If it ain't broke, why fix it?

[auxlepli 17]

Excellent blog by CBC writer Scott Morrison.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/morrison/2007/11/post_3.html

"Most people feel that the game is going in the right direction," said Detroit Red Wings governor Jimmy Devellano. "I don't want to use the word satisfied, but there's a good feeling about the game, that the game is being played a little better than prior to the lockout."

After reading this my fears were allayed in regards to bigger nets, "a last resort."

Overall I agree with the article, but I still think goalie equipment needs to be reduced in size.

After reading this I'd say an 84-game schedule is probably about two or three years away.

One comment I should post to his blog - if aint' broke, why the new sweaters this year?

[Hank 0]

I'm in the camp that some fixes need to be made.

I find it highly comical that the same men that ran the league head-first into the dead-puck era feel there's nothing wrong with the game. It also should be noted that nobody on the BOG has had to pay for a hockey ticket in the past decade.

I seriously find it very hard to believe that not one person on the BOG or competition committee thinks that today's goalie equipment isn't out of control. Or the fact that none of them see to recognize that scoring zones that existed since 1900 until 1995 have completely disappeared from the game.

Outside of Ovechkin and Kovalchuk, there aren't too many players in the league that can beat a goalie clean from 15 feet out. That was the norm for most good shooters 20 years ago.

Trust me when I say that goal scoring will continue to plummit and when the 08-09 season wraps up, and the average GPG has reached 5.00 flat, BIG changes will be introduced regardless if old dinosaurs like Sather or Burke think it's needed or not.

And for me, the only change that needs to be made is cutting the goalie gear in half. No need to move bluelines, make the rink or nets bigger, create illegal defense rules, etc. REDUCE GOALIE GEAR. That is all.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I'm in the camp that some fixes need to be made.

I find it highly comical that the same men that ran the league head-first into the dead-puck era feel there's nothing wrong with the game. It also should be noted that nobody on the BOG has had to pay for a hockey ticket in the past decade.

I seriously find it very hard to believe that not one person on the BOG or competition committee thinks that today's goalie equipment isn't out of control. Or the fact that none of them see to recognize that scoring zones that existed since 1900 until 1995 have completely disappeared from the game.

Outside of Ovechkin and Kovalchuk, there aren't too many players in the league that can beat a goalie clean from 15 feet out. That was the norm for most good shooters 20 years ago.

Trust me when I say that goal scoring will continue to plummit and when the 08-09 season wraps up, and the average GPG has reached 5.00 flat, BIG changes will be introduced regardless if old dinosaurs like Sather or Burke think it's needed or not.

And for me, the only change that needs to be made is cutting the goalie gear in half. No need to move bluelines, make the rink or nets bigger, create illegal defense rules, etc. REDUCE GOALIE GEAR. That is all.

agreed completely - I think everything could really be fixed and the NHL could TRULY flourish by 3 things -

first and foremost:

Like you said, DRASTIC reduction in goalie equipment

this is ALL I have to say about goalie equip size:

VS.

michlin man:

second:

Re-alignment of the conferences/Schedule change

There needs to be more teams in Canada and a more level playing schedule, more games against every team and equal travel league wide - They said they wanted parity, well this is part of it

And last but CERTAINLY not least:

Removal of the instigator penalty and let the players police themselves

This includes an automatic one-game suspension to any player with a shield who starts a fight and doesn't drop his lid, plus a fine. Also, an additional 2 minutes to any player who engages in a fight with a shield and doesn't take off his helmet if the ref can deem that he had ample opportunity to (yes, this touches on some gray area, as it would be at the refs discretion and could get hairy, but it would have to be in a situation like a flat out square off)

All of this would cut out the cheap shots, head shots, knee shots, etc and clean the game up where it matters

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I hope that when scoring decreases and the league starts considering increasing the size of the nets, the goalies will give in and go for the smaller pad size.

Using smaller equipment seems like an easier adustment for them to make than suddenly having a bigger net behind you.

[Hank 0]

I hope that when scoring decreases and the league starts considering increasing the size of the nets, the goalies will give in and go for the smaller pad size.

Using smaller equipment seems like an easier adustment for them to make than suddenly having a bigger net behind you.

I hope that's the case too. Paul Kelly has been making the rounds and speaking with all the player reps and reducing goalie gear is one of the topics he's discussing. I really hope he can convince them that they're making a mockery of the game.

stevkrause, I like your ideas. I'd also like for them to go back to divisional playoffs. THAT'S where rivalries are made.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I hope that's the case too. Paul Kelly has been making the rounds and speaking with all the player reps and reducing goalie gear is one of the topics he's discussing. I really hope he can convince them that they're making a mockery of the game.

stevkrause, I like your ideas. I'd also like for them to go back to divisional playoffs. THAT'S where rivalries are made.

agreed 100%

[theman19 47]

Goalie gear is stupid big. It just doesn't make sense to me. When Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull started killing goalies with banana curves, the league stepped in and put a stop to it.

Why hasn't the same been done to goalie gear?

[Hank 0]

Was listening to the FAN 590 last week, & Bill Berg (ex NHL'er) made a comment how the league should ask a recently retired netminder what he thinks should be done - mind you that this guy can't have any ties nor be on the payroll of a team...Berg said you'd get an honest answer as to what legit changes would be accepted.

Great idea! The funny thing is, almost immediately after he retired Patrick Roy said the gear can get smaller. And I've heard Kelly Hrudey and Ken Dryden say the same thing.

That's 3 goalies from 3 different eras that think it can and should be done.

I can't help staring at the picture stevkraus posted. Look at that goalies trapper - it's half the size of today's gloves.

Phil Esposito said he took his brother Tony's old trapper and was able to put the entire thing in Holmqvists glove. And this is after the gloves were reduced. Ridiculous.