Modern Hockey Should be 4 on 4

[Dr Jan Itor]

If it was possible (it's not), I'd actually like to see it for a year, but reserve the right to switch back like it never happened if it sucks. I'm not sure that it would suck.

 

[Cup or Bust]

I am 100% confident that 4 on 4 hockey for 60 minutes a game and a full season would be awful. It would be non-physical, emotionless, overly offensive, and a lousy game in general. People have to recognize that novelties are fun in the short term but not necessarily exciting over time. I have read about 1000 times on here how playing the same teams more often would create more rivalries and shorter seasons would make things more exciting and increase intensity, and would just be the most exciting season ever. Well we had a season recently that had those things to the max. A short season and they played the same teams over and over and over again. I consider it the most boring NHL season I have ever witnessed in my life. It was extremely boring watching the same teams play each other over and over again, the games actually started becoming more emotionless against the same teams and the shortened season did not make each game feel any more important or interesting.

That is not to say that nothing should ever change but we love the game not just for offense, or defense, or physicality, or the structure of the game, it's the whole package of the game that makes it great. You start eliminating parts of the game and it's no longer the same game any more.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

hell no, i think it should be 2 on 2.

Just 1 goalie on both sides… no puck… fight till death

That’s the hockey I dream of

 

[islesmb]

Players are bigger and faster than they used to be. They should go to Olympic sized rinks instead of 4 on 4 but that will never happen as owner's won't give up the revenue from removing seats.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

The only changes I want are

#1 if you allow a short handed goal the PP is automatically killed, I've always wanted this I feel like you should literally NEVER allow a short handed goal because It's exactly that a short handed goal you have as much as a 2 man advantage how are you getting scored on?

#2 10 minutes of 3 on 3, another one I've wanted for a long time.

You want to eliminate shootouts? Go 3 on 3 for 10 minutes You'll almost never get them.

It will never happen because the NHLPA would never allow it.

But it should happen

 

[Golden_Jet]

No interest in that

 

[banks]

Just so much more electric and exciting. You want viewers, that will bring them in.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Players are bigger and faster than they used to be. They should go to Olympic sized rinks instead of 4 on 4 but that will never happen as owner's won't give up the revenue from removing seats.

That’s worse hockey

 

[Cup or Bust]

That’s worse hockey

I agree. Bigger rinks actually slow down the game because it gives players more time to react and get into position defensively. You have to think and react faster on a smaller rink because the transition game is so much faster. I am also not sure why this is even an issue, offense does not seem to be a problem in today's NHL. I don't understand what is trying to be fixed.

 

[Soundwave]

I do think it would be more entertaining at least to more casual fans.

The 4 on 4 Canada/Sweden segment was a ton of fun and instantly more electric than the 5 on 5 part of the game.

The NHL won't do it, but I wouldn't mind seeing the concept tried elsewhere.

 

[kerrabria]

Some of us actually like defensive play.

How?
I get football, some people love to watch an offense get stuffed three times in a row.
I get basketball, some people love to watch a fluid, mechanic defense as the opponent's shot clock ticks down.
I get baseball, some people love to watch a pitcher dominate a lineup.

I don't understand the appeal of watching defensive soccer and hockey though. It's just about obstructing in-game events forcing low-possession time, so nothing actually happens.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I think it’s worth experimenting with. Anything to annoy the elitist dorks on HF.

 

[AnomX]

while we're at it, we should leave it up to teams what position you ice.

Why not play 3 goalies in net?

 

[Bond]

3v3 OT was interesting for about 10 games. I think 4v4 would be about the same. Eventually it would turn into a bigger game of keep away.

 

[TOGuy14]

It should not be 4v4 but I would be open to expanding rink size 2-3 feet around all sides, or at bare minimum going to international ice standards.

Players are so big and fast these days a bit of extra space would make the game more dynamic

 

[Golden_Jet]

I do think it would be more entertaining at least to more casual fans.

The 4 on 4 Canada/Sweden segment was a ton of fun and instantly more electric than the 5 on 5 part of the game.

The NHL won't do it, but I wouldn't mind seeing the concept tried elsewhere.

It wasn’t 4 on 4 it was 3 on 3.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

3v3 OT was interesting for about 10 games. I think 4v4 would be about the same. Eventually it would turn into a bigger game of keep away.

The only reason 5v5 isn’t a game of keep away is a gentleman’s agreement not to.

In evidence witness the infamous 1-3-1 game in Tampa

 

[one2gamble]

they do need to make the ice slightly bigger though....just a smidge