OT: Around the NHL: The Countdown to Camp

[Asuna]

Like I said, stats lie often, but one that stands out is the one more PP per team per game in the highest scoring era ever as opposed to this one, of the lowest.

But the other major cause of the GAA plummeting, that you can do something about easily, is shot blocking becoming such a huge deal now. Just like the NBA years ago made a 3 second violation rule to keep teams from just sitting players under the basket, make it illegal to go to one knee, dive to the ice, any distinct motion other than standing up to block a shot is a penalty. That also will help with player safety, something all sports care deeply about since the huge NFL concussion settlement.

You can not do a thing about more talented goalies today.

You are not going to make rinkes bigger costing billions of dollars and removing paying seats.

You are not going to make nets the size of soccer nets.

The above changes are much more practical and easy to implement and would have a big impact.

I've heard that suggestion before, and it just reminds me of removing shifts from baseball. It just takes away the integrity of the game....restricting what you can do on the ice..just doesn't seem like the way to go.

 

[plaidchuck]

I've heard that suggestion before, and it just reminds me of removing shifts from baseball. It just takes away the integrity of the game....restricting what you can do on the ice..just doesn't seem like the way to go.

They want to get rid of shifts? Good lord. Is there any league commissioner out there who doesn't want to ruin their league?

 

[Ogrezilla]

I've heard that suggestion before, and it just reminds me of removing shifts from baseball. It just takes away the integrity of the game....restricting what you can do on the ice..just doesn't seem like the way to go.

That's where I'm at with the shot blocking ideas too.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Shifts aren't going anywhere, Manfred was met with the proper eye-rolling from just about everyone. The fact that there's evidence of shifts from long before he was even born...yeah.

The nets need to be bigger and the penalties need to be called as they're written in the books. The end. Alterations to the rink itself would be too costly. Making shot-blocking illegal...that just doesn't seem kosher to me. Like shifts in baseball, it's been around forever, but has seen a large spike in recent years. It's something you have to react to, not outlaw.


But the reasoning for keeping the nets the same size basically boils down to "it's always been that way"...the players are larger, the equipment is larger, the puck is the same size. Making them even a couple inches bigger would solve a lot of the offensive problems this league is having.

 

[plaidchuck]

Part of me wants to see the goalie trapezoid go away but then i remember maf is our goalie.

 

[Shady Machine]

Shifts aren't going anywhere, Manfred was met with the proper eye-rolling from just about everyone. The fact that there's evidence of shifts from long before he was even born...yeah.

The nets need to be bigger and the penalties need to be called as they're written in the books. The end. Alterations to the rink itself would be too costly. Making shot-blocking illegal...that just doesn't seem kosher to me. Like shifts in baseball, it's been around forever, but has seen a large spike in recent years. It's something you have to react to, not outlaw.


But the reasoning for keeping the nets the same size basically boils down to "it's always been that way"...the players are larger, the equipment is larger, the puck is the same size. Making them even a couple inches bigger would solve a lot of the offensive problems this league is having.

How do you react to shot blocking without making it illegal? I'm not saying I am for outlawing it, just not sure what you mean. It seems to me that increasing the size of the net is just as much an "integrity of the game" thing.

In theory, I would be fine with outlawing diving shot blocks. The problem with that though is you'd also have to outlaw blocking passes by going down or diving to poke a puck away. That takes away a lot of the desperation of defense. Making defenders always defend standing upright changes too much to be practical IMO.

There really aren't any obvious options other than calling penalties by the letter of the law. First it will increase PP's, which should increase goal scoring, and then teams will have to adapt to stop taking so many penalties. I think that should correct a fair amount of the issues.

 

[Shady Machine]

Part of me wants to see the goalie trapezoid go away but then i remember maf is our goalie.

Why would you want to see that?

 

[plaidchuck]

Why would you want to see that?

Tired of seeing letang getting plastered in the corners. We don't have a competent puck handler for a goalie though.

 

[Freeptop]

I just want to see the refs actually call the penalties that are already on the books - particularly the holding and interference calls. And I want them to be called regardless of the score, or the the period or the time on the clock.

That alone would account for at least 1-2 more power plays per game.

That's also why I don't see any reason to make new penalties - why would the refs be any more inclined to call the new ones if they already don't call the old ones?

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I just want to see the refs actually call the penalties that are already on the books - particularly the holding and interference calls. And I want them to be called regardless of the score, or the the period or the time on the clock.

That alone would account for at least 1-2 more power plays per game.

That's also why I don't see any reason to make new penalties - why would the refs be any more inclined to call the new ones if they already don't call the old ones?

Pretty much. Start by consistently enforcing the rules that already exist and build on that if it's still not enough.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Pretty much. Start by consistently enforcing the rules that already exist and build on that if it's still not enough.

not only would there be extra powerplays, but the game would also open up as players learned how they had to play without taking penalties.

 

[WayneSid9987]

For me, theres really only 3 things needed to open up scoring.

By order:

1)Really clamping down on the obstruction and in front of the net penalites. You can x-check a player down in front of the net and it's a good hockey play nowadays.

2)Bigger ice surface. Would take a 2-3 yr process to implement but the game will be better off for it imo. Game is too congested with massive bodies being used mainly to take up space for the most part. Larger ice forces the skill to shine through.

3)Bigger nets.

Shot-blocking has always been a part of the game. No need to take that out imo.

 

[BHD]

Advice for future reference: don't use stats from the Pens/Flyers series to support a certain player.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

not only would there be extra powerplays, but the game would also open up as players learned how they had to play without taking penalties.

For sure, everything gets opened up if the players are forced to follow the rules that they should be forced to follow. PPs would increase and ES play would benefit, but the NHL is self destructive. It's also not like they don't have the technology to really do it properly, either.

It's a relatively easy fix and if it doesn't work then you try more extreme measures, but it's a clear first step. Enforcing their own rules... it's a novel concept.

 

[Shady Machine]

I was listening to Bob Grove's "Hot Stove" radio show and Steiggy was on and they were talking about Amanda Kessel. That discussion turned into Steiggy saying "I think the league has slowly, behind closed doors, increased obstruction to slow the play down because of all the concussion scrutiny a few years ago".

I don't think that's a controversial statement, and is one I think I agree with. So that said, the league may have to find a different way to increase scoring other than calling obstruction as it should be called if, in fact, they are intentionally calling things looser in an attempt to slow the game down (I think it's a stupid way to go about limiting concussions).

 

[Speaking Moistly]

If the league was serious about stopping concussions then they'd put the fear of God in the players about it. Staal crosschecking Crosby's head/neck, Orpik getting jumped, Emery wailing on the back of Holtby's head, etc. they'd really punish that **** seriously. If they're letting obstruction back in to do it then they're taking the lazy route and not really addressing the issue.

 

[Shockmaster]

Does anyone else think that besides Carlson, Washington's top 4 defensemen are overrated? Orpik will decline with his age and style of play, and Alzner and Niskanen are empty jerseys.

 

[mpp9]

I was listening to Bob Grove's "Hot Stove" radio show and Steiggy was on and they were talking about Amanda Kessel. That discussion turned into Steiggy saying "I think the league has slowly, behind closed doors, increased obstruction to slow the play down because of all the concussion scrutiny a few years ago".

I don't think that's a controversial statement, and is one I think I agree with. So that said, the league may have to find a different way to increase scoring other than calling obstruction as it should be called if, in fact, they are intentionally calling things looser in an attempt to slow the game down (I think it's a stupid way to go about limiting concussions).

They don't want to be seen as taking hitting out of the game (hits to the head was the issue with concussions), so they go the lazy route and let the refs call the game as they like.

Great league.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Would love to see bigger ice (take out a row of seats all the way around, would probably only give another 4-5' in both directions on the ice but it could make the difference). Alas I don't think it will ever happen because of money / arena issues.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Would love to see bigger ice (take out a row of seats all the way around, would probably only give another 4-5' in both directions on the ice but it could make the difference). Alas I don't think it will ever happen because of money / arena issues.

Bigger ice just slows down the pace of the game.

 

[plaidchuck]

I thought the last Olympics were boring even with the larger rinks.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Bigger ice just slows down the pace of the game.

This. More space in non-dangerous areas away from the net.

I thought the last Olympics were boring even with the larger rinks.

Larger rinks just force defenses to play a more passive system. With the extra space its harder to pressure skilled players, so they just don't do it. Wait them out and force them to take a low percentage shot.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Bigger ice is a fine idea...if you're talking about Finnish ice. The difference isn't worth the absurd cost it would take to retrofit the rinks with, though.

Olympic-sized ice only makes the game even slower and more defensively-oriented. Having more space to the sides just pushes the puck to the sides...you're not getting good scoring chances there.

 

[gordie]

Orpik had wrist surgery today and should be ready for Washington's camp. You have to wonder if the 1 year of luck the Caps have got from him has run out.

 

[Deutschland Dangler]

So Voynov is going to spend his sentence in a "jail" that he pays $100 a day for. I had to read that twice, couldn't believe something like this exists.