Smaller goalie equipment vs bigger nets

[edn88]

I could care less if a net was 2-4" bigger - I am sure it would not be that big of change to see on TV, but totally agree that changing net size is a logistical nightmare.

Make goalie equipment rounded with harder surfaces, strictly for protection. Make goalie sticks straight (smaller paddle), make goalie glove a more padded version of player glove and take away the mesh between fingers, or make goalies wear two blockers (both smaller with no curve to them).

[CroFlames]

Make the net twice the size of a soccer net. You'll have all sorts of increased scoring and everyone will be happy, right?

I wish this topic would just die.

[troutman]

First study I have ever found evidencing composite sticks shoot the puck harder than wood sticks:

https://ssl.wsu.edu/documents/2015/1...-and-pucks.pdf

Previously:

http://thesportjournal.org/article/b...stick-is-best/

[To date, then, and contrary to much conventional belief, scholars have not linked any particular stick material to increased slap shot velocity. Rather, what has surfaced from research reports is the clear primacy of the athlete’s variables—technique and strength—over any differences in stick composition.]

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

If they ever made the nets bigger I would seriously consider never watching another hockey game again.

Sure you'd ''consider it'', whatever that means. But you'd watch it . We'd all still watch it.

As for the equipment vs nets debate, I'd much rather see smaller equipment. As Flamescuprun2018 said, if you change the size of the nets suddenly you are changing the angles that literally every hockey player growing up has played with at all levels. Room is being physically taken away from on the ice.

Smaller goalie equipment >> bigger nets

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Sure you'd ''consider it'', whatever that means. But you'd watch it . We'd all still watch it.

As for the equipment vs nets debate, I'd much rather see smaller equipment. As Flamescuprun2018 said, if you change the size of the nets suddenly you are changing the angles that literally every hockey player growing up has played with at all levels. Room is being physically taken away from on the ice.

Smaller goalie equipment >> bigger nets

You are also having a tumble down to all the leagues that "feed" the NHL and pro-hockey in general.

Keeps the nets, change the equipment.

[sketchyt]

Equipment is only one factor in this, IMO, stupid debate.

There's a pretty good write up here about how goaltending has evolved:

http://ingoalmag.com/news/the-new-ae...tending-vol-2/

Basically, goalies are stopping a lot of pucks because they've learned a lot about their position in a short amount of time and have gotten really, really good.

[zunie75]

I think shrinking the equipment is a good start. But it wont solve the problem. Initially (just like after the last goalie equipment size change) you will see an increase in goals scored.
But after a few seasons the goalies and goalie coaches will get used to it. The young goalies coming out of minor will already be used to it. The good goalies will stay good. The useless goalies will be forced out of the league and new young goalies will take their spot. Coaches will adjust defensive strategy to help out more. And we will be having this same discussion in 5-6 seasons.

A long term solution to increasing goal scoring isn't going to be a solution that only affects 1 position, even if the position is goal-tending. They tried it before, and it wasn't a permanent solution.

[Lubicon]

Shrink the equipment, leave the goal size alone. One other intriguing idea I had heard was slightly changing the shape of the post/cross bar from a perfectly round curve to something different (slight egg shape perhaps) and offsetting where the long axis and short axis are such that more shots that hit the post/crossbar would deflect inward rather than outward. In other words more goals scored off posts than before. Provided this does not create a hazard (ie a sharp edge) this one seems very reasonable to me as it conceivably makes a nice change without changing anything drastically. It would likely not increase scoring significantly, after all how many shots hit the post in a typical game. But it would likely increase it somewhat and at zero negative cost.

[Robbob]

If they get the pants done this year I am fine with that. All they need is for that first change and then I think it will start snowball. If the entire process takes 3 years than so be it. I like the changes that Cory Hirsch did in a segment last season. Those changes probably expose 15% more of the net.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Hockey did not too long ago when they made them narrow so there was more space behind the net. I believe that was 2008-09?

You understand that this didn't change the size of the goal (ie the 24 square feet for players to shoot at), right?

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Increasing net size would just push the development of even larger equipment.

The equipment needs to be smaller.

No, it wouldn't. The NHL already has guidelines on how big equipment can get.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Just eliminate the rule regarding curve on sticks. Guys can make their sticks behave like lacrosse sticks and just look what those dudes have to score on!!

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Changing the nets changes the angles. Angles the goalies use to stay square to the shooter. Angles they have been training to know for years. Changing the nets will leave a whole generation of goaltenders quite inept IMO.

Changing the gear doesn't change their positioning. Guaranteed goalies will want smaller gear before changing the nets.

When was the last time any major sport altered the dimensions of their goal?

NFL uprights got narrower. =) Changing NHL sticks from wood to composite qualifies as a significant change in equipment. Defensive 3 seconds in the NBA is a huge change. Big rules changes happen all the time.

Angles change if one goalie is used to huge equipment and now must change to smaller equipment.

I'm not saying bigger goals are definitely the answer. I'm saying it should be considered as strongly as the other alternatives.

[topfiverecords]

Make the puck smaller.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Philly06Cup

NFL uprights got narrower. =)

Fair enough I guess.

Changing NHL sticks from wood to composite qualifies as a significant change in equipment. Defensive 3 seconds in the NBA is a huge change. Big rules changes happen all the time.

Rule changes are different than changing the size of the goal IMO. Particularly when it's a specific player's job to defend it.

Angles change if one goalie is used to huge equipment and now must change to smaller equipment.

No it doesn't. The angle is being square to the puck relative to the net. Changing the gear may alter styles, but the angles of knowing where the net is relative to the puck will not. It very much would be the same as not allowing the players to curve their sticks. Most of them would become very terrible quite quickly.

[MarkGio]

Here's something interesting about an experiment with taller baskets in basketball:

http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2906707

Today's hockey is much more different structurally than old time hockey. A lot of players block shots, screen the goalie, deflect pucks, and do whatever it takes to improve save percentages and reduce save percentages. Old hockey was more open, tic-tac-toe, and had more movement. I betcha hockey would have profound effects if the nets were increased.

Take it for what it's worth, but apparently the NBA is considering increasing the heights of the baskets.
http://nationalreport.net/nba-raise-rim-height-11-2018/

[sun]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Make the net twice the size of a soccer net. You'll have all sorts of increased scoring and everyone will be happy, right?

I wish this topic would just die.

Who has suggested a 50' wide net? Stop being stupid.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Take it for what it's worth, but apparently the NBA is considering increasing the heights of the baskets.
http://nationalreport.net/nba-raise-rim-height-11-2018/

You might want to read the other stories on that site before using it as a reference.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by getbak

You might want to read the other stories on that site before using it as a reference.

Ah, it's a joke site. I thought it was weird nobody else was reporting it, hence I made sure to say "take it for what it's worth".

It's not really funny or clear it's a joke site at first glance

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by sun

Who has suggested a 50' wide net? Stop being stupid.

I suggested it. It would guarantee increased scoring.