Some thoughts from the NHL on TSN on Wednesday night.
I asked NHL general managers whether or not the criteria needs to be revisited, or are they okay with the rule involving "a distinct kicking motion" in deciding whether goals should count.
Seventeen general managers responded. Five of them said that yes, it needs to be revisited - not changed, necessarily, but put to further discussion.
The thinking is that there is too much confusion with the "distinct kicking motion". One GM said to look up the definition of 'distinct' in the Webster's Dictionary. So I did...and what it said was "clearly seen, unmistakable."
So that's fairly cut and dry, but the general managers don't necessarily see it that way - remove the word "distinct" from the description.
As for ideas to fix the problem, one general manager suggested that "anything goes - you kick it in the net, it counts". Another said "why not allow anything kicked outside the crease that goes across the line as a good goal".
And a third one said that as long as a portion of the skate blade is on the ice at all times, that's a good goal as well.
They will talk about this issue for sure at the general manager's meetings coming up during the Stanley Cup Final. They debate it at every general managers meeting, and they will debate it again.
Be sure to follow TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger on Twitter at twitter.com/DarrenDreger.