3 ms·

Maybe the penalties could still be 5-on-4: the offending player gets removed, but can be replaced, and the other team gets to bring on an additional skater.

JohnBooty 6y ago
I think it would work but it's such a fundamental change to the sport that I can't imagine any established hockey league even considering it. Not saying they shouldn't, just saying they won't! The most radical change I can imagine them considering would be eliminating offsides.
- dmurray 6y ago
  Is it bigger than changing the size of the goal (the author's preferred solution?)
  - JohnBooty 6y ago
    Yes, I think altering the number of players on the ice is way more radical than changing the size of the goal by a few %... I wouldn't think they are even comparable! What do you think?
    - dmurray 6y ago
      I don't watch enough hockey to know, and never played. But if the goalie can cover 90% of the small goal, and 70% of a goal just a few percent bigger, it makes sense to me that could be a bigger change than changing the number of players.
      - JohnBooty 6y ago
        For a lot of people, it's more than a sport. It's a huge chunk of Canada's identity for well over a century. Changing the number of players on the ice would be like... well, I can't think of an analogy. But they'd never go for that. (Watch them prove me wrong...) But if the goalie can cover 90% of the small goal, and 70% of a goal just a few percent bigger, it makes sense to me that could be a bigger change than changing the number of players. I don't think they're trying to make the biggest change possible, right? I don't think anybody's talking about changing the fundamental nature of the sport. 4 vs. 4 would change everything right down to roster construction, who you want to draft, and other aspects. Also there's now less ice time to go around. etc. It's also a very coarse adjustment. Versus changing net dimensions, something they could experiment with in small increments at the minor league level.

JohnBooty 6y ago

I think it would work but it's such a fundamental change to the sport that I can't imagine any established hockey league even considering it. Not saying they shouldn't, just saying they won't! The most radical change I can imagine them considering would be eliminating offsides.

dmurray 6y ago
Is it bigger than changing the size of the goal (the author's preferred solution?)
- JohnBooty 6y ago
  Yes, I think altering the number of players on the ice is way more radical than changing the size of the goal by a few %... I wouldn't think they are even comparable! What do you think?
  - dmurray 6y ago
    I don't watch enough hockey to know, and never played. But if the goalie can cover 90% of the small goal, and 70% of a goal just a few percent bigger, it makes sense to me that could be a bigger change than changing the number of players.
    - JohnBooty 6y ago
      For a lot of people, it's more than a sport. It's a huge chunk of Canada's identity for well over a century. Changing the number of players on the ice would be like... well, I can't think of an analogy. But they'd never go for that. (Watch them prove me wrong...) But if the goalie can cover 90% of the small goal, and 70% of a goal just a few percent bigger, it makes sense to me that could be a bigger change than changing the number of players. I don't think they're trying to make the biggest change possible, right? I don't think anybody's talking about changing the fundamental nature of the sport. 4 vs. 4 would change everything right down to roster construction, who you want to draft, and other aspects. Also there's now less ice time to go around. etc. It's also a very coarse adjustment. Versus changing net dimensions, something they could experiment with in small increments at the minor league level.