Now that hockey's R&D camp is over

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle]

There are no ties in the playoffs.

 

Oh shit, then disregard what I just said, Im a retard

[Red Baron]

If there are shoot-outs, then how is it justified in terms of stats. Iginla, Sundin etc could possibly get 8-14 extra goals in a season because of shoot-outs.

 

Shoot-outs are great for fun games and the all-star. The exhibition season I can tolerate, but c'mon. One point determines playoffs to elimination.

 

Why don't we increase the points like three points to a win and a point to tie. Makes the team go for the extra two points than the tie.

[The Czech Republic]

As I may or may not have said, shootout goals wouldn't count towards a player's total goals for the season, rather, the team that won the shootout would just win the game by one goal. We'll say that since the goals occurred after regulation and overtime, they can't be official goals. But all that means nothing in the postseason, because sudden death overtime is perfect as it is.

 

Do you get the impression that I really wish there were no more ties? I mean seriously. The fact that the Stanley Cup went awarded in 2005 is going to ruin the integrity of the National Hockey League more than determining a winner in every game.

[The Czech Republic]

Which is why a shootout or something is needed, to make ties more of a rarity.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It wouldn't be a rarity. They'd be full-out gone. Win column, loss column, games behind column. That's it.

[nl5xsk1]

I AM AN AMERICAN

 

I DON'T WANT TO WATCH A GAME THAT NOBODY WINS

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Other than times when the Bruins choked up a lead and ended with a tie instead of a win, I don't think I've walked out of a game disapointed because it ended in a tie.

 

I'd rather watch an awesome game that ends in a tie than a less-than-awesome game that has a winner.

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle]

Other than times when the Bruins choked up a lead and ended with a tie instead of a win, I don't think I've walked out of a game disapointed because it ended in a tie.

 

I'd rather watch an awesome game that ends in a tie than a less-than-awesome game that has a winner.

 

But with ties, it just seems like a waste of a game, you are happy that your team didn't lose, but at the same time you would be pissed because your team didn't win

[nl5xsk1]

I think we're all destined to go in circles with this, as I know that I won't be able to convinve any of you that ties aren't that bad, and I know that none of you will convince me that they are.

 

Yes, winning and losing is the bottom line, but there's more to the game than that. I don't walk out of the arena stoked after every win; what if they played poorly and didn't deserve to win? What if they went 0 for 8 on the PP or let in 2 SH goals? Even with a win, I'll walk out pissed. And, conversely, they might lose a game on a fluke goal or just because the other goalie stood on his head ... does that mean I have to walk out bummed, just because the team lost? No, I'll walk out upset that they lost but pleased that they played well.

 

Winning or losing isn't the be-all end-all for me when it comes to watching and enjoying a game. And thus ties don't bother me. Would a shootout be exciting? Yeah, the first few times. But once the new-ness wore off, it'd be just a cheap gimmick to 'improve' a game in a way that didn't need improving.

[treble]

Personally, I don't mind ties. They've been a part of the game for forever and it was fine then. That being said, I don't hate the idea of shootouts in the regular season if it helps the league.

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

Shootouts shouldn't count towards the players' stats at all. It should only serve to end the game decisively. Whatever the players accumulate in regulation and 1 OT should only be the things they count.

[The Czech Republic]

Would a shootout be exciting?  Yeah, the first few times.  But once the new-ness wore off, it'd be just a cheap gimmick to 'improve' a game in a way that didn't need improving.

 

Oh I think NHL hockey needs some improving.

[Red Baron]

Blue pass

Red shoot

[Red Baron]

For American audiences the broadcast team should help guide some of the rules of the game to make the people who don't follow the sport understand it better.

[Brush with Greatness]

On the whole tie issue, I would much rather see sudden death overtime every game than have games go to a shootout. The big complaint is that there are "flights to make, etc". Hell, in baseball, games go 17 innings sometimes. Where are the flights to make there. Furthermore, if the NHL cut down the season to 72 games, this would save a lot of the travel time. And finally, cutting the rosters down to 16 skaters instead of 18 would also mean that the benches wouldn't be as fresh late in the game/overtime and lead to more errors and scoring opportunities as a result. I would think a flight to make would be a little added incentive for the team to "go for it" so to speak and try to win the game.

 

As for other rules, I'm with nxls5x1 on most cases. I like Sinden's thinking along the tag up offside, no touch icing, no redline.

 

Furthermore, if you tightened up on obstruction, disallowed icing while on the PK, and enforced a penalty the full two minutes regardless of it the team scores or not (seeing as how this is the way it used to be) this would open up things a lot as well.

[the max]

BwG, where do you stand on making goalie pads smaller?

 

I'm for it, since it looks like they have sofa cushions strapped to their legs, making it easier to smother the puck and there's more there to possibly deflect the puck.

[CanadianGuitarist]

I don't mind the idea of descreasing pad size. If they need/want more scoring chances or goals, this seems to be the best route to take, as opposed to drastically changing the rules or make up of the game.

[Fro]

No offsides

No icing

Fighting where the loser goes to the penalty box.

Bigger puck (or more HD coverage of games)

No ties, 4th quarter and then shootouts.

Fewer games

[the max]

Why a bigger puck? As if the goalies need more of an advantage what with the defensive systems and oversized pads that they have already.

[CanadianGuitarist]

Fighting where the loser goes to the penalty box.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

God no.

 

Stop playing Blades of Steel.

I take that back, that game did kick ass.

 

But no, thats kindda bunk. Maybe serving two full minutes, regardless of PP goal or not. But if you lose a fight? That's sily.

[MrRant]

On the whole tie issue, I would much rather see sudden death overtime every game than have games go to a shootout.  The big complaint is that there are "flights to make, etc".  Hell, in baseball, games go 17 innings sometimes.  Where are the flights to make there. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Usually the visiting team plays the home team 3ish games in a row and has a "travel day" in between series and doesn't need to be in another city the next day for a game.

[nl5xsk1]

Would a shootout be exciting?  Yeah, the first few times.  But once the new-ness wore off, it'd be just a cheap gimmick to 'improve' a game in a way that didn't need improving.

 

Oh I think NHL hockey needs some improving.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Even I have to disagree with my "doesn't need improving" assertion ... so I will agree that the NHL does indeed need some improving. But I don't think that ties/shootouts are one of the areas that need to be changed or improved.