Hopes for a new NHL
Posted 4:00 PM ET | Comments 0
Since there is a new CBA pending I thought of some things I would like to see changed in the NHL. Of course the CBA will focus on salaries and some minor rule changes,so my thoughts are complete fantasy. However these are the ways i would like to see the NHL changed.
1. Conference re-alignment: I know the NHL tried this already but their whole blow it up and start over seemed a bit too dramatic and confusing. My plan is much simpler. The first step would be to eliminate divisions. This would create two 15 team conferences where the TOP 8 teams make the playoffs in order. No longer can a team from a weaker division get a spot over a better team in a stronger division, every team will have equal opportunity to get higher seeds. Second is to take the Jets and move them to the western conference where they belong. In turn the team furthest to the east should go to the eastern conference and this team would be....the Nashville Predators. Sorry Dallas and Detroit but that is the most fair way to determine this take the travel and deal with it.
2. Get rid of points: For whatever reason the NHL is in love with these points and the 3 point games we now have, and while i will admit that the playoff races are as tight as ever it can also be said that lower teams almost have no chance of climbing the standings due to these 3 point games. Teams possible playoff hopes rely too much on what another team only a few points ahead of them is doing. My plan is to eliminate points all together. This would mean adopting what every other sport has and that is games ahead/behind rather than points. This will keep the competitive balance while making it a little easier on bubble teams to climb the standings. Now a win will be a win and a loss will be a loss no reward for losing a game 5 or 10 minutes after the third period.
3. The shootout: i know there is no way to get rid of this it is here to stay. But the rule change mentioned above would make the NHL look harder at it. Do teams really want a loss on their record based off of a shootout? I would think no. But since the league loves the shootout as do some fans its not leaving the game. Compromise, after the 5 minute 4-on-4 there should be a 5 minute 3-on-3......tons of open ice and almost guaranteed a goal. If the teams fail to score after this 3-on-3 session,then the shootout commences.
4. Goal Review: This one is very simple but fans of the refs will not like it. I say review EVERYTHING. If a team is offsides and it is not called aand the play results in a goal (flyers vs. penguins game 1) why cant the play be reviewed if the technology exists then use it to the full advantage. Same with "goaltender interference". I am not suggesting that a penalty for this call should be reviewed but when a goal is disallowed due to minimal contact lets go back and look and see if a. the player was pushed in by a defender or b. the contact actually affected the goaltenders ability to make the save.
5.Random Changes: These are not things wrong with the game just things that i would like to see change personally.(mostly from my old school hockey roots)
1. Bring back white jerseys at home.
2. Get rid of the damn trapezoid.
3. Bring back the 2 line pass(this will slow players down in the neutral zone and maybe help limit the head injuries we are seeing.)
4. Combine all-star game and Winter Classic (all star game has become a complete joke and I am tired of seeing the same teams in the winter classic,so do the all star game as an outdoor game and call it the winter classic it will be more fun and not hurt a team in the standings due to poor ice conditions).
So those area few of the things this humble hockey fan would like to see changed. Some big some small but I believe all would improve the game. What say you hockey fans?
sincerely,
nj4life
1. Conference re-alignment: I know the NHL tried this already but their whole blow it up and start over seemed a bit too dramatic and confusing. My plan is much simpler. The first step would be to eliminate divisions. This would create two 15 team conferences where the TOP 8 teams make the playoffs in order. No longer can a team from a weaker division get a spot over a better team in a stronger division, every team will have equal opportunity to get higher seeds. Second is to take the Jets and move them to the western conference where they belong. In turn the team furthest to the east should go to the eastern conference and this team would be....the Nashville Predators. Sorry Dallas and Detroit but that is the most fair way to determine this take the travel and deal with it.
2. Get rid of points: For whatever reason the NHL is in love with these points and the 3 point games we now have, and while i will admit that the playoff races are as tight as ever it can also be said that lower teams almost have no chance of climbing the standings due to these 3 point games. Teams possible playoff hopes rely too much on what another team only a few points ahead of them is doing. My plan is to eliminate points all together. This would mean adopting what every other sport has and that is games ahead/behind rather than points. This will keep the competitive balance while making it a little easier on bubble teams to climb the standings. Now a win will be a win and a loss will be a loss no reward for losing a game 5 or 10 minutes after the third period.
3. The shootout: i know there is no way to get rid of this it is here to stay. But the rule change mentioned above would make the NHL look harder at it. Do teams really want a loss on their record based off of a shootout? I would think no. But since the league loves the shootout as do some fans its not leaving the game. Compromise, after the 5 minute 4-on-4 there should be a 5 minute 3-on-3......tons of open ice and almost guaranteed a goal. If the teams fail to score after this 3-on-3 session,then the shootout commences.
4. Goal Review: This one is very simple but fans of the refs will not like it. I say review EVERYTHING. If a team is offsides and it is not called aand the play results in a goal (flyers vs. penguins game 1) why cant the play be reviewed if the technology exists then use it to the full advantage. Same with "goaltender interference". I am not suggesting that a penalty for this call should be reviewed but when a goal is disallowed due to minimal contact lets go back and look and see if a. the player was pushed in by a defender or b. the contact actually affected the goaltenders ability to make the save.
5.Random Changes: These are not things wrong with the game just things that i would like to see change personally.(mostly from my old school hockey roots)
1. Bring back white jerseys at home.
2. Get rid of the damn trapezoid.
3. Bring back the 2 line pass(this will slow players down in the neutral zone and maybe help limit the head injuries we are seeing.)
4. Combine all-star game and Winter Classic (all star game has become a complete joke and I am tired of seeing the same teams in the winter classic,so do the all star game as an outdoor game and call it the winter classic it will be more fun and not hurt a team in the standings due to poor ice conditions).
So those area few of the things this humble hockey fan would like to see changed. Some big some small but I believe all would improve the game. What say you hockey fans?
sincerely,
nj4life