One of the crazy thoughts that I potentially happening is make an Icing on the PK an Icing...

Results could be a few heart attacks, but sure would bring more goals..
- l3ig_l2ecl

Make 4 on 4 permanent, 60 mins of 4 on 4. It would be definitely entertaining.

If you had every NHL team remodel their arena during 1 summer to remove the first few rows of seating and increase the rink size (it doesn't have to be international size), you open up more space for the skilled players and "unskilled" players have less opportunity for shots to be blocked. It will take minimal time, money and effort to remove a row or two of seats and push everything back a couple feet without losing too much in attendance, maybe a couple hundred seats at most. Ticket prices are going to rise anyway.

It will make for more open ice, like what they try to do with the 4v4 OT.

And if you are going to have a shootout, for the love of god, count the goals as a goal and not just the final one as the GWG. No one is going to score 91 goals and break or tie Gretzky's record with a SO goal. A player scores 10 at most per year. Boom, more goal scoring, more points, problem solved.
- DynamicThreads

So you're suggesting that putting more goals in the stats sheet is going to solve the problem of not having enough goals in a hockey game for the smaller markets?

All you're suggesting is we change a stats sheet which only the people who enjoy the game look at.

Here's a great idea to increase scoring STOP TANKING and play to win!!!

Make 4 on 4 permanent, 60 mins of 4 on 4. It would be definitely entertaining.
- A_SteamingLombardi

5on5 first period, 4on4 2nd period, 3on3 3rd period.

For OT, have the goalies drink a fifth of vodka while they give us the BS stats of the 3rd period.

So you're suggesting that putting more goals in the stats sheet is going to solve the problem of not having enough goals in a hockey game for the smaller markets?

All you're suggesting is we change a stats sheet which only the people who enjoy the game look at.
- l3ig_l2ecl

Ek is asking why there aren't more 100 point players. There are a lot of 80 and 90 point players. If you counted shootout goals, there would be a few more 100 point players per season. Scoring would be up, GPG would be up, SV% and GAA down. On paper, yeah but it is a fix for what he is asking.

And now that I think about it, a penalty being served full infraction regardless of goals scored is a great idea to increase scoring, too.

Hybrid icing says no.

A team who commits a penalty is given to ability to ice the puck, since they are 1 man short.

How about make a player serve the entire infraction, regardless of goals scored? That seems like a better idea. And a SHG/PPG will be all the more exciting.
- DynamicThreads

Yes, I get that. I said take away that ability.

And for the "better idea", that's how it was a long time ago. Isn't that known as the Maurice Richard rule or something like that?

Could remove the instigator rule and allow to beat the living poop out of the guy who blocks your top players shot...

Yes, I get that. I said take away that ability.

And for the "better idea", that's how it was a long time ago. Isn't that known as the Maurice Richard rule or something like that?
- l3ig_l2ecl

I dunno about the Richard thing, honestly.

But I think with hybrid icing, a shorthanded team can just ice the puck repeatedly to stay fresh, try to win d-zone face offs and kill the other teams momentum.

I think the salary cap has created parity and the fact that there is a lot less discrepancy between the best an worst teams then there was in the pre-cap era has to be a factor as well.

Eric Godard

Let's have an All-Stars game every weekend and make all the goals count in stats.

I heard Messier say that the big difference is the huge improvement in goalie technique.

Some people blame Lemaire's neutral zone trap for the decline in scoring, also.

So is scoring actually down or is it just spread out amongst more players?

Oh and all the Pittsburgh fans can (frank) off with the whining about interference.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah! You tell em butthurt redwing fan 👍.

We want more interference and obstruction whoo hoo. Make tackling legal.

If you had every NHL team remodel their arena during 1 summer to remove the first few rows of seating and increase the rink size (it doesn't have to be international size), you open up more space for the skilled players and "unskilled" players have less opportunity for shots to be blocked. It will take minimal time, money and effort to remove a row or two of seats and push everything back a couple feet without losing too much in attendance, maybe a couple hundred seats at most. Ticket prices are going to rise anyway.

It will make for more open ice, like what they try to do with the 4v4 OT.

And if you are going to have a shootout, for the love of god, count the goals as a goal and not just the final one as the GWG. No one is going to score 91 goals and break or tie Gretzky's record with a SO goal. A player scores 10 at most per year. Boom, more goal scoring, more points, problem solved.
- DynamicThreads

I agree about the rink size, not Olympic big p, but bigger...and inch either way for the net is cool to.

"It would open up scoring and require skill at the keeper spot."

SERIOUSLY?!

Just a dumb topic. They already took away the goalies pad size thinking it would do the same thing.

No actually Richard Park being a superstar is the most moronic I have heard from Ek.
- Alexzanki

Have you ever even HEARD of glue factor? Get real man, guy's a stud.

If they ever touch the nets, they can only do it proportional to the size of the goalie equipment changes. They would have to calculate how much bigger goalies are today compared to the 1960s and use that ratio. So if the goalies are 5% bigger then they use to be, the net can only be increased by 5% so you don't take a giant poop on all the previous records.

But then you have to take into account players have better skates, better sticks, more flex so it should all be equal anyway.

Or, you don't touch anything and leave it the way it is and just make the goalie equipment smaller. Goalies will cry about safety but they have the technology to make the equipment smaller and just as safe, goalies just want to stop more pucks.

How about none of the above and players/coaches just spend time on offenseive strategies?

You know there was a coach in the 80's that watched Finnish hockey and employed some of those strategies to his team in the NHL....and they broke all kinds of scoring records.

In the last 20 years all we hear aboutis the brilliant defensive minded coaches that changed the game like Lemairre, Hitchcock, etc....where is the next great coach that focuses on scoring goals?

Goaltending has changed not only due to the larger Athletes, but the equipment is the issue. The pads are too wide, the cheater and glove are far too large and the goalies are wearing larger pads on their torso and shoulders. Reduce the size without compromising goaltender safety and we'll have more scoring.
Some advocate larger ice surfaces but Owners will never go with that; they'd give up too many seats.
Clutching and grabbing is almost non-existent compared to the 70s & 80s when scoring was much higher.
So, I don't want to see the size of the nets increased; just the goalie gear reduced to what's needed for their protection, as the equipment now is made not just for protection but also to make it easier to block more of the net.

Just need to make periods 40 minutes long, they'll score twice as many points.

bring back fighters, youll get your high end point men back.

No we need 2 30 minute halves and 1 team has to always lose, no butt ending, no hooking, no grabbing.

"Stop messing with the rules!"

Yeah, but they could potentially make more money by turning it into a better spectator sport and upping the ticket prices to make up for the difference but what do I know. I can't afford to go to a game anyway so it doesn't matter to me.
- DynamicThreads

Better is relative here.

Just need to make periods 40 minutes long, they'll score twice as many points.
- Iamnumber27

I hope this is sarcasm.

I heard Messier say that the big difference is the huge improvement in goalie technique.

Some people blame Lemaire's neutral zone trap for the decline in scoring, also.
- 333inthe3rd

Wouldn't the neutral zone trap prevent SHOTS and not necessarily scoring? I don't see any grand decrease in shots. I'm seeing lots of high 30 shot totals with only a goal or 2 given up.

What I see is

-goalies are getting bigger and they are not only big, but quick and athletic.
-goalie training/technique. goalies are well coached now in all facets of the game, not just the butterfly or hybrid technique, but in covering post, angles and depth. Competition for goalie positions is huge. My son went out for a Tier 1 (AAA) program lsat year and 15 goalies were on the ice trying out, so more kids are playing the position (I have no stats to back this up, just seems so many kids are specializing in goalie sooner than suggested)
-equipment. goalie gear is big and covers much net, BUT light...these athletes have less gear to move