Things that the NHL should not do

A number of lists have been posted lately (mostly on Puck Daddy) about things that the NHL should change. I even posted a list of recommended rule changes myself. However, many of these lists contain items that absolutely should not be changed.

Changing the size of the nets
This suggestion is brought up over and over again, but really should not be. Although it would make it slightly easier to score, inflating the point totals is not really good for the game in general. There are less controversial ways to increase scoring such as allowing more curve in the sticks and changing the colour of the goal. To make a more exciting game the focus needs to come off goals, and to try and create an environment that allows more scoring chances.

League Contraction
There are a number of concerns over the size of the league, but it would be very detrimental to the NHL to have a smaller league. Not only would they lose money, but they would also lose talent and public standing. If anything the NHL is more likely to expand up to 32 teams.

Less playoff teams/Less games per series
Any suggestion to having less teams in the playoffs or to have shorter series in the first rounds are simply bad ideas. Playoff hockey is the best thing that the NHL has to offer, and creating less of it is simply a bad idea. Furthermore one of hockey's strengths is that a a best of seven series is used rather than single elimination. Anything move closer to single elimination is a step backwards.

No touch iceing
The current iceing rules reward teams for being fast, no touch iceing takes this advantage away from the quicker teams and as such is detrimental to the game.

Removing the Salary Floor and or Cap
The Salary Cap is the best thing to come out of the lockout, and as the fan of what is traditionally a small town (although not really in the hockey sense) I fully support the Salary Cap. Furthermore a Salary Floor is needed, as the players are contractually obligated to receive a percent of all revenue, so the removal of the floor would artificially inflate the Cap, leaving some teams behind.

Leave the Predators alone
Nashville may not be the strongest market, but it is still better than Florida, Phoenix, or Atlanta. Lets move these teams north before we worry about anyone else.

Failure to reword shootout losses
I am all for making everything a three point game, but to tell a team they get nothing because they failed in a skills competition is not acceptable. I would rather go back to ties instead of counting a loss in the shootout as a normal loss.

The tie breaker

Should the Sabres continue their current push for the playoffs, things will be close and could very well come down to the league's tie breakers. They are as follows...

1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
2. The greater number of games won.
3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any "odd" games, shall be used to determine the standing.
4. The greater differential between goals for and against for the entire regular season.

Every team in the league should finish with the same number of games played, so that shouldn't be an issue. As a result the pivotal rule is the second one. The flat out number of wins, and given the NHL's three point games, this does not help the Sabres.

The Buffalo Sabres currently less wins then the Bruins, Flyers, Capitals, Hurricanes, and Panthers. With the exception of Florida the Sabres don't have any games in hand to make this difference up. In short the Sabres can't afford to tie.

Buffalo is mostly split on the third tie breaking criteria, and actually do very well under criteria number four.

However the current job for Buffalo is to just keep winning. They don't play again, however, until Wednesday. Also, Happy St. Patrick's Day!