games so perhaps you're the reason the league promotes this kind of play.

Why is no one talking about the zebras?
The rules against obstruction are already on the books,
they just aren't calling it that way.
Linesmen should also be allowed to call penalties.
Keeping 4 eyes on the ice just for calling offsides and face offs is silly.
- StargateSG1

I don't know how much more can be said about the refs... even when teams are winning they aren't jumping for joy over the calls for the most part in this postseason.