Want more goals, just look overseas...
Watching a junior game this weekend with former USNTDP goalie coach and current Boston College assistant coach Mike Ayers led to some great goalie talk. The hot topic of course is the debate of whether to make the nets bigger to produce more scoring. Anybody with European experience knows that you don't have to reinvent the wheel to make a move to increase scoring. We both agree that the simple solution is to slim down the post size like they do overseas. Pucks that may have hit the inside of the post and stayed out will now end up being goals and the NHL will be happy.
If the NHL decided to make the nets bigger it will be a major change. Goalies know angles because they have grown up with the net in the same place from peewees to pro's. If youth hockey rinks and organizations mandate bigger nets it will be very costly and that cost will end up being passed down to the youth players families. If the NHL opts for thinner nets it does not need to impact any other level of play nor does it impact goaltenders having to make a major adjustment. The thinner net will not impact a goaltenders style of play, systems or strategies. A net with European post dimensions will simply add more goals and no one would even notice the change.
My biggest concern is the health and safety of goaltenders. I consistently hear about how big goaltending equipment has become but very rarely hear any talk about the dramatic changes in the sticks currently being used by players. Equipment updates and protection is needed because of the sheer velocity of shots and making sure goalies can perform without fear. Goalie gear may be able to use some tapering here and there but unless players go back to using wood sticks, making sure our goalies are protected is far more important that some extra scoring.
Kind of sounds like the major league baseball bat argument and how aluminum will never be used at the pro level because of the velocity of the balls that are hit. I agree that the nets are the easiest thing to change. The zone has not changed that much buthte players have gotten bigger and faster so less room to work with. Same argument int hat players will never hit .400 again. Pitchers better but the collective size of the fielder is nearly 6 foot taller over the starting roster and better athletes so more "questionable" hits will be taken away. Less room to operate with and the park surface is smaller so less ground to cover. Other real estate was spent on seating in the new parks. Back to the net though, this is the easiest way to change things. Change it at the pro level as there is the $$ to support it and not at the youth level. Every rink having to change nets would stink for them. Hope to see you soon.
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