NHL fans, what's your take?

[Ghoulish Delight]

So, even before this season didn't start, there was talk of reducing goal keeper equpiment size and adding a shoot-out to settle ties in an effort to increase offense and therefore, theoretically, interest in the game. Now they are proposing larger nets (http://www.nbc4.tv/sports/4329398/detail.html). Good idea? Bad idea?

[Name]

I love the game as it is(when its played), that's my take.

[scaeagles]

I hate the larger nets idea. I think great play in goal makes the game exciting. I hate when executives think that more scoring makes the game more exciting. Good play makes the game more exciting.

It's funny watching the NBA and falling scores and all the NBA execs stressing over it. They try to figure out how to increase scoring. Well, the way to increase scoring is by getting players that can shoot, not just that can jump out of the gym or dunk pretty. The NBA isn't what team basketball is supposed to be - witness our Olympic performance - it's all about the individual. Even though our USA Basketball team were by far the greatest athletes of the bunch, they have no idea how to play team ball.

I don't know enough about hockey scoring trends, but perhaps something similar is happening here?

[mhrc4]

i am beyond pissed at the greedyness of everyone involved.

Hockey, as a sport, cannot stand on its own, adn I am not 100% sure the NHL will recover from this. Its already a weak sport, fan wise, except for the main northern and canadian locations, and even then, its still spotty at times. This is just pushing more and more fans away.

with already increasing ticket and concession prices, its almost a joke.

On the topic of what GD posted, i think its stupid, I agree with SCAEagles completely. Its not about the number fo goals, or how pretty they are, its about how the game is played. Hell, i would rather watch a game with 2 scrappy goals scored than a game with 15 pretty ones. Scrappy hockey and team play IS WHAT HOCKEY IS ABOUT.

what are we gonna do? turn this into soccer? make the goalies jump across the damn rink to stop a puck shot at they 8' wide net?

the NHL and the NHLPA need to get their heads our of their asses and realize they are bastardizing and destroying hockey....

[SacTown Chronic]

Screw making the nets larger. If the NHL wants to improve the quality of play, and increase scoring in the process, they need to widen the rink. Make the rink as wide as it is in Europe. If there is more playing space, there will be more room for the skilled players to manuever and pass. And that will lead to more scoring.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Leave the nets as they are. I prefer games that are lower scoring- each one matters that much more. MHRC4- I am totally with you. Scrappy goals! Fight for it! Er, play good hockey! :)

I miss hockey. :: sigh::

[Gwyren]

Limiting the size of goalie equipment is a good step - let the goalie's ability, not the size of the gear he can support, determine how good he is.
Let them start calling penalties as they were writen in the books. I would not be surprised if that, by enforcing their existing rules, scoring rose.