After some pretty significant rule changes in the NHL it seems like changing the rulebook is the topic du jour around the league. Everyone has an opinion about how the league should be run but the most headway is being made when trying to change the rules.
The most recent topic discussed is about the size of the nets. Mike Babcock talked about the need to make them bigger and made a pretty compelling case.
“It’s impossible to score,” the Toronto Maple Leafs coach said this week. “All you gotta do is a math equation. You go to 1980 when the puck went in the net. You got the average size of the goalies in the NHL and the average size of the net. You keep growing the net bigger, that would make the game the same … The net’s too small for the size of the goalies. Period. The goalies are too good for the size of the net.”
He isn’t wrong about the size of the goalies. It is a statement of fact that the goalies are bigger now. Does that necessarily mean that we should change it though? It brings across a new standard for the league that could be dangerous if they start going down this slippery slope. The league desperately wants more offense and if this is a way for them to get more goals without ruffling to many of the old school fans’ feathers, they will do it.
Garret Sparks of the Toronto Marlies has a completely different opinion on the matter, which may be more in line with the old school line of thinking.
His argument is valid as the increased importance on systems is a change that can’t be overlooked. This isn’t to say that certain coaches in the 80’s didn’t have a great understanding of systems but that they were more willing to let the offensive players play into their skill more so than any other generation. They let the players do what they did best. The idea of the 200-foot player is a relatively new idea with the advent of more complicated systems such as the “Trap” and different variations of the Left Wing Lock. They have been around for a period of time but the structured play has been viewed as a necessity in today’s game.
I think both bring up valid points but what neither side is willing to admit is that they may both be right. Babcock is right that the goalies are big and the padding may be excessive. Sparks is right by saying that the structure is at it’s best and it is extremely difficult to score goals. So why not take both thoughts into consideration and meet in the middle? No one will want to do so, but who says you can’t have the best of both worlds?
