Rules You'd Change

[shankm]

At the GM meetings this week, several rule changes are being discussed. What would you change?

I support hybrid icing, the elimination of the trapezoid, but do not support bringing back the red line. They're also talking about outlawing defensive zone hand passes. I would also support this. Hand passes take away from the game. What do you think?

[Tim]

I'm not really sure what to call this but I would like to see the rules change so that the refs give favor to the player more often than the goalie when calling goalie interference. It's absolutely ridiculous. A defensemen can push a forward into the goalie and the forward will get a call. Or a goalie will come out of the crease, initiate contact, then do some acting, yet the forward gets the call. When it comes to players around the crease there is no player given more unfair calls than Tomas Holmstrom.

[DaLeafers]

When it comes to players around the crease there is no player given more unfair calls than Tomas Holmstrom.

I think he's built a fairly good case against himself for a few years =)
Although for the last few years when he's been the only one in the spotlight, he has cleaned up his ways of screening the goalie -- and I've definitely seen more than 1 phantom call against him (playoffs a few years ago vs. PHX I think he got 2 BS goalie int. penalties in 1 game ...)

[Cowtown]

If they put that freaking red line back in the way it was, I'm gonna boycott the NHL altogether. There is NO direct correlation between the recent spate of concussions and the removal of the red line for passing. None. That's just a bunch of antediluvian crank coaches who seem to think fans buy tickets to watch them play chess rather than see hockey players play hockey.

[DaLeafers]

If they put that freaking red line back in the way it was, I'm gonna boycott the NHL altogether. There is NO direct correlation between the recent spate of concussions and the removal of the red line for passing. None. That's just a bunch of antediluvian crank coaches who seem to think fans buy tickets to watch them play chess rather than see hockey players play hockey.

well its removal has undeniably sped up the game

[Cowtown]

well its removal has undeniably sped up the game

I'd suggest that the size and strength of the players and the speed at which they play exceeded the size of the ice surface long before the red line was ditched. And therein lies the problem. But ice size is not likely to expand because it would remove about 2-3 rows of very expensive seats.

I'm tired of seeing the guys wearing the stripes so often in the way. They're the best defensive players out there - well, they break up more plays than anyone else, anyway. Consider that as play grew faster and exceeded the ice size, the NHL only made it more crowded by putting another referee out there. A larger ice surface would address that as well, however as I said above ...

[DaLeafers]

Well, when you're comparing them to the days when as long as you could skate a lap and do 30 push-ups was an "ok, you're in shape for training camp" and beers + pack of smokes after the game was the usual routine, ya, the size + strength of players is certainly a lot bigger. But also the fact they now better understand the little specifics of working out the body and getting in proper shape and doing exercises that target certain muscle groups and working some muscles for sheer strength, other for explosive speed.

Before the lockout when you could just hook and grab people, it made hitting a lot less useful/important. Why lean over and attempt to hit a guy when you could just skate with him and latch on?
I don't notice the refs getting in the way all that much. They do a hell of a job avoiding the play and you really can only do so much.

I'd rather have more refs 'under-worked' than less refs 'over-worked'.

[BZoods]

I'd like to see a wider blue line for the sole purpose of limiting the frequency of Offsides.

[Oil_Fan]

Same rules I wanted changed last year.

Get rid of the trapezoid. That one probably worked for the first year after the lockout but why penalize goalies who can stick handle? It's now useless.

Get rid of the instigator rule. How do you protect your skilled players?? Make it known there is price to pay for taking liberties with them.

Go to no touch or a hybrid icing rule. After seeing Taylor Fedun (Oilers prospect) go crashing into the boards in preseason and breaking his femur...yeah that one hurt.

[Cowtown]

Go to no touch or a hybrid icing rule. After seeing Taylor Fedun (Oilers prospect) go crashing into the boards in preseason and breaking his femur...yeah that one hurt.

I'm all for that.