subucni

click on one of our sponsors! OR REMOVE ADS

Now that the NHL season is over, and the cup has been won, it's time to focus on what the league has to do to make next season, if it exists, better. My opinions are as follows, ranked from most to least important:

#1 - Remove the 2 line pass rule, or get rid of the center red line (these would both have the same effect). Doing this would open the ice more for the skilled players to showcase their skills and play like they should be able to. Obstruction will be reduced, the game will be faster, and teams like New Jersey will no longer be able to run such a stiffling trap. I love it in college/international hockey when a team gets caught in a line change and a goalie or skater will send a pass 3/4 of the way down the ice straight to a teammate's stick leading to a breakaway. End result, the game is faster, more exciting, and we will see an increase in scoring.

#2 - REALLY cut down on obstruction, hooking, and holding. Let the great players, ie Peter Forsberg, play at the level they are able. The big reason he may finish his carreer in Sweden is because the game is different there, with players relying on actual skills rather than a tough hook to stop opponants. End result, the ice opens up, leading to more exciting play and more scoring.

#3 - Reduce the size of the goalie's equipment (I think they are already doing this). The butterfly style of goaltending which was introduced and perfected by Patrick Roy has changed the NHL more than any other innovation. While curved blades and composite sticks have made passes and shots much harder and more accurate, goalies still have the upper hand. The butterfly style and large pads are the reasons why scoring has gone down so drastically in the past years. You never see a goaltender playing a stand-up style nowadays. Decreasing pad size will help even the playing field. End result, more scoring and it will me much harder for a single player to have such an incredible effect on the game (like JS Guigare last year, or Khabibulin and Kiprusoff this year).

#4 - Reduce the number of teams - I know it won't happen this year, but this is necessary. Increasing the league to its current capacity of 30 teams was a mistake. Placing teams in hockey-ignorant areas of the country such as Atlanta, Florida, Ohio, and Carolina was a mistake. While a few of these teams have been competitive (the Lightning won the cup and the Hurricanes made it to the finals one year), the main thing that has happened since the expansion is a decrease in the overall level of play. By removing 2 or more teams, the league will become more competitive as the better players from those teams will find new homes. End result, teams won't be eliminated from the playoffs in the second week of the season, like the Penguins, and an increased level of play will lead to more attendace which = more money.

#5 - More Advertising - As much as it would pain me to see the pure sport of hockey "sell out" like the other major sports have, this may be the only thing that will help get more people to watch the game. End result, more attendance = more money for teams and the league.

#6 - Get college hockey more coverage. I love college hockey. I love college sports in general. These sports are pure, for the most part. Players play to win instead of for multi-million dollar contracts. Colorado College (which is in my city) is year in and year out a contender. In the late 90's they won 3 WCHA championships in a row and made the NCAA finals once, losing to Michigan. Right now, the only time i see college hockey on national TV is the Frozen Four. Luckily hockey is big enough in Colorado that I got the WCHA playoffs and many regular season Denver or CC games broadcast on our regional Fox Sports channel. If people saw more hockey on TV, it could only help get more people to watch the NHL. End result, more viewers = more advertising = more money.

Finally, #7 - Make Mario Retire and/or sell the Penguins. Put that team which was once competitive into the hands of someone who really knows how to run it. You went out with style and aplomb before, and your comback, despite your higher scoring than expected, has been rittled with injuries and uncertainty. You're doing your team, and maybe your own health, more harm than good right now.