I was at the Sharks game tonight and came up with a few ideas.
- If a player goes offside and the puck is hanging around the blue-line, I feel that the attacking player (as he skates out to tag up) should be able to carry the puck out (providing he demonstrates a clear intention to exit the zone) without the play being blown dead. It would do a great deal to increase the flow of the game.
- The delay of game rule has been a great addition to hockey but the rule should apply to pucks dumped out of play onto the bench. I realize that the puck is perpetually shot onto the bench but I think that it should be the official's discretion to call that a penalty. I noticed the Sharks did it tonight twice and the Stars did it once. It is a disgusting way to stop play and I think that if an official thinks that it is a stalling tactic that he should have the authority to penalize the offending player. This also would improve the flow of the game.
- The NHL also needs to redefine how they call a hook. It is absolutely ridiculous how a hooking penalty is called on the smallest of obstructions. Often times the obstruction goes unnoticed by the player handling the puck.
- The refs also need to be more strict with respect to calling penalties on those after the whistle scrums. It is crazy how physical some guys get. They pick on the smaller players and the smaller players hold themselves back and do not retaliate because more often than not they are penalized for the response as opposed to the player who acts as the catalyst.
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