DISCUSSION: Should NHL Hockey emulate the NFL, NBA, and (gulp) SOCCER?!?

**Heyman** · 05-21-2004, 08:40 PM

DISCUSSION: Should NHL Hockey emulate the NFL and NBA?

1) All Roster transactions take place during the off-season.
-If I understand correctly, the NFL follows this. No one can make trades during the season. This way - you start and finish the season with the EXACT same team. I'm thinking that the NHL could start doing this. That way - you won't get teams with a 'fat wallet' trying to "stack up" at the trade deadline. This also makes the off-season a helluva lot more interesting!

2) Eliminate off-sides and icing in the NHL: This may seem like an extreme concept, but why would this be so bad? Having no off-sides (whatsoever) and icing would pretty much KILL the trap. Not only would it considerably speed up the tempo of the game, but I'm sure that there would be a LOT less clutching and grabbing (atleast forms of clutching and grabbing that can't be called 'penalties').

3) Have 2 thirty minute periods instead of 3 twenty minute periods: Perhaps one can make an argument that if the NHL wants to become more popular within the States, then they should 'be more similar'. Football and Basketball have only one half-time, so perhaps hockey can do the same?

Every 15 minutes (which would be the equivalent of the 'end of a quarter' in Football and Basketball), there could be a mini-break (like 2 minutes or whatever). This time can be used to clean-up the ice a bit as well.

4) Have shoot-outs in hockey: In the regular season, have shoot-outs after overtime is finished. In the playoffs, play one FULL overtime period (20 minutes), and then have shoot-outs. Not only could shoot-outs help out RATINGS, but it also eliminates ties. One huge advantage in my opinion that Football and Basketball have over Hockey, is that there are RARELY any ties. I would argue that most fans WANT to see a winner at the end of every contest. A shoot-out would guarantee this.

So if all 4 of these things go into effect, I'd expect to see the following:

-Higher scoring
-Faster Tempo
-More offense
-Trapping and "defensive" hockey would still exist, but wouldn't be nearly as effective as it is right now.

In my opinion, all 4 of these things would be better than

a) making the nets wider
b) making the rinks bigger
c) Playing 4 on 4 hockey.

05-21-2004, 08:40 PM	#1
Heyman Father of Hinduship Posts: 21,083	DISCUSSION: Should NHL Hockey emulate the NFL, NBA, and (gulp) SOCCER?!? DISCUSSION: Should NHL Hockey emulate the NFL and NBA? 1) All Roster transactions take place during the off-season. -If I understand correctly, the NFL follows this. No one can make trades during the season. This way - you start and finish the season with the EXACT same team. I'm thinking that the NHL could start doing this. That way - you won't get teams with a 'fat wallet' trying to "stack up" at the trade deadline. This also makes the off-season a helluva lot more interesting! 2) Eliminate off-sides and icing in the NHL: This may seem like an extreme concept, but why would this be so bad? Having no off-sides (whatsoever) and icing would pretty much KILL the trap. Not only would it considerably speed up the tempo of the game, but I'm sure that there would be a LOT less clutching and grabbing (atleast forms of clutching and grabbing that can't be called 'penalties'). 3) Have 2 thirty minute periods instead of 3 twenty minute periods: Perhaps one can make an argument that if the NHL wants to become more popular within the States, then they should 'be more similar'. Football and Basketball have only one half-time, so perhaps hockey can do the same? Every 15 minutes (which would be the equivalent of the 'end of a quarter' in Football and Basketball), there could be a mini-break (like 2 minutes or whatever). This time can be used to clean-up the ice a bit as well. 4) Have shoot-outs in hockey: In the regular season, have shoot-outs after overtime is finished. In the playoffs, play one FULL overtime period (20 minutes), and then have shoot-outs. Not only could shoot-outs help out RATINGS, but it also eliminates ties. One huge advantage in my opinion that Football and Basketball have over Hockey, is that there are RARELY any ties. I would argue that most fans WANT to see a winner at the end of every contest. A shoot-out would guarantee this. So if all 4 of these things go into effect, I'd expect to see the following: -Higher scoring -Faster Tempo -More offense -Trapping and "defensive" hockey would still exist, but wouldn't be nearly as effective as it is right now. In my opinion, all 4 of these things would be better than a) making the nets wider b) making the rinks bigger c) Playing 4 on 4 hockey.