I doubt it will either... but I think we're closer than some would think already. So far the average GF this year is 3.31 (last year was 3.14). The 80s ranged from 3.67-4.01... I could see 3.5 quite easily. Which was late 70s hockey and very early 90s. As the 3.31 sits now, it would be the highest average since 92-93. 92-93 was also above 5 PPO per game too... where were are 3.7 right now. If that ticks to the mid 4s, it might be pretty certain that we return to 3.5-3.6 GF.The scoring will never get back to the 80s-highs. Go look at the goals that goalies let in back in those days. There's literally a video out there of Mike Vernon (yes, THAT Mike Vernon) inching his way across the ice sideways like he had just put skates on for the first time in his life. It's not that he couldn't skate, it's the way goalie mechanics were taught back then, they were drawing from the same handbook that hadn't changed for, like, 50 years. I don't believe goalie coaches were even a thing until Francois Allaire revolutionized the way the position is taught and played later on. Even with the equipment changes, goaltending will never regress to...that.
Someone on Twitter posted a challenge--show me one goal Gretzky scored that I wouldn't be mad at my beer league goalie for letting in.
Another illustration... in 16-17 the average GF was 2.77... at today's 3.31, we are already a half goal more per game in ~6 years. Another couple tenths isn't unreasonable in the next 3-4 years.
