I actually like 4 on 4 hockey and its one of my favourite parts about overtime, but if it did happen this'd be like the shootout:
awesome when it rarely happened; terrible when its happens all the time
I think it would be better to just expand the ice, than going 4-on-4.
I don't think it needs to be as big as International size, but something could be figured out.
It would be expensive to implement, but if it increases the flow of the game while keeping the game exciting, it would make such a project worth it.
I often hear from announcers about how when it's 4 on 4 (skaters) due to penalties, the game becomes much more exciting, with a lot more opportunities to show fancy moves, and a lot more scoring chances.
Now I know this would offend a lot of hockey purists out there to go 4 on 4 permanently, but let's not forget hockey used to have even one more skater than it does now (the rover position). It was eliminated and I don't think I've ever heard anybody saying we should get it back. Somehow the game survived, then.
In other words, I don't think the number of skaters we have now is necessarily some sacred number that could never possibly be tampered with.
And whether or not you think the game would become better or worse - how about more popular, even if the change is otherwise not worth it? Would the (likely) increased scoring lead to more fans in the southern US, for example? This is obviously a separate debate, but related enough to keep as part of this thread.
Just throwing this all out there. I think it's worthy of debate, at the very least.
Personally I hope it never happens. With that aside, the PA will likely have an issue with it anyway.
You'd see some interesting changes in tactics including teams going to 3 forwards one defenseman late in the game, perhaps,or even the invention of a completely new position.
Scoring would see a massive increase, good skaters, especially defensemen would thrive.
I think the boards should be covered in barbed wire and the glass should be replaced by a steel cage. The nets should be on fire. Penalties such as cross-checking, high-sticking, etc... should be eliminated. One player on each team will carry a chainsaw which they can use with impunity.
Finishing a game without any bodychecks will result in being benched for the next game and fined. The nets will be widened to soccer lengths. To compensate for this the goalies will be allowed to wear as big of equipment as they can possibly fit on their bodies.
During every TV timeout a random fan will be selected to step on to the ice with the goal to avoid being run over by players. Success means free season tickets for a year.
Punishment for allowing a goal means the goalie must step into the fire net and retrieve the puck himself.
The ice surface will be shrunk in half to allow for more body contact. Also, all plastic found in a player's gear will be replaced by light-weight titanium.
Also, the Stanley Cup will be renamed as the Don Cherry Cup. Teams will be limited to 2 non-Canadian players on their rosters.
I think the boards should be covered in barbed wire and the glass should be replaced by a steel cage. The nets should be on fire. Penalties such as cross-checking, high-sticking, etc... should be eliminated. One player on each team will carry a chainsaw which they can use with impunity.
Finishing a game without any bodychecks will result in being benched for the next game and fined. The nets will be widened to soccer lengths. To compensate for this the goalies will be allowed to wear as big of equipment as they can possibly fit on their bodies.
During every TV timeout a random fan will be selected to step on to the ice with the goal to avoid being run over by players. Success means free season tickets for a year.
Punishment for allowing a goal means the goalie must step into the fire net and retrieve the puck himself.
The ice surface will be shrunk in half to allow for more body contact. Also, all plastic found in a player's gear will be replaced by light-weight titanium.
Also, the Stanley Cup will be renamed as the Don Cherry Cup. Teams will be limited to 2 non-Canadian players on their rosters.
There were probably a good portion of people who thought the same way when they eliminated the Rover.
I am sure there were purists that hated the idea of adding the forward pass too. Or names and numbers on jerseys. Goalie masks, etc. Still, that doesn't help defend the idea that 4 on 4 would work.
After all of the nonsense from last season? Are they going to continue to officiate from the press box? It doesn't do the game one damn bit of good because the game will always be better manged by those people actually playing it.
Waaaaaay too many penalties.
Waaaaaay too many suspensions.
Waaaaaay too many people whining about "low scoring" like there is something inherently boring about a 0-0 hockey game.
Waaaaaay too many people crying about the "player safety" of multimillionaires. It's called hazard pay! If you want someone to be concerned about, how about coalminers or something? They've been doing dangerous work, many of them for generations, while being paid mostly crap wages. Perspective. Get some people.
