- The NHL's Trapezoid Rule (aka the Martin Brodeur is too good rule) - The trapezoid behind the goal line / goal is the only place that the goalie can play the puck in the NHL. If he plays it outside this, it's a 2-min minor penalty. There was none of this nonsense in international play. If a goalie thinks they're good enough to play the puck, let them try. They screw up - a forechecker gets an easy shot at a goal. The original excuse for starting this rule was to "increase scoring" by preventing the goalies from playing the puck in the corners.
- Hits to the Head - Why the NHL still hasn't made this a penalty is beyond me. Two minutes is easy, and at least simpler than the subjective, arcane suspension system in place with Colin Campbell in place.
- Penalties - Look at a box score one day. Why does the NHL feel the need to call seemingly 10 penalties a game? The Olympics had better flow because they let the players play, and called penalties to keep control of a game - not decide it. A man advantage in a 5 on 5 sport would be like having to play an 11-man football team with 9 guys.
We'll see if the NHL/NHLPA can get some of this sorted out next season. The penalties do go down in the playoffs, but it should be like that every night. And if they can't get their acts together, and they decide to stop sending NHL players to the Olympics, at least we only have 2 years until the end of the world...
Good post.
ReplyDeleteThe actual reason the trapezoid rule was put in place was to speed up the game actually. Guys like Martin Brodeur, who are so good with the puck, would hold on to a dump in, negating an offensive opportunity. He could skate to the corner unabated, and make up for a poor line change by the Devils by taking away the loose puck.
The penalties are ridiculous, but it is clear that the NHL brass would rather see 2 power play goals every game in order to manufacture scoring. Tiger Williams said something along the lines of, "this is like watching a peewee hockey game, seeing Dion Phaneuf shoot 20 times from the umbrella on power play." He's right. The march to the box takes away any possible flow to a game, and limits physical play.
After all, Jonathan Cheechoo scored 24 goals and registered 17 assists on the power play in the first season since the lockout.
"The actual reason the trapezoid rule was put in place was to speed up the game actually. Guys like Martin Brodeur, who are so good with the puck, would hold on to a dump in, negating an offensive opportunity. He could skate to the corner unabated, and make up for a poor line change by the Devils by taking away the loose puck."
ReplyDeleteI hear what you're saying, but that argument supports what I said too.