Why doesn't the NHL allow teams to dress up to 23 players?

[ijuka]

I think that that would just lead to the teams adding a couple of face-punchers who are only there to play 2-3 minutes and injure star players.

 

[MadLuke]

I wonder where the nhlpa would sit here, does not change thing at first, but maybe it change salary distribution (and they must love their ice-time as well) and it is the player that vote, if those with the most votes and influence, the 20 have more votes than the 3.

There is number for who the bench lenght would be an issue, international hockey ice is bigger, some coach sit the replacement goaltender elsewhere to gain room and could as simple has that.

In intl hockey, one obvious strategy is to have an extra defenceman, a 5 minutes or injury, it is nice to be able to roll 3 pair or at least have the option and I suspect a common decision. 1 or 2 extra (a 7d, 1 goon), easy to see, a third become a lot.