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 idea in theory, but all I can think is that even less penalties will be called. If the consequence is high, the refs will not call much as to "not affect the outcome of a game"

Look at spearing. By the rule it's a double minor even if there is no contact, and a minor if there is contact. When was the last time that you saw a spearing penalty? You see jabs and spears occasionally, and they are either ignored, or called a slash and given 2 minutes. Refs take the easy way out.

Same with third man in being an automatic game misconduct... Instigator is not far behind.

While players do things worthy of those penalties often enough, calling those infractions went out with the Indians, because refs don't want to "decide games."

Goalie pads are what? 12 inches across?
So they "protect" the elephant legs or human ones?
- StargateSG1

That's only one piece of equipment though. I'm fine with restricting leg pads, but as others have said, you can't restrict sizes on other pieces of equipment and invariably they will continue to increase in size.

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.
- Scoob

Not really; don't you remember watching the recent Olympic Tournament in Sochi? The big ice did nothing to increase scoring, in fact it made it easier on the defense to just keep the puck carrier wide and in the corners. There were many games where the weaker side played defense all day and kept the scores low. There was less scoring in the 2014 games that the 2010 games by a mile if I remember correctly.

I do remember hearing and reading a million complaints about the big ice in the 2014 Games, and the world championships this year are not filled with 5-4 games either.

Cutting back goalie equipment seems irrelevant. Price set the gold standard this season for goaltenders and he takes up a lot less space than Bishop or Rinne. Long gone are the days of Garth Snow and his winged shoulder pads.

Helmets are incredibly thin due to better quality materials.

We cannot place a max size on chest protector width because some guys are bigger or have bigger arms. Thickness compromises safety and doesn't impact coverage area.

Leg pads have already been reduced and we didn't see any change. At some point we cannot reduce them due to varying leg sizes of the guys wearing them.

We might be able to reduce the blocker but again, hand sizes vary. I'm sure Ben Bishop has monster paws.

Gloves are similar to blockers. We might be able to trim the webbing slightly but anyone who has worn a glove and faced an NHL shot will tell you...it hurts already.

All of this might net what? Maybe a 1% increase in shooting pct? So maybe we see an extra goal for every 2 games played?

Get rid of the clutch and grab nonsense and call the rules we already have. More quality chances equal not just more goals but a better product on the ice.
- Maskdman3

Goalie equipment can be regulated based on the size of each goaltender. The smallest NHL goalie is within 10 inches of the biggest. It would not be difficult to give max equipment dimensions based on height.

Just to put things into perspective:

This year, we had 16 goalies with a save % of .920 or higher (who played 30 or more games).

Just ten years ago, there was 8. That was also during the 'dead puck era' which had less power plays, less odd man rushes and less quality scoring chances. That was also before the 4 on 4 OT period which results in quite a few goals.

The shooters have gotten better and more accurate and the shots have been harder with the composite sticks. There are more PPs now and more scoring chances and the goalies are still way better* than they were a decade ago.

Clearly, the lack of scoring issue has more to do with goaltending than any other facet of the game.

There is absolutely no need for goalies to be wearing equipment that size.

*I do not believe they are that much better, talent wise. They are just a hellova lot bigger.

Look at some of the best goalies in NHL history. Look at Patrick Roy as a perfect example. Look at his equipment when he started and when he finished his career.

I don't mind that idea in theory, but all I can think is that even less penalties will be called. If the consequence is high, the refs will not call much as to "not affect the outcome of a game"

Look at spearing. By the rule it's a double minor even if there is no contact, and a minor if there is contact. When was the last time that you saw a spearing penalty? You see jabs and spears occasionally, and they are either ignored, or called a slash and given 2 minutes. Refs take the easy way out.

Same with third man in being an automatic game misconduct... Instigator is not far behind.

While players do things worthy of those penalties often enough, calling those infractions went out with the Indians, because refs don't want to "decide games."
- rival22

I would even consider taking the serving the full 2 minutes a step further, and eliminate letting the team on the PK ice the puck without repercussion. Ive seen that idea thrown around before, and it makes sense. Why does a team that is being penalized get to ice the puck without a faceoff coming back into their zone? Its like sending your kid to their room with an xbox and a TV.

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.
- 87_71_11_29

You haven't been watching the NBA playoffs this year either, you think the Cleveland-Chicago or Golden State-Memphis series is up-and-down the court basketball?

Not even wasting my breath on this topic because even if they acknowledge it, nothing will change for the better with Bettman as the commish.

I saw an article out on the interwebs about the Jets maybe shopping Ladd due to his contract being close to up. What do you guys think? Any package we could entice WPG with?

Not even wasting my breath on this topic because even if they acknowledge it, nothing will change for the better with Bettman as the commish.

I saw an article out on the interwebs about the Jets maybe shopping Ladd due to his contract being close to up. What do you guys think? Any package we could entice WPG with?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Doubt it, he'll cost a ton for acquisition. WPG is pretty set with young dmen/prospects too so I'm not sure Pittsburgh could even make a competitive offer.

Again, guess it depends on the games you are watching.

Habs/T-Bay series has had a load of scoring chances (even in the 2-1 games) and 2 blow-outs.

Scoring chances, not more goals, make the games exciting to me - a 2-1 games can be just as, if not more, exciting than a 5-4 game.

The NHL should be focused on creating an environment that generates more scoring chances, not necessarily goals, because 5-4 game full of hooking and traps is still a boring (and likely a result of bad goaltending).
- Mashadar

I agree completely about scoring chances and that's all I've suggested they change, a 1-0 game that is wide open with tons of scoring chances from both teams and great goaltending is going to be far more exicting than a 5-4 game where the play is grind it out, dump and fight through interference, throw pucks at the net and hope that something deflects in. While there have been some exciting 2-1 games this year, they are few and far between and there are far more of the later.

Not even wasting my breath on this topic because even if they acknowledge it, nothing will change for the better with Bettman as the commish.

I saw an article out on the interwebs about the Jets maybe shopping Ladd due to his contract being close to up. What do you guys think? Any package we could entice WPG with?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

What would Ladd add to the roster?

Why was Sid rested at the WCH?

Why was Sid rested at the WCH?
- brienstel

I was wondering that myself. With this team's luck, it was a due to a concussion sustained from slipping in the shower.

Why not just have the penalty killers have to play with one arm tied behind their backs? Seems like quite the simple fix to getting more goals. Or just tell the goalies they can't wear masks again which will in turn will ultimately allow more goals because most of the goalies will be injured and no names will be in net.

Why was Sid rested at the WCH?
- brienstel

They already clinched their division.

Not even wasting my breath on this topic because even if they acknowledge it, nothing will change for the better with Bettman as the commish.

I saw an article out on the interwebs about the Jets maybe shopping Ladd due to his contract being close to up. What do you guys think? Any package we could entice WPG with?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I read that too. I like Ladd and would fit well here, but I cant see anythign the Pens have that they would want. Maybe G prospect Jarry? But Sutters contract expires the same time as Ladd's so I dont see that as a fit at all.

Personally I think we should just put the holes in the ice, and the crazy creatures in the holes from Mutant League Hockey on Sega Genesis. Maybe turn the Zamboni's in to the giant slugs to zam the ice too. That would be entertaining.

-Actually call penalties
-Decrease G pad size
-severe punishment for dangerous hits
-eliminate the pt for an OT loss
-bigger nets/olympic rink size
- sammy87

This. This first 3 are really easy to achieve.

Why was Sid rested at the WCH?
- brienstel

It was a clear message from the coaching staff to stop being so good at playing hockey.

What would Ladd add to the roster?
- Streit2ThePoint

A top-six left wing who can help to improve the leadership in the locker room?

Personally I think we should just put the holes in the ice, and the crazy creatures in the holes from Mutant League Hockey on Sega Genesis. Maybe turn the Zamboni's in to the giant slugs to zam the ice too. That would be entertaining.
- j.boyd919

One surefire way to increase scoring is to hit the goalie with a chainsaw and then have a teammate shoot it while he's writhing in pain on the ice.

Everyone likes a good shoot out. Just have each player get 3 shoot out attempts as the game. Scores can be 60-56!

Everyone likes a good shoot out. Just have each player get 3 shoot out attempts as the game. Scores can be 60-56!
- jchst22

I'd prefer games ended in a tie than a SO. Not a fan of the loser point either.

Everyone likes a good shoot out. Just have each player get 3 shoot out attempts as the game. Scores can be 60-56!
- jchst22

If the shoot out ended in a tie, would the teams have to play 5v5 to decide a winner?

If the shoot out ended in a tie, would the teams have to play 5v5 to decide a winner?
- jmatchett383

I think the two head coaches should thumb wrestle for the W. Or maybe RPS.

No thanks. Basketball and all it's illegal defence rules puts too much power in the refs hands.

Hockey already has enough subjectivity in it, we don't need more. If they tried to institute it, they would need off-ice officials to enforce it cause we all know that the refs have a hard enough time calling the rules as they are, right now.
- Charliebox

There hasn't been illegal defense in basketball for 20 years. No much up on the times are you?