The NHL started its “research camp” today in Toronto, where 33 draft-eligible prospects skated and tested out proposed new rules that the league wanted to get an ice-level look at. The proposed changes, as posted by NHL.com’s Mike Morreale, included…
*Hybrid icing rule
*No line change for team committing an offside
*Crease reset rule
*Face-off variation (face-off controlled by whistle in place of traditional puck drop)
*Overtime: three minutes of 4-of-4, three minutes of 3-on-3, three minutes of 2-on-2, followed by shootout (5 players per team).
*Bigger crease
*Verification goal line (additional line situated behind the goal line)
*Wider blue lines
*Line changes zone in front of each bench
*Face-off variations (infringement results in the offending player moving back further, three face-off dots down the middle of the ice)
*No icing the puck while shorthanded
*OT – three minutes of 4-on-4, three minutes of 3-on-3, three minutes of 2-on-2 with long line changes; followed by three shooters per team in the shootout (if tied after three shots, then players who have shot previously can shoot again)
The full list of potential changes can be found here. Honestly, other than the “no line change after offside,” I’m not sure I would want to see any of these changes implemented. Your thoughts?
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