Via Puck Daddy (@wyshynski), here is a look at the shortened nets currently being tested at the R&D...

Via Puck Daddy (@wyshynski), here is a look at the shortened nets currently being tested at the R&D camp. They are 4 inches less deep with the purpose of opening up play behind the net.

9 months ago Apocalyptic0n3 5 comments 0 recs |

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I know the goalmouth is the same size

but this net just looks tiny.

Still, if it will open up some room, I like that they’re toying with the idea.

by J.J. from Kansas on Aug 17, 2011 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

I like the idea.

opening up play and giving players more options/space to work is a good thing. If they decide to make a change like this however, I think the goal indicator line (or something to serve the same purpose) will be needed. I think more goals could be “questionable” or unclear and i don’t want to have to rely on any more referee discretion than we have to.

by SlapshotGoal on Aug 17, 2011 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I've used these in beer league.

Really didn’t notice much difference, other than there was not as much room on top of the net for my water bottle to roam. They do look goofy at first but it really didn’t make much a difference to me. Should be interesting to see how they work in the NHL though.

Datsyuk and Friends

by Dubie on Aug 19, 2011 10:37 AM CDT reply actions

I don’t think it will make much difference to goalies. Maybe on occasion a butterfly goalie may notice it when he is backed into the back of the net. Their legs will hit the bottom post a lot quicker than normal. The difference will be opening up the area behind the net and possibly eliminating the trapezoid because goalies will be far more vulnerable when they go back there.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 19, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

I will say that it enabled me to play the puck...

what I’m going to call “more freely.” By that, I mean that when I went behind the net, I felt I had more room to get back there and set up for whatever I was going to do. For us, with all that equipment on, if we try to skate quickly behind the net, sometimes pads can clip the back edge of the net and I go tumbling. Only happened once or twice, but it has. Not with the shallower nets, though. I had more room and could be more aggressive when cutting around the back of the net.

The backing into the net thing is interesting too. How many times have we seen goalies back in on a shootout attempt, only to slide into the net? When that happens, there’s absolutely the potential for the puck to continue on it’s way into the net, counting for a goal. With the shallower nets, goalies may, like you said, hit the back post sooner and be able to push themselves out, therefore keeping a goal out of the net.

Overall, I like it. It sounds like we’ll see how the big guys respond to it in a few weeks.

Datsyuk and Friends

by Dubie on Aug 19, 2011 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions