Is it time for the NHL to transition to larger size European rinks?

[rocketdan9]

Plenty of situations where I enjoy watching 4 on 4 hockey more... due to room for more skill plays on the ice

The rink size for the NHL has not changed for a long time. While players have become faster + system designed to clog the neutral zone and in front of the net

Is it time to increase the rink size to European rink size standard?? A few lost seats shouldn't be a big deal. Can make it up by charging a little more for the other seats. Should help with overall fan experience with the bigger ice.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Hasn't it been shown that bigger ice doesn't increase goals or scoring chances. If anything it might lead to more cyclling.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Itll slow the game down

 

[GAGLine]

Are we due for this silly thread again? I didn't realize it's been a year already.

The league with the bigger ice have been going smaller. NHL owners would never approve bigger ice because it means less seats.

Can we close this now?

 

[ESH]

Bigger ice would mean less scoring, which would just end up with more people complaining again

 

[Rapsfan]

Why not make the nets like 6 inches bigger and wider? That will increase the scoring chances a lot more.

 

[golffuul]

Not going to happen since the IIHF has just started getting the rest of the world to shrink their ice surfaces.

 

[Shinjuku Calling]

No. Delete this.

 

[rocketdan9]

Not going to happen since the IIHF has just started getting the rest of the world to shrink their ice surfaces.

really? So European ice is going to become closer to NA rink size?

 

[MettleMcOiler]

Why doesn't european sized rinks switch to smaller NHL rinks which currently is where the best players on the planet are playing?

 

[Recipe Unlimited]

Is the OP Mitch Marner?

 

[rocketdan9]

No. Delete this.

relax...just a discussion

 

[rocketdan9]

Why not make the nets like 6 inches bigger and wider? That will increase the scoring chances a lot more.

because goalie union will complain

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

no, bigger rink = worse/more boring hockey

it pushes all the action even further away from the high scoring areas and makes it even slower and closer to the pace of soccer.

 

[koyvoo]

Hasn't it been shown that bigger ice doesn't increase goals or scoring chances. If anything it might lead to more cyclling.

Yup. Everything is farther away from prime scoring chance areas.

 

[rocketdan9]

no, bigger rink = worse/more boring hockey

it pushes all the action even further away from the high scoring areas and makes it even slower and closer to the pace of soccer.

then explain 4 on 4 hockey with current ice....why is it better in many ways??

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Playoffs is still going on

This seems like a vintage offseason type thread

 

[golffuul]

really? So European ice is going to become closer to NA rink size?

Yes
IIHF - New Rule Book for global game

 

[rocketdan9]

Yes
IIHF - New Rule Book for global game

so for Olympics...but not in European leagues

 

[Zenos]

Why doesn't european sized rinks switch to smaller NHL rinks which currently is where the best players on the planet are playing?

Many rinks in Finland and Russia are already somewhere closer to nhl standard than the bigger 200x100ft rinks.
And the IIHF has already suggested moving to the smaller rink for future world championships and the Olympic Games.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

then explain 4 on 4 hockey with current ice....why is it better in many ways??

because its not the norm so coaches dont waste time coming up with strategy for it.

Look at 3 on 3 OT if you want to see what Euro ice will be like. It took coaching a year to strangle all the fun out of it. It is just teams alternating playing keep-a-way while the other team stands still waiting for them to try to enter the zone

 

[rocketdan9]

Playoffs is still going on

This seems like a vintage offseason type thread

It relates to the playoffs in a way

you know why they went with 3 vs 3 for OT in the regular season??

less congestion and more scoring opportunity

 

[rocketdan9]

because its not the norm so coaches dont waste time coming up with strategy for it.

Look at 3 on 3 OT if you want to see what Euro ice will be like. It took coaching a year to strangle all the fun out of it. It is just teams alternating playing keep-a-way while the other team stands still waiting for them to try to enter the zone

I disagree...you can strategize all you want. Its going to take more skating regardless

4 on 4 is not boring hockey and seems to produce more chances. Due to less players, less congestion in front of the net and neutral zone

 

[Grifter3511]

then explain 4 on 4 hockey with current ice....why is it better in many ways??

For starters, saying it is 'better' is entirely subjective. There are many people who have expressed their dislike for 4on4 and 3on3.

But to really address the question, I think it lies in the fact that in 4 on 4 there is more open ice, but the actual distances haven't changed. Larger ice surfaces mean when you enter the offensive zone or cut in from the boards, or are breaking out of your own zone, you have that much further to go to reach the net. The further you have to go, the longer it takes, therefore less opportunities to score.

I've never studied this myself, but I believe that is the rationale.

 

[rocketdan9]

Many rinks in Finland and Russia are already somewhere closer to nhl standard than the bigger 200x100ft rinks.
And the IIHF has already suggested moving to the smaller rink for future world championships and the Olympic Games.

I would welcome for the NHL to adopt the somewhere in between Finland and Russian rinks then

it would make a difference also