What do you think will be the next big 'trend' in the NHL?

[ElGuapo]

Players who can't skate backwards... Heavy reliance on slap shots... Playing without a goalie.

 

[snag]

I thought this....and turns out there is a video for it lol Funny enough it has that dipshit Parros in it.

 

[Seanaconda]

Whatever the cup winner did the last year will always be the new trend.

 

[hangman005]

Whatever the cup winner did the last year will always be the new trend.

Well we let Vegas win this year..... I certainly hope everyone else does it next year.

 

[westc2]

I think players will start carrying the puck on their stick more and more like lacrosse (michigan move), which will lead to the league implementing a new rule that says the puck can't be carried on the stick since it kinda ruins the integrity of the game, especially on penalty shots.

 

[Indrid Cold]

Like I originally said, small, skilled players will be the trend.. Which will eventually usher in the size/physical trend to counter it, yet again.

 

[Rydgar]

Short term contracts being signed by players instead of long-term ones.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

I think vegas will start a trend where GMs no longer have too much loyalty to players who contributed a lot to their franchise. More teams might chse after the next shiny object when with a good deep roster.

 

[barbu]

Fluorescent laces.

 

[lakai17]

I think players will start carrying the puck on their stick more and more like lacrosse (michigan move), which will lead to the league implementing a new rule that says the puck can't be carried on the stick since it kinda ruins the integrity of the game, especially on penalty shots.

Impossible. One whack at the stick and the puck is back on the ice

 

[yzerman]

To chew mouthguards. Oh, wait.

The new thing is to swallow them then spit them out frequently when sitting on the bench.

 

[Conbon]

What the Bruins did with Ullmark - Swayman last year but keep it going in the playoffs. People shit on Minnesota for starting Fleury after Gustavsson's huge 51 save win but knowing that goalies are losing 20+ lbs after games like that it makes sense to put in the backup, especially if that backup is Fleury. I could see teams going even further with it and keeping a waiver excempt competent 3rd string available too.

I also agree that we will probably also see much more aggressive PK units with less of the Trevor Lewises clogging up the zone and more McDavid and Marners as a constant threat that doesn't allow a team to set up on the PP. The Leafs owned the Lightning's PP because of this.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

It's going to become obvious that big goalies break down more often... and that as tempting as it is to ride a hot hand, a 60/40 split in games is going to be necessary in order to keep your goalies healthy.

 

[Roomtemperature]

I also agree that we will probably also see much more aggressive PK units with less of the Trevor Lewises clogging up the zone and more McDavid and Marners as a constant threat that doesn't allow a team to set up on the PP. The Leafs owned the Lightning's PP because of this.

I'm surprised this wasn't more common over the years. You look at who has the most short handed goals and its alot of Lemuiex and Gretzky. As a Devils fan I was surprised it didn't become a thing after the 11-12 when Kovalchuk had a few shorties with the penalty kill being great.

 

[42]

Pronouns printed on the back of jerseys.

 

[Peltz]

I'm not buying these as so-called "trends".

By and large, teams take the team that's given to them. Draft as well as you can, hopefully get some good collection of players and go from there.

Agreed. Unless a team goes full rebuild mode (which is pretty rare), you will see teams that are adjusting on the fly with the best assets they can get at the time during the off-season and TDL. So many long term pieces of teams are not moveable due to no trade clauses that it's sort of difficult to truly chase trends that pop up on a yearly basis.

Maybe having more offensively-skilled defensemen can be seen as a "trend", but these players are just following the money. The defensemen who put up points get bigger contracts than the ones who don't.

And the whole league generally gets more skilled with each new generation of players and technology. So I don't see that as a "trend" necessarily.

 

[Peltz]

The fall of that "energy guy" or that "tough guy". The game is too fast and it's too hard to score most nights so if you can't play you're on your way out. The next trend I see is having all 4 lines that can play just as good as any up and down the lineup. That "energy guy" is becoming obsolete.

I don't think it's possible to have 4 scoring lines. There just isn't enough elite scoring talent out there that can separate itself from other elite NHL caliber players to generate consistent offense.

I don't see "energy guys" as a real thing. To me, it's about possession guys. If your 4th line has the puck , even without scoring, they give the more talented guys and defense time to rest without giving up goals against.

 

[Svechhammer]

The next big trend?

Honestly, I think the NHL is due for a resurgence of the defensive defenseman. Right now, all the buzz is about guys who can drive offensive play from the blue line, often completely overlooking guys who excel at getting the puck away from their own nets.

I feel like the Canes are the poster child for how important that kind of player can be. If they win the Cup this year, and they're primed to do it, that could kick off a push that values those players higher than they are right now (which, IMHO, they are badly undervalued currently).

 

[SaltNPeca]

unironically wearing fishbowls for optimal protection and vision

 

[KnockHobbler]

More teams will start to struggle with attendance and viewership will go down, overall quality of drafts will slowly decrease with time as well, as more people leave the sport

 

[njdevils1982]

coaches asking players to look at their phone photos to see what kind of person they are.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Square pucks.

 

[The GM]

Striptease (see slap shot) replaces shoot outs to determine winner

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

More advertisements. More expansion. Owners trying to find new ways to get a larger share of the pie from players.

 

[authentic]

Pogs

Come to think of it a puck would make a great slammer