How would you “fix” the NHL

[Nighthock]

Stop blacking out the God damn games

 

[Jugitsu]

Did you read his post? He was not talking about getting rid of the Cap. He spoke about only allowing teams to go over the cap to re-sign drafted and developed players. Teams would not be able to go over the cap to sign free agents or on trades for other players. This would reward teams for a good draft and develop program instead of punishing them for be TOO successful by forcing them to trade away good players they drafted developed to stay under the cap.

Wrong post buddy. The person I quoted never said anything like that.

 

[Oddbob]

It doesn't need to be "fixed". Could it be better, of course, but it isn't full out broken. It would be nice if they could find a way to open the game up more as far as offensive chances are concerned. A game doesn't need a lot of goals, but it does need a lot of offence to be a really good game. Problem is, is that coaches always find some way to crash the offensive party.

 

[jonlin]

Start taking out the grabbing, hooking and interfierence better. Like 95% of theese dont get called and it slows down the game. Let hitting etc be as is, but start using the whistles against the grabbing and interfierence along the boards and whistle every stick slowing down players

 

[PapiMatthews]

Make goalies wear their actual size equipment, not 5XL so they cover the entire net

Remove the salary cap since teams are just abusing it anyways

This entire post has subtle B2B Stanley Cup Champs* vibes ammirite?

 

[libertarian]

Wrong post buddy. The person I quoted never said anything like that.

You are right, I'm sorry I did mistake your response for another post. This is all on me. Sorry.

 

[Jugitsu]

You are right, I'm sorry I did mistake your response for another post. This is all on me. Sorry.

No worries. By the way, I agree with you. I read the post you were referring to and I very much liked the idea on that.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

Raise the salery cap and replace Bettman/Daily.

 

[yada]

Let Eichle have his surgery

Must be the sabers new star player

 

[Bruhin]

Hit up Evander on his money phone.

 

[DanyHeatley]

Take out offsides

 

[Devonator]

We may have to resort to some draconian solutions.....either expand the ice like the Europeans so it gives the more talented players space to roam....or reduce from 5 to 4 players with our regular ice....we need more space....also massively reduce the goal tending equipment...it is sickening to see how large everything is....make them like it was in the 70s and 80s......and fix the reffing...at least make them consistent within a game....of all the major sports, I cannot imagine any other league being worse in the officiating department.....

 

[Butch 19]

Raise the salery cap and replace Bettman/Daily.

a well thought out response...

 

[DonM]

-Wall off most of the awful ideas in this thread so they are not allowed to spread. Nuke the walled off area.

-I liked the idea of removing all screens from within the benches. With this I would obviously include any communications with other areas where teams may have access to video review. Penalties for violating this would be draconian.

-Eliminate all coaches challenges entirely.

-If ever scoring becomes an issue again (and it isn't right now to be sure) I would look at making goaltending equipment heavier rather than simply smaller. This would have the benefit of being more protective while possibly enabling smaller goalies to actually compete again.

Those are the big ones that come to mind. Forcibly silencing everyone whining about LTIR, the cap and referees would be nice, but those are more improvements to the fans.

 

[HisIceness]

The officiating is awful. Let's just start there and see if improvements can occur in that department.

I constantly see complaints about the league not marketing players and/or holding back their personalities. I get that, but Hockey players in general don't have personalities, and you damn sure can't force someone to have a personality, they either have one or they don't. Can you imagine McDavid starring in a Dunkin Donuts commercial? It'd be boring like him.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Biggest thing for me would be to reduce goalie equipment to what is necessary for safety. That means bye bye to the ridiculous shoulder heights, and the risers and cheaters for the butterfly. If you want to be in the butterfly all the time you'll have to cover the five hole and the top shelf with actual saves. Goalies would still let in less than the past just because they are so big now, but it would help make them demonstrate their reactive skills rather than setting up and letting things hit them.

The traditionalist in me thinks they should mandate wooden sticks ala baseball so that we'd see more separation between the players shots as well.. right now the stick does way too much of the work for a lot of players.

 

[Hall of Faber]

Change too at least 2 long change periods instead of 1.

 

[mondo3]

To encourage fan interactions, the NHL should publish a list of every GM’s email so that the fans can email them with their suggested trade ideas.

 

[sting101]

* Reduction in goalie equipment (especially the thigh rise)
* All goals are automatically reviewed for offsides or GK interference (no need for challenges)
* Improve the officiating standards (less ticky tack stick calls that are not scoring chances or do not result in a change in possession)
* Review games for diving and embellishment. Fines and suspensions for repeat offenders (would really help refs make the correct calls and just get rid of the bs)
* Allow teams to have a compliance buyout every other season for underperforming players
* No leaving feet for skaters to block passes or shots inside the crease area

 

[Voight]

Market the generational talent in McDavid, given hes on track to be the 5th best player ever.

Get rid of Bettman and hire a long time hockey person for the role. Someone like Shanahan would be ideal given hes been on the playing and executive side while also working at the league office. Or a seasoned, well respected executive like Burke. (my top picks would be Lou Lams or Poile but they were too old and wouldn't be around very long).

Start exploring hockey opportunities in places like Houston. Face it, Phoenix isn't working and its time to stop bankrolling them. Also have a look at other teams that are struggling financially and see if its really viable to keep them in their current city.

Let the team go over cap to sign a star player or do a franchise tag system. Elite players dont move around often, but it would give teams a better chance at keeping them. Unlikely though, since you're tied to a team for 9 years after you start playing usually.

 

[Lions67]

I've always thought that the game has become way too congested to the point where there is no room to work with on the ice, and the game turns into a contest of who can deflect their shots the best from the point. The players are too big, the equipment is too large, the nets are too small, and the rink is too small. It's hard to watch at times.

I'd say make it 4v4 (not counting the goalie):

• 1 center
• 1 winger (central winger, can play either side of the ice)
• 2 defensemen

Widen the rinks to IIHF size AND increase net size.

That way, this helps the more skilled players dominate and showcase why they are who they are, and you will take out a significant amount of "luck" attached to the sport. It will shift more towards skill/talent vs. variance/parity. The best teams will usually win in this case.

God no!!!
That is a horrible idea.

 

[Lions67]

We may have to resort to some draconian solutions.....either expand the ice like the Europeans so it gives the more talented players space to roam....or reduce from 5 to 4 players with our regular ice....we need more space....also massively reduce the goal tending equipment...it is sickening to see how large everything is....make them like it was in the 70s and 80s......and fix the reffing...at least make them consistent within a game....of all the major sports, I cannot imagine any other league being worse in the officiating department.....

take away one of the refs. That frees up space. Never understood why they chose to add another ref in the first place. More often than not they screw up the calls anyway.

 

[summer tooth]

There's already a lot of discussion about certain players and refs fixing games. I'd rather the game be fully legitimate.

 

[Eggtimer]

I want the option to watch a R rated version of games on tv.
Players fully mic’d up and play by play and colour guys call it like it is without any censorship and brutal honesty.
“What the F##$$ was that call? I know that player X is a p#@ssy but that call was a pile of Sh@t”
“Ya Jim that’s was F’ng garbage. Player X needs to nutt up or I can see someone grabbing him and beating the F’ing wheels off of him for pulling that sh@#t”

For real though , something similar to or in between a compliance buyout and gairenteed salary like football has. A way to not have a bunch of deadweight in teams where a player not performing can’t just ride out the next year(s) of a contract sucking all over the ice. Sorry for using a particular player for an example but what fun is it to watch James Neal play just because he can’t be “fired” . I’d rerher watch a player that is better deserving and skilled

 

[Devonator]

take away one of the refs. That frees up space. Never understood why they chose to add another ref in the first place. More often than not they screw up the calls anyway.

I have often wondered if it would be better to have a ref or two in the Stands....that would give them a better view of the game....