How to improve hockey

[talloola]

On the excitement scale that Flames-Canucks game ranked just above paint drying. Except paint has more emotion. I switched to boxing, it wasn't much better.

It just seems you are ready for a change, and it has nothing to do with our hockey at all, as there
were about 18 thousand people in that rink tonight coming out of their seats with excitement, and
we were on our couch doing the same.

let's see how about "rodeo" or "toad racing" , or, if you watch the u.s. channels enough they will
race anything.

 

[Kreskin]

It just seems you are ready for a change, and it has nothing to do with our hockey at all, as there
were about 18 thousand people in that rink tonight coming out of their seats with excitement, and
we were on our couch doing the same.

let's see how about "rodeo" or "toad racing" , or, if you watch the u.s. channels enough they will
race anything.

I'm not excited by the ice capades version of the NHL.

 

[talloola]

I'm not excited by the ice capades version of the NHL.

I didn't notice any "thongs" or "tootoos" and the closest thing I saw to a double axle was in
Pittsburgs game the other night when Crosby made a neat move with the puck to avoid
being checked. What a wonderful player, as we did with Gretzky for many years, we will
be able to see his career from start to finish.

Enjoy whatever you decide to enjoy

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Hockey has not been changed to suit American audiences. Fighting has been reduced and so have clutch and grab tactics. Yet the NHL has a shrinking footprint in the US.

If I had one change I could implement, it would forbid goalies from touching the puck behind the net. And smaller pads for them.

 

[DurkaDurka]

If I had one change I could implement, it would forbid goalies from touching the puck behind the net. And smaller pads for them.

The NHL had already addressed the pad issue have they not?

 

[MikeyDB]

You mean writing home to MP's for donations to the Senators...as in writing pads??

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Actually Durka-, the NHL still has to work on this issue of smaller goalie pads. They are still too big. They are used to protect the net, not the goalie. Smaller pads equals more goals and more fan excitement.

Now, despite all the rule changes, the team that scores first wins 70% of the time, and the team that leads in the 3rd period wins 84% of the time. The trap returns with a vengeance.

 

[talloola]

I see the trap from time to time, and it has been there from the day hockey was born.

Teams have to play according to how the game is going, as some teams are more talented
on offence than others, it is only normal to beef your defense then, so you don't get thrashed
on the scoreboard.

I have great respect for a team that knows exactly how to defend as well as play the offence.
I don't really know what people expect when they constantly complain about the "trap", as that
expression is grossly exagerated and over used. Any team can go to that aspect of the game
if they want, if they have a lead in the third period, or are defending against a more powerful
offence.

What would you suggest, just let both teams charge up and down the ice scoring at "will", that
would be very boring for me after the first few goals, as I like to see the strategy of the game
and see how the teams are going to stop goals as well as score them.

 

[L Gilbert]

Actually Durka-, the NHL still has to work on this issue of smaller goalie pads. They are still too big. They are used to protect the net, not the goalie.

............... obviously has never been hit by a puck.
I would have said, the pads are to protect the goalie and help block access to the net.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Hey Gilbert, I would bet you've never been hit by a puck. I've been hit in many places, some very delicate, including my head. I don't really understand how some people cannot separate some issues. A net is not a leg or chest.

Maybe it's a Canadian problem acerbated by blockhead unions. The NHLPA would be in existence if they could see reality, when the owners wanted to shrink goalie pads, the NHLPA said forget it, we are not going to talk about it, our members-the goalies, are not interested. They would not even negotiate a key issue to improve the game. The owners said, "Hey, were the bosses, were going to fix you and the game." So they did.

 

[Kreskin]

Making the net bigger seems more prudent than taking pads away. Dave Nonis said he thinks they'll widen the net but not raise it. They're concerned that if the crossbar is raised then goalies will take more headshots.

 

[TenPenny]

Maybe it's a Canadian problem acerbated by blockhead unions. The NHLPA would be in existence if they could see reality, when the owners wanted to shrink goalie pads, the NHLPA said forget it, we are not going to talk about it, our members-the goalies, are not interested. They would not even negotiate a key issue to improve the game. The owners said, "Hey, were the bosses, were going to fix you and the game." So they did.

I would venture to say that more members of the NHLPA are non-goalies, and those who score would prefer the pads to be smaller.

As far as thinking that the team bosses are striking examples of brilliance in "how to fix hockey", I have two words for you - Harold. Ballard.