One thing I’ve considered is that the NHL should have a development league in the summer. A structured place to test new rules, let some free agents show off their skills, and get some extra ice time for prospects and players, similar to the NBA Summer League. Base it in one city, a couple games a day over a few weeks, see if we like a smaller or larger neutral zone or bigger nets or a lacrosse box on the ice next to the benches where you can change players without risking a too many men call. Heck, what if we had blue ice instead of white?
The 3Ice league in Minnesota is a summer league, based in one city, with different rules. Grant Fuhr is Head Coach of 3Ice Chicago, so he has experience with something new:
“3Ice has been a lot of fun, and we had a couple guys sign with American Hockey League teams. Yeah, I think it’s great for the offensive talent, it’s great for goalies, we’ve had a few goalies sign contracts out of the league. It’s exciting and a great place to try some different rules. [No power plays, only penalty shots / puck bouncing off the netting back into the ice is in play / goalies can play the puck anywhere, etc…] Sometimes possession can get boring, so we have a rule where you can’t take the puck back across centre, some different things that keep the offense in it, try to keep it fun.”
People have been pushing the no taking the puck back after you get possession in NHL overtime, so perhaps another summer of 3Ice doing so will get it more noticed.
