They're talking about making the pads less wide, not less thick. The protection will still be there, but the goalies will either have to move that extra inch to make the save or let another goal in.zenga said:I dont agree with the rule changes...If the GMs agree to make the pads smaller then why not make wooden sticks for the players manditory. With theses new sicks the shots are harder so the goalie needs all the protection he can get.
While your suggestion sounds good, it would just cause more problems. If a goalie is deemed fair game outside the net (or even just behind the net), every time he gets touched some teammate of his would drop his gloves to protect him the old fashioned way. He'd get two minutes for the instagation and we'd just run into a rash of power plays. Now maybe this might increase the goal count, but really . . . do fans really just want powerplay after powerplay? I think not.zenga said:As for the goalie handling the puck that is taking a skill away from the goalie, allow the goalie to play the puck but know he is fair game once outside the crease this would make the goalie think twice about coming out if he sees a player like Bertuzzi coming at in at full speed.
Taking away their ability to play the puck behind the net will allow teams to forecheck more and generate further 5-on-5 scoring chances. In addition, the powerplays that already exist will become more potent than they have been. Maybe we'll even see more hits back there, too.