Do we need more goals in the NHL?

NHL RULE CHANGE PROPOSAL

by PHIL MYRE

Over the last few years, many ideas have been discussed to create more offense and to score more goals in the NHL. Reducing the size of the Goalie’s equipment has been at the forefront of the conversation which has been met with a lot of resistance from equipment manufacturers and by goalies themselves. It’s a fine line between reducing the size of the equipment while keeping our goalies safe. Some changes have been made to the pads, the blocker and the pants. The upper body equipment is most sensitive to make changes without reducing the goalie’s safety. While continuing to find ways to “streamline” the goalies’ upper body equipment, here are recommendations for rule changes which will increase goal production and preserve the safety of the goalies.

1. REDUCING THE DIAMETER OF THE GOAL POSTS

While keeping the distance between goal posts the same, center to center (74 3/8 inches), the diameter of the goal post would be reduced. The goal posts currently measure 2 3/8 inches in diameter. The new rule would reduce the diameter by ½ inch, the post would now be 1 7/8 inches in diameter. Therefore, giving an extra inch on the width (1/2 inch on each side) and an extra ½ inch on the top.

This would allow more goals without making a drastic change in the size of the net and would not change the angles for goalies or the rink dimensions and markings. Goalies are bigger and the equipment is bigger than in the past so no “asterisk” may be necessary when comparing statistics between different eras of the game.

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