Radical rule change to boost scoring incoming?

Let's face it, as much as we love hockey, the last NHL season wasn't the most exciting in recent memory. Jamie Benn winning the scoring title with 87 points is only the tip of the iceberg. In the regular season, the goal scored per game average was only 5,03. During the playoffs, that number increased a bit to 5,32, which still is pretty low. At least Alex Ovechkin was able to save the face of the league with his 53 regular season goals. This lack of goal scoring against brings discussion of some rule changes to boost the number of goals and give the fans a better show. TSN's Dave Naylor once again brought the eternal suggestion of enlarging the goals. The key to goal scoring may lie in the icing rule though. Ronnie Shuker of The Hockey News brings a very interesting idea to the table: moving the icing line back to each team's blue line. That way, a team would only have to get out of it's zone to get rid of the puck. Source: THe Hockey News How is that a positive change? Wouldn't it only create never ending dump & chase scenes. According to Shuker, the space created in the neutral zone would be the key to boosting scoring chances.

As the icing rule is now, defensive formations are set up width-wise. To maintain puck possession through the neutral zone, teams on offense have to beat as many as five defenders lined up across the rink in the 25 feet between the red line and the offensive blue line. Setting icing at each team’s own blue line would stretch defensive formations length-wise, forcing teams on defense to guard the entire 50-foot neutral zone. This would increase the chances of getting through those formations and into the offensive zone.

Former NHL referee Kerry Fraser is also in favor of the move, saying it would create better opportunities for long passes and quick transition play. For the moment, this rule change is only being thrown in as a suggestion, but when vice-president of hockey operations Kris King heard it, he said it «may not be as crazy as it seems». According to The Hockey News, it wouldn't be the first time a professional team would experiment with the icing rule, the WHA forcing teams on the penalty-kill to get out of their zone to clear the puck away for a short period of time during it's short-lived existence.