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Originally Posted by Allos
How about reducing the size of the roster? Say for each game you can only dress 15 skaters (10 forwards 5 defensemen?) Then teams will be forced to dress their best players, and more mistakes will be made at latter part of the game as players become tired, making difference in skill and strength more obvious?
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Yeah but then energy conservation would come into play and guys wouldn't play as hard. Injuries would go up too.
Assuming reducing rosters or the # of teams isn't possible, I think we need to look at what can be done within the existing framework.
I think there are a few obvious solutions. Reduce the size of all equipment. Mandate that everything be made slimmer and more form fitting. Shin pads, shoulderpads for all skaters. Mandate that goalie equipment be slimmed as much as possible while still maintaining some level of safety. Consider banning leaving feet to block shots.
Call the game tighter to maintain a focus on skilled players, especially during the playoffs.
Thing is, tournaments like the WJHC and the Olympics still produce really good hockey regardless of the size of the ice surface and with the same general rules as the NHL. And it isn't like they produce superior entertainment for all the same reasons, although national pride and best on best does play a part. It does show us though that the NHL issues aren't strictly a 5v5 problem.