The biggest problem in the game is invincibility.
They talk about having addressed that with new momentum etc, but I also hope they seriously address it in terms of the WAY people play.
If I blow someone up mid-deke, that should be it for them.
The confines of the game are such that if you take liberties while on the ice, whether that is passing the puck up the middle in your own end, looking down at the puck in the neutral zone, or trying to make a move at the opposition blueline, you pay the consequences.
If some tabernac shouting frenchy wants to pull a loose puck deke as he's exiting his own zone, he should be doing it fully aware that if I catch him with my massive bodychecking and strength, that's it for him. As in, enjoy watching the game from the bench/a quiet room.
Instead, even though I make full contact with the player, he bounces up, retains possession and goes the other way for a 2-1, instead of taking a 3-1 trip to the hospital like if he'd tried that in a real league.
To me, it's pretty easy to make being a defender easier, and more fun. Defenders just need the same invincibility that forwards have.
TL;DR: If they made the physical aspect of the game matter in the slightest, things would be more fun.
|