[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Not sure it matters, if you do this properly. If the goalie equipment is smaller and the nets a bit bigger, such that it's actually reasonably possible to score from anywhere in the zone if your shot's good enough, it doesn't matter how good the defensive system is to keep guys to the outside.

The other side of it is taking advantage of coaches adapting. How? By just calling a metric ton of holding, hooking, interference and slashing penalties. First one? If a guy chips the puck past a d-man, and the d-man holds him up at the line, that's interference. It's deliberate interference. The reason he's doing it isn't to hit him, but to prevent him from going in and getting the damned puck.

They really need to just commit to calling the penalties, at all times, including the playoffs. First season or so, there's going to be a lot more power plays, but eventually, coaches will adapt and the play style will change to avoid being shorthanded 8 times a game.

That's another thing the league has failed at. Consistency with calling penalties and obstruction. After the '04 lockout, every year has become more and more lax when it comes to calling penalties. That's 100% on the league for mandating that to the refs.