[Article] Brian Burke - Lobbying for wider ice surfaces

[ComixZone]

Bob Mckenzie has an interesting article up on Brian Burke lobbying to have the width of the rink expanded to 90 feet.

Burke:

every new arena we build in the NHL should have the capacity to be 90 feet wide

"Brian and I are big proponents of the 90-foot-wide ice surface," said Jimmy Devellano, the longtime Red Wing senior vice-president. "I really believe it will help the NHL game with more flow, less congestion and maybe even a few less injuries.
"In Detroit, when we get our new rink, we'll have the capability to go to 90 feet,' Devellano added.

Link

I'm definitely in favour of this.

[wooohooo]

I've always liked the bigger ice surfaces, allows more plays and flow to occur. Unfortunately I don't see this happening, at least in the near future

[Coach]

Agreed. I don't want full international, but an extra 5 feet would make a good difference IMO.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I've always liked the bigger ice surfaces, allows more plays and flow to occur. Unfortunately I don't see this happening, at least in the near future

For it to happen, I think the NHL would have to

A) subsidize the cost
B) allow it to be staged over a number of years. Some arenas will be early adopters of the new dimensions, while others may take a few years to implement. I don't view that as being the worst thing. A difference like that for a year or two would make for some interesting on-ice dynamics.

[MarkGio]

This would solve the coaching problem to low scoring hockey

[nik-]

Bigger ice breeds a slower game.

[codynw]

I'm convinced people in favour of bigger ice have never actually watched hockey played on bigger ice.

[Erick Estrada]

I'm for any changes that make the game better and right now it's too hard to score. Way too many shots blocked by defenders and goaltenders are simply too big now. IMO it would make more sense to go to slightly larger nets or shrink goaltender equipment before reconfiguring arenas.

[Stay Golden]

I'm all for it. The reality is the vast majority of NHL players are bigger excluding Johnny of course.
There is less room on the ice and the closing speed of D men is much quicker. Wideman excluded.
Agree with Burke adding the width to playing surface will improve the game overall.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm for any changes that make the game better and right now it's too hard to score. Way too many shots blocked by defenders and goaltenders are simply too big now. IMO it would make more sense to go to slightly larger nets or shrink goaltender equipment before reconfiguring arenas.

Kane has 71 points. I don't think I buy that it's too hard to score.

[CSharp]

Wider ice surface does not make Wideman any faster. It'll likely have to opposite effect.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Systems play, average size, and speed of players have changed the game today. There is zero room in the middle of the ice anymore. Everything is pushed to the periphery, so the majority of play is along the boards. Widening the ice surface gives the high skill players (like Gaudreau and Bennett) a chance to showcase their talents. It also allows for those who aren't the absolute elites to also occasionally show what they have to offer. If teams adapt and still play the middle of the ice in a congested manner, then guess what, you have the outside lanes to drive to the net which further rewards speedy wingers.

Honestly, most games are pretty boring these days, and we're headed slowly towards a dead puck era, but it's worse because there's a LOT less physicality in the game these days. It's a great idea, but I'm sure most traditionalists will say it's stupid and it won't work. To that I say: We won't know until we try it.

[northcrunk]

I prefer to play on a wider ice surface and would totally support this. Would add more creativity to the game.

[codynw]

Large ice does not speed up the game, if anything it makes it worse.

[scotty2hotty]

Originally Posted by codynw

I'm convinced people in favour of bigger ice have never actually watched hockey played on bigger ice.

Yes, it his highly unlikely that Brian Burke has ever watched a hockey game played on bigger ice.

[troutman]

Might help with injuries, but scoring will go down. Ask any coach that worked in Europe. Larger ice means less scoring chances. Simple geometry.

[Lord Carnage]

Originally Posted by codynw

Large ice does not speed up the game, if anything it makes it worse.

First off, I'm not sure we're trying to speed up the game further, are we? I think we are trying to address higher scoring by giving the skill guys more room to move.

That being said, how does it slow down the game? Just curious...

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Lord Carnage

First off, I'm not sure we're trying to speed up the game further, are we? I think we are trying to address higher scoring by giving the skill guys more room to move.

That being said, how does it slow down the game? Just curious...

More space = more time = less pressure on puck possessors = more perimeter play and going for skates.

Watch international leagues on the big ice. Unless you really like players just skating around with the puck, I find it pretty hard to accept someone thinking it's a better game.

[Lord Carnage]

Originally Posted by nik-

More space = more time = less pressure on puck possessors = more perimeter play and going for skates.

Watch international leagues on the big ice. Unless you really like players just skating around with the puck, I find it pretty hard to accept someone thinking it's a better game.

I guess if teams were just told to ignore the edge of the rink (defensively), and keep the middle congested, then I can see that.

Maybe that's the advantage of only adding 5 feet total (or 2.5' per side). Not enough space so D-men can completely ignore someone on the outside (as opposed to now), so the middle does get just a little wider, thus more room in the middle to score?

Maybe I'm off on that, but I think a little extra space is different than going full-out international sized...

[jeffman]

If it means more space for gaudreau. I'm all for it