As we head into the 2010/2011 season, the NHL is gearing up by testing out some new rule changes which they hope will add some excitement to the on-ice action for the league’s millions of fans. Offensive players are the ones who are like the benefit most from these new changes, as more goals, more action and more on-ice freedom are on the agenda for these potential changes which were tested out during the NHL’s research and development camp at the Maple Leafs’ practice facility in Toronto by 33 of the NHL’s top rated stars who are eligible for the 2011 draft.
Changes to the blue line, face-offs and a fascinating new take on overtime play were tried out at the camp, some to more success than others, and are certain to offer NHL fans some intriguing points for discussion before the season begins. While most of these changes are not yet decided, the NHL has already made one official rule change for the upcoming season.
One rule that we know is going to be implemented is a rule concerning tie-breaks in the standings. Points gained from shootouts will be excluded from the overall end of season tally in the event of two or more teams finishing on equal points. This rule might seem like a slight alteration, but it could potentially change the mindset of coaches when overtime begins. Knowing that shootout points aren’t as influential as they once were, will NHL coaches still try to play defensively to drag the game out? Last season, 184 games were decided by shootout, so this change in the way shootout points are tallied will certainly impact the end of season standings.
Since shootouts were introduced back in 2005, teams have decided to play more defensively, using checking players more during overtime to stifle the opposition. This new rule should nullify those plays and create far more exciting overtime action. Another overtime innovation tested during the research and development camp was attempted with teams playing 3 minutes of 4 on 4, followed by 3 minutes of 3 on 3 and curiously, following that with 3 minutes of 2 on 2. While 3 on 3 would offer a dynamic twist to the way overtime is played and likely lead to an outright overtime winner in a large percentage of games, having a 2 on 2 overtime match-up in professional hockey is not a favourite idea of hockey purists and the idea has been widely panned by critics.
Another idea that was tested at the camp was widening the blue lines to three feet, to allow more room in the offensive zone for the more agile, exciting players to thrive. This same concept is also behind the idea to shorten the depth of the net by four inches to increase the area between the net and the boards. Both of these ideas seems to have some merit and would likely ensure that a large percentage of the game is played closer to the goal, leading to more scoring opportunities.
Safety was also on the agenda at the research and development camp, as the NHL introduced a hybrid ‘no touch’ icing rule, which is intended to prevent two players crashing into the boards in an attempt to reach the puck. A linesman would be charged with calling the play once the first man reaches the face-off dot and deciding if the defending player would get to the puck first. If the defender is closest to the puck, icing would be called, whereas if the attacker was in control of the play, the game would continue. This rule seems to be popular amongst hockey fans despite its potential for limiting those bone crunching big hits against the boards. Big hits will still occur elsewhere on the ice, and the hybrid icing rule could speed up play tremendously.
Some of the more radical changes will likely never take the ice but innovation is certainly helping to improve hockey’s allure to a global audience and that’s who these changes are directed towards. While hockey purists might bemoan changes to the way the game is played, any attempts to improve the on-ice action for both the players and the supporters has to be applauded. These research camps and the discussions they have ignited across the hockey world, act as an intriguing preamble for the season to come for fans, players and commentators alike.
Tags: 2010 nhl rule changes, nhl overtime change, nhl rule changes