The Hockey News: Screen Shots: Screen Shots: My utopian NHL

Screen Shots: My utopian NHL

If Adam Proteau had his way, Winnipeg would once again have an NHL team.

Adam Proteau
2008-01-21 23:30:45

During a recent interview with Paul Kelly – which can be found HERE – the NHLPA’s newly crowned executive director said he was not a fan of continual tinkering with the game. And I agree with him. Sort of.

See, whereas Kelly wants to scale back the changes to the rules and structure of the NHL, I’d rather give the league the mother of all makeovers. I’d prefer a whirlwind, multi-faceted, floor-to-ceiling reno job that allows hockey’s biggest stage to grab the attention of the sports world and never again loosen its grip. And yes, I’ve concocted some fairly detailed notions of what that reconstituted NHL would and should look like.

You may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. In fact, I know lots of hockey obsessives who have detailed blueprints already drawn up and in secret storage, awaiting just one opportunity to overthrow the Bettman Regime and reclaim the NHL for the people.

Besides, if stat geeks can prop up the fantasy hockey industry, surely there’s room for a fantasy league in which the remodeling of the league itself is the contest. With that in mind, here’s what my NHL would look like:

(If you get a similar inclination and want to wow the hockey industry with your innovation, email a description of your ideal league to aproteau@thehockeynews.com or post it below; we’ll print the top submissions in my Screen Shots column in the coming weeks.)

League Structure

• 30 teams – in other words, no more expansion!

• Dissolve divisions altogether, leaving two conferences only.

• Florida Panthers franchise relocated to somewhere in Southern Ontario.

• Atlanta Thrashers franchise relocated to Winnipeg, shifted to Western Conference.

• Detroit Red Wings shifted to Eastern Conference.

• Regular season begins in mid-September, ends in late March; pre-season begins after Labor Day.

• Four pre-season games per team.

• An 86-game regular season schedule that sees each team play 14 conference opponents four times each, as well as a home-and-home series with all 15 teams in the other conference.

• New point system to decide league standings: three points awarded for every regulation-time win; two points awarded for every overtime win; one point awarded for every shootout win. Zero points for losing.

• First team in each conference receives a bye to second round; ninth and 10th-seeded teams in each conference play one game at conclusion of season for final playoff berth.

Television

• Games televised on ESPN, Versus and NBC.

• Blackout policy on NHL’s Center Ice Satellite TV package abolished.

Related Links

Rule Changes

• No-touch icing rule adopted.

• Visors made mandatory via grandfathering process.

• Teams no longer allowed to legally ice the puck when they’ve been penalized.

• Trap system punished by two-minute illegal defense penalty.

• Shootouts extended to five shooters aside; all skaters must take off helmets before shooting.

• Goalie equipment shrunk 15 percent and/or custom-fitted in every area except skates, helmet…and jock.

Discipline

• Any player guilty of applying two dangerous hits from behind is automatically suspended five games; each additional incident caused by player tacks on 15 more games to subsequent suspensions.

• Hits-to-head policy adopted mirroring the OHL’s (meaning contact with the head, incidental or not, is a two-minute penalty; five minutes if it’s with an intent to injure or results in an injury).

• Abolition of the instigator rule, but any fighting major includes automatic ejection from game; repeated fights/ejections punished on a sliding scale of suspensions and hefty fines (four games and $15,000 fine for second fight, eight games and $30,000 for third fight, 16 games and $60,000 for fourth fight, etc.)

• Egregious incidents of violence receive season-long suspensions.

• Drug testing random throughout calendar year, not just during season.

Miscellaneous

• Continued league participation in Winter Olympics beyond 2010.

• At least one outdoor regular season game each year, with the possibility of staging the game in Europe two years prior to every Winter Games.

• At least two European-based regular season games in every non-Olympic year.

• New individual trophies honoring the league’s most improved player, defensive defenseman and comeback player of year.

• White jerseys for all home teams.

• Mandatory media retraining – emphasizing frankness, good humor and creativity in dealings with reporters – for all players and management.

• Full media access for qualified bloggers.

• Mandatory organ music in all arenas.

This story orginally appeared in the Jan. 22 edition of The Hockey News.

Adam Proteau’s Screen Shots appears every Thursday only on thehockeynews.com. Want to take a shot at Adam Proteau? You can send him a comment or question through our Ask Adam feature.

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COMMENTS (39)

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Kevin McCauley Posted
(2009-04-30 06:00:29)

Great Article Adam, Some I agree with, some I don't, and some just aren't doable. There is one thing I would like to add, if you want teams to play back to back games, then mandate that the games be at home. Playing a night game in Atlanta, then having to fly to Long Island for a game the next night, really puts the traveling team at a disadvantage from the start.

Charley Hall Posted
(2009-04-30 06:00:21)

Adam, Found your column about proposed changes the NHL very thought provoking. I would like to get my 2 cents worth in. League Structure Possibly allow for 2 more teams to bring the league up to an easy to work with 32 teams. Give Cleveland and Kansas City another chance as those cities did not receive fair chances the first time around. Cleveland has a great hockey history and the only name that fits is Barons. Las Vegas should NOT and should NEVER be an option. As far as moving teams to Winnipeg and Southern Ontario (Hamilton), Nashville and Carolina would be better canditates than Atlanta and Miami. I lived in Atlanta for six years just after the Flames left and even then there was plenty of interest in hockey there. I think if Florida ever gets its act together Miami would prove to be a great hockey city. I think your idea of 86 games is 8 too many. Start the seaon on Oct 1 and have it end by late March/early April. Keep the playoffs at 16 teams and have them end by the Indy 500 like they used to. Instead of no divisions, have each conference broken into just 2 divisions, top 2 in each division make playoffs with remaining 4 berths going to next 4 teams with best record. I agree with a win being 3 points but I think in games involving a shoot out 2 points to the winner, 1 to the loser. Rule Changes What ever it takes to legislate the trap out of the game, just do it!!! This might include a game misconduct for the coach of the offending team (or at least award a penalty shot). Discipline No ejection for fighting but I agree with the idea of an accelerated fine system for cronic offenders. Miscellaneous I think the idea of the NHL participating in the Olympics is an idea whos time has passed. Not only does it disrupt the season but the teams have very littile time to practice together. In lieu of Olympic participation, the NHL and the IIHF shoud commit themselves once and for all to having a World Cup of Hockey every four years on a permanent basis. I feel a stand alone event like this prior to the season on a regular basis would generate much more interest and excitement then having NHL players in the Olympics does. Having the World Cup before the regular season would give the teams time to practice together (after all hockey is a team game). In order to make it a true World Cup, hosting of the games should rotate between North America, Scandanavia, and Eastern Europe. When the games are being played overseas, scheduling could be done to play most of the games involving Canada and the USA on weekend mornings North American time. Look at how Soccers' World Cup compares to soccer in the Olympics. White Jerseys at home; MEGA DITTOS!!!! Mandatory organ music in all areas; DOUBLE MEGA DITTOS!!!! After all it is a hockey game, not a rock concert. Let the NBA (or NBE) keep the loud music. At least one outdoor game a year. RIGHT ON, but not on New Years Day. A good time for it would be the Sunday before the Super Bowl. The above are just one fans opinion and it will be interesting to see what feedback you get from other fans on this most interesting column. Charley Hall Centerville, OH

Kevin Court Posted
(2009-04-30 06:00:02)

I like all of your wishes except the home team wears white. I would have the home team in their colors for 2 reasons. First, they would be wearing the team colors in front of the home fans and secondly, this would typically simplify the wearing of a third jersey since it is likely to be in team colors as well. No need for visitors to bring both colors and white jerseys just in case.

Peter Richard Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:59)

Nice dream, Adam! We can only wish eh. I would add that I would like to see Columbus moved to the East as well (you have to have every team playing a majority of their games in their own time zone) and the standings points system changed to 2 points for a regulation win, 1 point for an OT/SO win and none for losing.

Robert Thomas Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:50)

I like most of your ideas. The only ones I disagree with is the trap penalty, the discipline section (I think more fighting is better for the league instead of hits from behind), and moving Detroit to the east. I would also suggest moving Nashville to Seattle or Hartford (I'll admit it may cause some balance problems). Though I would like to see another NHL team in Colorado Springs that's probably asking for much. Oh and mandatory organ music would be awesome.

Johnny hanson Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:39)

Wow, that was funny. I don't know what sport your were describing exactly but maybe you can program it into your Nintendo. Well I have no illusions either that my preferred NHL game will ever be realized. I say reinstate the rule book form the '93-'94 season, pray 6 US teams go bankrupt and two relocate to Canada, shorten the bench to 18 and hope never to see or hear from Bettman again. Maybe you didn't notice, I'm old school...

Tim A Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:38)

I think the schedule is a great idea. I've long held every team should play every other Home and Home. After that, Rivalries can be catered too if you want to drop a few games. Home and homes with a few of your nearest rivals, or with a Southern team in winter for a little sun. Realistically, with all the travel, there would have to be some serious extension of the season or a cut down in games... if not, the team on the opposite coast wouldn't be near fresh compared to the home team. I guess if you want alot of home wins it would be OK. Fighting should change, but not be eliminated. First, due to the visor rule which absolutely should be grandfathered in, any player in a fight situation MUST drop gloves, stick AND HELMET. Hands are not replaceable, and helmets do a heck of a job on knuckles. In addition, players that fight with helmets on don't feel a whole lot, so they are more apt to continue vs. actually getting clocked and thinking twice the 2nd time around. Also, NO GRABBING the opponents jersey. No grab, no haul down to the ice. No wrestling match. No landing on the other guy and hitting his head on the ice. Makes it alot harder to fight and helps to control the crashing of two players to the ice. Also makes it easier for the linesman to step in. There should be no fines or such with the exception of a modified instigator rule. Would apply when one player jumps another unaware, as a punishment for surprise attacks. 2 points for a win, none for a loss. Period. How you won or lost is irrelevant. You want points, win the game. The touchy feely you tried so hard and tied after regulation so you get a point is the problem. eliminate it, problem solved. No more cruising to OT just to get the point. Many more thrilling finishes as desperation kicks in knowing 2 points are slipping away. No Blackouts except in actual home town of team playing, and that at team's discretion. I've never understood the NHL's mentality: We can create hockey fans by eliminating their ability to see the game. I live in an area with a "sphere of influence" nightmare... and I PAY for center ice, and yet I have blacked out games... that include the team of who's sphere of influence I'm in ! Goalie equipment needs to be addressed again. Take the widths back to the old days. Instant open net. Goalies today are half again as wide as they used to be. The 45 degree bars is an excellent idea. I am firmly against changing the goal size... NO 4 on 4. I hate 4 on 4. I'd rather see the rink sizes go up before I'd want to bastardize one of the games foundations. Make the rinks a little bigger and give guys room to skate. 5 foot on each end would be enough. Just enough to make an extra seam down the boards and around the net. Just enough to put the defenseman 2 strides further out. Guys like Crosby would eat it up and shine...

Jon Hildebrand Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:37)

I think the fighting stuff in here is dumb. Leave that part of the game alone and let the players police themselves like they did in the old days. I don't see the problem with fighting in the game. Get rid of the entire Southeast Division. Bye Tampa, bye, Florida, bye Atlanta, bye Carolina...oh and add Nashville to that list as well. Send those teams to Quebec, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and Hartford. Send Bettman out to the pasture Agree with the organ music...I could care less about stupid 50 cent songs at a hockey game. Agree with the points breakdown

Alex Goldman Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:37)

1) Icing, visors, and fighting and head shots -- YES. 2) League structure -- fine (although 30 teams naturally fit into 3 divisions if you can work out a playoff format for that) 3) Number of games. Please no! The schedule is too rough on the players as it is. I'd like to see an experimental short season during the olympic year, perhaps just the 56 in conference games you suggest (yes, leaving out the additional 30 games of cross conference travel). Some fans may want to see this or that team every year (especially Pittsburgh) but I believe that one cause of the flu and fractures each year is the long travel times.

Patchett Posted
(2009-04-30 05:59:36)

i think all the rule changes to the nhl just makes it weaker i hate the glamorized style of play the US show time style of play. bring back enforcers bring back blue chip d-man bring back the trap bring back the good ole canadian style. i relise this may not be the most exciting to market to a broad market but i just cant stand the US style of the NHL. it is killing canada's game. just my opinion.

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