A bit of a tirade..

God, imagine MLB using different material for the balls because they can be hit further, or thrown faster.

The NHL attempts to improve itself by changing foundational elements of the game, instead of adding new features which do not interfer with the foundational features (ie: they are appropraite augmentations).

For example, hockey has readily adopted the use of goalie equiptment that is far larger than in the past and larger than what is adequate for sufficient saftey. Even player equipment is far tougher than what is required for sufficient saftey, resulting in serious injuries when caught with plastic-point laden elbows. Sticks made of god-knows-what have also been adopted, in an attempt to return some advantage to the skaters.
I don’t blame the players: an average player can have a great wrist or snap shot now. This is required if a player wants to survive in the league. However, one of the sufficient conditions of why spectacular plays happen is an occurance of a large disparity between player skill levels. College football is a prime exmaple: Some players are NFL calibre, some would’nt make the third string at other schools. Having sticks which ‘level the playing field’ is not a benefit, it is a PROBLEM! Having skill disparity is a virtue to a league. Composite sticks have artifially inflated average players abilities while reducing the abilities of elite players. This results in less dramatic plays. Combined with the goal eqipment inflation, the nhl then changes the fundamental rules of the game, to a certain extent. Fine.

Baseball: No aluminum bats, for that would change a standard of the game. Haha, im sure the technology exists where outfielders can have ultra lightweight, though very large, catching gloves. Is this ever considered?

There are several arguments as to why the foundations of a sport ought not to be changed. One is that the onjects of a game create a ‘historical mystique’ to them, which encouages fathers and sons to bond and play the sport, creating players and fans. Another is that if one wishes to compare stats across time (and any respectable sport requires this feature) than maintaining the same objects of the game is required. Third, and the argument I have featured here, is that it is a benefit to any sport to have disparity in talent levels. This allows elite players to showcase their talent at the expense of less elite players. A necessary condition to permit the changing of the objects of a game OUGHT to be that it either raises or lowers EQUALLY the standard deviation of talent level within the leauge, thus preserving an accaptable amount of disparity (obviously, too much disparity is a problem as well). This is not a sufficient condition for a change, only a necessary one. The NHL has introduced changes (composite stick, over inflated goal equipment) which causes the reduction of ability of elite players (who have the ability to use a wooden stick anyway) while another segment of the player population, the mediocre and weak players ability is inflated. Since this is not a uniform increase or decrease, the overall talent disparity of the league is reduced, resulting in tighter and less impressive play. Changing the officiating is only messaging a symptom of a deeper problem.

Andy

Posted by underthechestnuttree from LaSalle, Ontario, Canada on 12/15/07 at 11:59 AM ET

Maybe it’s not the pucks but the ice.

I see a lot of games where the puck bounces over what I presume are ruts. Sometimes the ice is so mushy the puck won’t move.

Fix the arenas, not the equipment.

Posted by Ted from Innisfil, Ontario on 12/15/07 at 02:47 PM ET

Since this is not a uniform increase or decrease, the overall talent disparity of the league is reduced, resulting in tighter and less impressive play.

Did you realize you just gave a definition of parity (apparently the holy grail of the NHL owners)?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/15/07 at 03:33 PM ET

haha yeah I can see that.

What I wanted to capture was there should be a good deal of stratification between players. I think the NHL is after reduced stratification between teams.

Posted by underthechestnuttree from LaSalle, Ontario, Canada on 12/15/07 at 03:55 PM ET