"Does Size Matter?"

The AHL always the place for the NHL to experiment with no rules increased the size of the neutral zone for 8 games this past month. The red line and two blue lines were widened from one foot to three feet. This was the brain child of former NHLer Bobby Smith who propsed it in the hockey news.

The idea behind the experiment is to see if a wider neutral zone will actually prevent the trap. The NHL really wants scoring up in the league and Gary Bettman wants the puck in the net more. Attempts this year like goalie equipment crack downs and the posting the list of "divers" in lockerrooms hoping to get more powerplays have done nothing. Scoring is actually down AGAIN this year.

The line changes down in the AHL for a few games didn't do much either. Although there is still potential in the idea of having longer passes that won't be considered two line passes the rule is confusing. The player with the puck has to actually clear the larger blueline before his teammates make it into the zone. This caused much confusion and coaches claimed the rule wasn't caught as many as 3 times during one of the games.

Former NHL players making their way in the AHL chimed in.

Karl Dykhuis claimed it gives you a chance to make longer passes, however that things become trickier at the blueline.

Aaron Gavey a former Dallas Star said didn't even notice a difference.


Coming up:

Bid for the Whitehouse stuff

and

a follow up to the Echelon Mall Story, Dinner with my Half Brother.