HENDERSON, Nev. (CP) - Smaller goalie pads, three-point victories and limits on goalies playing the puck are among far-reaching changes proposed by the NHL's 30 general managers Tuesday.
The rule changes still have some important hurdles to clear, but it's hoped a more entertaining league will evolve from these decisions.
``A couple of these changes will make a major difference to the way the game is played,'' New York Islanders GM Mike Milbury said as the day-long meeting ended.
Tuesday's recommendations will be further re-examined at another GMs meeting in the spring, and then passed on in July to a blue-ribbon panel of hockey experts including coaches, players, media and some GMs.
Then the end package must be approved by the league's owners at a board of governors' meeting in late summer.
``In the final analysis it is subject to a board vote but as far as I'm concerned I think this process is moving along the way I anticipated,'' said commissioner Gary Bettman.
The GMs' recommendations include:
_ Goalies can no longer handle the puck behind the back-end red-line (behind the net);
``The original thought right now is that if the puck is behind the line and the goalie touches it, it's a two-minute penalty,'' said Bettman.
_ The width of goalie pads will be reduced to 10 inches from the current limit of 12 inches; also, the league's head office will act as a clearing house for goalie's equipment before they can wear it, in other words inspect it before giving it to goalies.
_ The nets being brought back to 10 feet from the back boards from the current 13 feet. The proposal would return the goal line to where it was before the 1990-91 season, when the league moved the nets out one foot to create more room behind the goal. The league moved the nets out another two feet prior to the 1998-99 season;
_ The tag-up offsides will be brought back;
``The sense in the room is that the tag-up offsides will lead to less whistles,'' said Bettman.
_ The AHL will be asked to try out three points being awarded for a victory in regulation time with the NHL possibly going to that format in 2005-06 if it works well in the minors; that would also include two points for an overtime win; it may also include two points for a penalty shootout win.
``We'd like to provide an incentive for teams to win in regulation,'' Bettman said.
_ The AHL will also be asked to try out the so-called ``fat lines'' of both blue-lines and the centre red-line next season. But they will be 24 inches instead of the 36 inches tried out this year in the AHL. They're currently 12 inches wide in the NHL.
Responding to low-scoring games and dwindling attendance in some markets, the NHL's GMs didn't hold back when given a mandate by Bettman to find ways to open up the game.
``Yes, it is quite a bit,'' said Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford.
Reaction to the rulings was mixed.
``I've been a big proponent of trying to keep the goaltenders in their net,'' said St. Louis Blues veteran forward Scott Mellanby. ``I've been saying that for five years so I'm happy with that.''
But Ottawa Senators defenceman Wade Redden had some reservations.
``I think changing the size of the pads will make for a few more goals, but to not let goaltenders play the puck, I don't think that's a good idea,'' Redden said. ``It's part of the game, it will take away from the game.''
Calgary Flames forward Jarome Igina said the reduction in goal pads will serve two purposes.
``There will be more goals, but you're also going to see more acrobatic goaltending,'' said Iginla. ``They're great athletes back there...you're going to see more leg saves. It should be more exciting for the fans.''
Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff shrugged off the proposal for smaller pads.
''I don't think it's going to make any huge difference,'' said Kiprusoff, who lead the NHL with a 1.48 GAA and .941 save percentage. ``But if everybody's going to do it, I don't mind. If everybody has the same size gear, it's fair.''
There are also two changes that will go into effect as soon as this week. The penalty shot rule was clarified so as to include players who clearly are in a pursuit of a loose puck that would lead to a breakaway and are hauled down will now be awarded a penalty shot. Before, a player had to be in control of the puck.
Also, a clarification of the rule regarding goals scored when the net is slightly off - those goals will now count.
Of all the changes that could be adopted, the limit on goalies playing the puck behind the net could prove to have the biggest impact, especially on some of the league's top puck-handling netminders like Martin Brodeur and Marty Turco.
But Bettman said GMs put the league ahead of their individual teams' concerns, which has been a problem in the past.
``There was a very candid dialogue,'' Bettman said.
Legendary coach Scotty Bowman took part in the decision-making Tuesday.
``They're asking me as a coach what I would do in certain situations and since I'm not active anymore I can give an unbiased opinion on that,'' Bowman said.
There were other issues that didn't make the cut.
``With respect to bigger nets, it was discussed, but we decided it wasn't worth doing now,'' Bettman said.
St. Louis Blues defenceman Al MacInnis, invited by the league to take part, pushed hard for no-touch icing, an issue close to his heart after suffering a near-career ending injury earlier in his career rushing to a puck on an icing play.
But the league at this point won't go to the no-touch icing, which is in use in international hockey.
``There wasn't quite enough interest on no-touch icing to bring it to the threshold of a rule change but we'll keep it in mind because we know the concerns of the players,'' Bettman said.
Also passed over was the idea of playing the full two minutes of a penalty no matter whether a goal was scored or not.