Why not get rid of hand pass rule?

[FlamesKickAss]

Was watching the game last night and I got to thinking about this rule.
If you want to take a chance to bat a puck out of the air with your hand to make a pass, why not?

There isn't that many instances of this anymore, but having one less thing to blow the play dead in a good thing in my opinion.

Thoughts?

[Yrebmi]

Why not just complete the change to football/basketball on ice.
Slippery slope IMO. Especially in instances where a player doesn't have a stick or is laying on the ice.

[StrykerSteve]

I assume the rule is there to keep players safe. You don’t want to encourage anyone to put their hands near skate blades, wherever possible.

[albertGQ]

I thought hand passes in the defensive zone was allowed?

[JBR]

Nope. The rule is perfect as is. OK in the defending zone. Blow the play dead outside your zone.

You are likely seeing many instances because players adjust to the rule. If it was allowed, you would see it all the time.

[Fire]

It's hockey not handball. Leave it the way it is.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I assume the rule is there to keep players safe. You don’t want to encourage anyone to put their hands near skate blades, wherever possible.

Anytime a player does a hand pass from the ice, it's usually as a last resort desperation/reaction move as they are lying on the stomach. No player in their right mind is going to choose to hand pass when they can pass with their stick. I don't think it's a big safety concern as all. Hand passes are used as a very last resort, not as a preferred method of getting teammate the puck.

I think the rule is fine the way it is. But if it changed, I probably wouldn't care. It happens so infrequently anyways.

[undercoverbrother]

I am all for it.

I think a long bomb out of the D-zone to the offensive blue line would be wicked cool.

[Cuz]

I've always wondered this myself. I don't think closing your hand on the puck should be allowed, i.e. to throw the puck, but a swat at the puck to a team mate should be ok (not for a goal) and would speed the game up a bit.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Cuz

I've always wondered this myself. I don't think closing your hand on the puck should be allowed, i.e. to throw the puck, but a swat at the puck to a team mate should be ok (not for a goal) and would speed the game up a bit.

This is essentially what the current rule is.

[mivdo]

They're look to crack down on slashing due to hand injuries, this will not help.

[bcneil]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Was watching the game last night and I got to thinking about this rule.
If you want to take a chance to bat a puck out of the air with your hand to make a pass, why not?

There isn't that many instances of this anymore, but having one less thing to blow the play dead in a good thing in my opinion.

Thoughts?

That's just it. You don't see it that often, because players know they will blow the play dead. If it were a legit play, you would see them do it all the time.

[Geeoff]

Because hockey is played with a stick.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by speede5

This is essentially what the current rule is.

In the D zone. And, as I discovered last night, not from the D zone to a recipient outside it.

[flamesfan1297]

As another poster stated, this is probably also a safety factor and the NHL wants hands close to skates as little as possible.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I am all for it.

I think a long bomb out of the D-zone to the offensive blue line would be wicked cool.

They should add lacrosse nets to the top of hockey sticks. Double threat!

[MontanaFlame]

I personally like the NCAA rule, can't hand pass in any zone.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by MontanaFlame

I personally like the NCAA rule, can't hand pass in any zone.

Used to be like that in NHL then they abused it. A tired defense would simply hand pass to get a stoppage and line change.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Used to be like that in NHL then they abused it. A tired defense would simply hand pass to get a stoppage and line change.

I've always found it odd you are allowed a hand pass in your own zone, as the rules should encourage offense and not give an advantage to the defending team, but this is a good point. Maybe a hand pass in your own zone should be treated like icing so you can't change.

[speede5]

A hand pass in the defensive zone has a low percentage of leading to a goal, and shouldn't directly lead to a goal, (ie hand pass, shoot, score).

Combined with not being able to close your hand on the puck the rule is perfect as is. There are bigger fish to fry.