As we head into the 2017-18 season there are always some things about the sport that we'd like to improve. Emily Kaplan of ESPN used her access to ask some of the better known NHL players about what they wanted to see change in the NHL.
I asked 29 NHL players to play commissioner. Suggest a rule change to make the league better. Here's what they said: https://t.co/jKPqWNHZxk
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) September 13, 2017
Here are some of the ideas that I thought were good.
Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Calgary Flames: I would make the three-on-three in overtime go until someone scores, instead of doing a shootout. It's more fun for the fans. The shootout is interesting, but I think [a game] shouldn't be decided by [a shootout]. Play the three-on-three out -- sometimes it ends in 10 or 15 seconds, sometimes it goes the whole five minutes, which I like to see.
I don't mind the shootout as much as most people, but I don't think it would take much longer than 5 minutes on average for somebody to score in a 3 on 3 setting. It's so much fun. Fans love it. That's why you won't get it.
Taylor Hall, LW, New Jersey Devils: No three-point games anymore. I think it would make it more exciting. You look at the standings and you're like, 'Oh, so-and-so is .500.' But they're really not. They're 13-13-6, but they're really 13-19. I think it would make a big difference.
The 3-2-1 standings system punches you in the face with logic. The NHL loves punching, but their hatred of logic is greater. Every game should count for the same number of standings points! That should be rule number one when you create a system. Three points for a regulation win. Two points for an OT/shootout win with the loser point remaining. It isn't hard. Fake parity sucks.
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis Blues: Make icing the European way, so people don't need to chase the puck. It's just boring. As a player. I don't really know, can I beat a guy or not after a couple steps, you know? If I am far away behind him, and I still can beat him, I will try. But then if you don't try and I already know I will not get a puck. If you don't do this, people on the TV will think you are lazy. For no reason, you know.
Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Philadelphia Flyers: You know how you have the long change one time? I'd make it twice. Have a long change twice. Makes it harder, you get pinned in the zone longer. More scoring.
Seems simple enough. Why not?
And here's one that I'm not totally on board with, but I respect thinking outside of the box
Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres: No offside. Just hang down at the other end and wait for the puck to come there.
All of these are interesting ideas, but the only one the league needs to do to make the product great again is to call penalties. That's it. The answer is too easy, but this is the NHL after all.
Thanks for reading!