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TRAPPED
The trap and archaic rules are hurting the NHL

I'll just throw it out there: Game 2 of the Stanley Cup was the most boring game of the season. I've watched roughly 150 games, regular season and playoffs and Game 2 was by far the worst. A random poll of my co-workers yielded responses ranging from "I hate watching the Devils" to "I turned it off." A scary indictment from both the casual and passionate hockey fan.

ESPN's Darren Pang interviewed John Elway and he commented on how he enjoyed the speed of the game. Elway, who seems to be a casual observer, hits on the point that most fans would: He likes the speed. How much speed and excitement was stifled in Game 2? Just about all of it. Not even NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's rose-colored glasses could mask the fact that the game was a dud.

The NHL needs to make some rule changes if they hope to sustain a fan base in the years to come. Here are some proposals.

1) Ban the trap and similar defense techniques
2) Get rid of the two line pass
3) Bring back delayed offsides


Expansion and lack of elite talent is the birthplace of the trap. Teams that can't compete with faster teams simply employ the trap, clog up the ice and hope they bore the other team to death.

Think about it: You have a 200' by 85' playing surface being patrolled by 10 men (and four referees) averaging 6' in height and weighing 190 lbs. There is not a lot of space to maneuver out there. It's easy for a team to employ the trap, which leads to incessant banging of the puck off the boards, mad dashes to the red line just to dump it in and icings. Turnover hockey like this is not exciting.

The trap should be banned, with teams getting a warning first and then being assessed a minor penalty for each infraction afterwards. The penalty seems excessive considering the infraction, but it needs to be that way. Illegal defense hasn't worked in the NBA partially because the penalty is not that severe. It's only a foul shot attempt after an initial warning. A minor penalty would make coaches think twice about testing the referees.

The two line pass needs to be abolished as well. This rule has in place for way too long. Imagine telling a football team they couldn't use a long pass or a basketball team they can't use a full court pass. It's ridiculous. Abolishing the two line pass stretches a defense and doesn't allow a team to use a 1-2-2 trap from the red line forward. Now they have to be aware of a player sneaking through the defense, getting a pass and cutting to the net. The offensive team is taking a risk because a missed connection on a pass could result in an icing.

Bringing back delayed offsides will also help speed the game a little. There are too many faceoffs that slow the game to a drag at times. Having the players touch up at the blue line still gives the defense a chance to move the puck and it keeps the game moving.

If you think the trap is not hurting hockey, just remember that Game 2 was a 2-1 game for over two periods. Can anyone recall a Stanley Cup final game that was 2-1 and unbearable to watch?