NHL looking at ways to increase goal-scoring
No matter the sport, fans love to see scoring. And each pro league — at one time or another — certainly has gone to great lengths to appease the masses.
The NBA, in an effort to stop the clunker, brick-filled 85-81 games in the early 1990s, moved in the 3-point line in 1994.
The NFL has made it so defenders basically can't touch a wide receiver or a quarterback anymore.
And baseball turned a blind eye during an era in which players ballooned by 20-30 pounds in one off-season, all because “chicks dig the longball.”
So it should come as no surprise that the NHL broached this very subject during the league's general managers meeting Tuesday in Toronto.
Last season there were an average of 5.46 goals per game, and this year that number has fallen to 5.33 through 227 games. That's the lowest number since 2003-04 when the average was 5.14, according to hockeyreference.com.
“Fans want to see goals,” Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling said. “Everybody wants to see highlight reels (of) great goals — other than the goalie he scored on. That's what people want to see.”
The question is how — or if — the GMs should tinker with the game to manipulate more pucks going into the net. The league has made rule changes to goalie equipment in the past, and they may go that route again.
But there's another idea on the table, and that's widening the nets.
“I don't know if I'm ready for that action,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “I'm sure they'll always visit a lot of things. But I'm not going to say that's the answer today.”
It will come as no surprise to Hawks fans that their team falls below the league average for goals per game (5.1 last season and 5.13 so far this year), and that's the way the defensive-minded Quenneville likes it.
Colin Campbell, the NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations, said he has four different sizes of nets in his barn, but before the league goes that route, Campbell told reporters in Toronto that reducing the size of goalie equipment might help.
Darling, though, citing the rule change before the 2010-11 season that shortened some goalies pads, said trimming the equipment again would “be a waste of time.”
As for widening the nets? Darling is cool with that, but he believes unless they “put a soccer net out there” scoring isn't going to increase drastically.
“Regardless of what they do, I don't think it's going to change anything,” Darling said. “I think goalies will just adapt and figure out new ways to stop the puck.”
If the GMs are serious about making changes, they will broach the subject again in Pebble Beach, California, next month when the board of governors meets and then could put things to a vote in March at the GM meetings in Boca Raton, Florida.
Asked about the scoring issue Tuesday, Patrick Kane said that, sure, offensive players would love to shoot at a wider net. Yet, Kane also believes the game is in “a pretty good place” and isn't for making any drastic changes.
“It seems like (the game is) growing every year,” he said. “You gather more fans, more interest just the way the game is right now, especially the way young players are coming in … how skilled they are, how fast they are.
“You're seeing a new generation as far as the way players come into the league and are able to play at such a young age. I think that's good for entertainment value.
“But I don't know if I'd change too much. I think the game is in a good place and it's generating more fans every year.”
Scouting report
Blackhawks (8-6-1) vs. New Jersey Devils (8-6-1) at United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: In one of their worst performances of the year, the Blackhawks fell behind to New Jersey 4-0 last Friday and ended up losing 4-2. Corey Crawford, who will start in net, was pulled after one period after saving just 9 of 12 shots. … The Devils were shut out by the Blues on Tuesday but still have won eight of their last 11 games. … Patrick Kane will attempt to extend a 10-game points streak in which he has 7 goals and 10 assists.
Next: St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, 7 p.m. Saturday
— John Dietz