In its sixth year on the agenda at the annual March meeting of the NHL's 30 general managers, hybrid icing now has some support and could be considered for a rule change recommendation this year.
At least 20 managers have to vote in favor in order for the GMs to bring a rule change recommendation to the Competition Committee. If passed by the Competition Committee, a potential rule change then goes onto the Board of Governors' agenda.
"It makes sense," Rutherford said. "It makes it safer for the players. You're not going to get as many of those collisions right along the boards. Now, you're still going to get some if the offensive player wins that initial race because they're still going to race to the puck then -- it's open."
"We don't want automatic icing. They have it in international hockey and it looks awful. The puck gets iced and everyone stands around and it looks terrible," Toronto GM Brian Burke said. "But the race is too dangerous for the defensemen right now. I think you can keep the race in, but make it safer for the defensemen. The NCAA rule is you race to the faceoff dot. So if you're the defenseman and I chip it past you, I've only got to beat you to the hash mark and it's play on. If you beat me it's an icing. To me, we keep the chase, we keep the interest for the fans, it's an exciting play for our fans, but we make it safe for the defensemen."
What do you guys think about the new rule that might take an effect next season? I personally have nothing against the European automatic icing rule.
Automatic icing is a no-go for me because if you have a player dump the puck in behind from behind the red line, and a player like Hags can beat him there, it wouldn't matter because icing would be called.
I have less than zero faith in these refs to get the calls right...in any situation. For or against my team.
I'm a college hockey STH and I must say that hybrid icing is pretty frustrating because they always give any close calls to the defending team, so I feel it takes away a lot of potential scoring chances. Then if the offensive guy actually is ahead, you still get the same "dangerous" race for the puck, so its a pretty meaningless change in my opinion.
Definite no to automatic icing from me, and probably a no to hybrid icing as well. Just wouldn't make much of a difference in terms of safety, IMO. Players aren't putting on big hits on icing races like they used to. As time goes on they'll continue to become less frequent. Changing the rules would just put more powers in the hands of the inept officials.
Too much reliance on Refs/Linesman making the right call. As someone posted above, no faith in Refs at the moment until calls are allowed to be challenged with or without consequences.
Do you agree with my view about automatic icing? It's my first post in the thread.
I agree to an extent. What you say is true, but I think it's pretty infrequent. You see forwards beat out icing calls only a handful of times per game, with even fewer insurances leading to actual scoring chances (and even less goals).
I agree to an extent. What you say is true, but I think it's pretty infrequent. You see forwards beat out icing calls only a handful of times per game, with even fewer insurances leading to actual scoring chances (and even less goals).
Agreed.
I don't know what it is, but something about automatic icing doesn't sit right with me.
I suppose hybrid icing could work but I don't want automatic icing. I hate it.
On another note, getting rid of the trapezoid and allowing clutching and grabbing going into the boards would go a far way in player safety. By allowing the goalie to play the puck on dump ins, you protect your defender from possibly getting killed into the boards and allowing the clutching and grabbing prevents dangerous boards as well. Just grab on to the guy and take him into the boards and as soon as you get there, you have to let go otherwise it's a holding penalty.
The second you do youre gonna have fans whining that if they didnt call an automatic icing on a 50/50 puck their guy woulda had it, and he had a guy coming with him he could have set up, bla bla bla.
dont put the discretion in the hands of the ref. i like the players having to skate down for all the icings. you rarely see dangerous plays on that anyway.
Take the discretion out of the hands of these refs.
Auto icing, two line passes, no trapezoid, larger goal creases.
Get rid of shootouts, put ties back in. 10 minute 4v4 OT.
Good to go.
Auto icing makes hockey so hard to watch. That is what helped to contribute to the dead puck era, as did two line passes. Essentially you want to go back to pre-lock out hockey which will never happen.
