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

[Heyman]

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.

Originally Posted by Heyman 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! No, but they should move back the trade deadline 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'). No, there would be too many whistles. Games are long enough. 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. The Nhl makes it's money in commercials. Having three periods allows for more commercials, and more revenue 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. I wouldn't mind 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.

[Wondermouse]

Go to the Olympic sized rink and shorten up the season.

NFL does allow trades in midseason. However, it's just not feasible to get an impact player 4 weeks into the season.

[BCWWF]

Where does soccer come into that?

I actually agree with much of that, but a lot of it would be too drastic.

[Rob]

Roster transactions in pre season.


They shouldn't get rid of offside in my opinion. It's still a skill of the game. Keep the 3rds too. It's different to other sports and stands out.

[Wengerland]

The problem with the roster transactions being in pre season is that it doesn't leave much chance of getting cover for injured players,also in soccer a lot of clubs could have done without the deadline's being in such a short space of time because they might need to sell players to calm their debt.

I'm not really sure on the off side rule in hockey . I normally switch it off if i'm on a video game,so i'm not really in a position to discuss it's valdity to the game.

I think you've got to really either keep the number of periods the same or,if changing to 2,just do that and not have any little breaks in between.

I still don't see the problem with ties,i'd just leave it how it is now.

[PureHatred]

NFL allows trades, as has beenmentioned. The problem with hockey (trades-wise) is that the deadline is so late in the season that post-season contenders are able to aquire players right up until there's a handful of games remaining.

[VonErich Lives]

As stated the NFL does allow trades, it doesn't happen much, one main reason is a player then goes to another team w/ full knowledge of the old teams playbook, and audible calls, etc...

Trades mid/end season bring more excitiment and change, rather then one team going from start to finish. Allows other to improve/challenge.

I wouldn't mind getting rid of offsides or maybe allow a 2line pass. or sometype of offsides is allowed if the player was over the red line with the puck. I just don't want to see situations where a guy stays down there waiting for the puck.

hockey is 3 - 20's, basketball and football are 4 - 15's. I don't think 30's would help, plus the play may suffer due to players gettin worn down.

I could see shootouts, but only after a period of OT.

Basketball by the way, never ends in a tie, football has 1 period of sudden death, and people argue they don't like it cause typically the team who wins the coin flip, gets the ball, goes 50yds down feild and kicks a FG to win.