Ok so it’s not ground breaking and won’t save the sport in the US, but I’d like to see it none the less.
The Big Idea:
Why not allow the players the option to take off their helmets during the shootout. It’s a small detail but for hockey cards, promotional / marketing commercials and so on they could use real in-game footage and it would rekindle an aspect that’s been missing in the game ever since Mactavish retired.
Ok so the cons? I’m sure someone will claim the potential of an injury, but really how much integrity does that argument have? We all play without helmets (or equipment at all) from time to time between friends. At times even though we play no contact we still let rip a quick one or push someone off the puck and seriously how frail must someone be to get hurt?
I’m just saying it would be a nice addition and eye candy for the fans to get to see their favorite players streaking down the ice against the opposing netminder with HD cameras catching their every moves (except in Chicago of course).
It’s not much but it’s enough, there shouldn’t even be a “debate” and “meetings” and all the crap that tags along with it. It’s not changing any dimension of the games (such as the bigger nets crap), it’s simply a neat-o idea that would show the fans that the league cares at least a little bit.
Opinions?
[Topic via HockeyForum.com]
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Fagstein // Nov 19, 2007 at 3:13 am
I think my main argument against it would be the same as your argument for it: those pictures would be the ones the kids see on promotional material.
It’s accepted now that everyone in the NHL wears helmets when they play. That also applies to the minor leagues, junior leagues, pee wee leagues and kids playing pick-up hockey in the park.
Having players take off their helmets gives the impression that skating without a helmet is cool. I don’t think that’s the message we want to send to kids.
They could also remove all their padding and their gloves when they go to the shootout, but what’s the point?
2 Adrian Corscadden // Nov 19, 2007 at 3:47 am
Nice, I never thought of that. I’m all for no helmets, as long as Carbonneau sends Komisarek out on the shoot-out so I can see his gorgeous face.
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