Hockey is more than just a game of speed, skill, and strategy it’s a universe of perspectives. To uncover what truly shapes the sport today, I reached out to some of the game’s most knowledgeable voices: journalists, analysts, content creators, and writers who live and breathe hockey. Their answers, presented here in their own words, provide a unique lens on the trends, debates, and future of the sport.
Whether you’re a casual fan, a fantasy hockey enthusiast, or someone who studies the game obsessively, the perspectives you’re about to read offer a rare look behind the curtain. Each expert was asked the same questions, but the answers vary as widely as the ice is long — revealing personal philosophies, bold predictions, and sharp critiques that you won’t find anywhere else.
We start with the question on everyone’s mind: If you had the power, what would you change about the NHL?
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Change in hockey rarely comes easy. For every breakthrough rule or innovation, there’s decades of tradition pushing back. Yet the sport only moves forward because people dare to imagine it differently.
"I would change the offside rule to what it is in lacrosse, Because it would allow the offense to be less limited"
"Drop the puck quicker"
"I would add better advertising and PR promotions to help grow the sport to new hockey fans! Hockey has a significantly smaller audience than the majority of other professional sports in North America"
"I would change the NHL draft year age to 19. There could be an exceptional status for the NHL that could make certain prospects enter at 18, but 95% of players each draft don’t even play in the NHL right after they’re drafted. It would allow fans to feel like the draft has a more immediate impact like the NFL"
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“The NHL needs some type of hybrid system combining a luxury tax with a cap floor. Too many major market teams are hampered by past mistakes made by general managers. The idea that these teams could be stuck in a rut for a decade or more is unacceptable and harms the league’s competitiveness and appeal in vital hockey markets”
"I would change how this league and sport are marketed, and believe new Players Union Head Marty Walsh will have a finger on the pulse of this moving forward in an effort to better promote membered players as the game continues to evolve and revenue shares continue to rise"
"If I had the power, I'd lower ticket prices so more kids and families can afford to experience NHL games in person. That's how you grow the game"
"I'd love to see a 60 game regular season to reduce the wear and tear on players so they'd be healthier come playoff time. I think it would it would improve the game. I know it will never happen because it's a business and that's a lot of tickets and TV revenue to give up. But a shorter season, better playoffs and the Cup handed out by the end of May would be a huge win for everyone"
"I would limit No-Trade Clauses/No-Movement Clauses per team to 3 at most. This is a little more conservative than my ideal but I think 3 is a good middle ground for the players and the league. Gives teams more freedom to move guys, gives players the option to ask for more money, and it establishes a no-trade clause as a major factor for the city/team - not just a throw in to bring it down $200k AAV"
"I think the jailbreak rule needs to come to the NHL (started by the PHWL). If the short handed team scores on the PK, their player comes out of the box. It is meant to increase offense on the PK and have the PK take more chances"
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"I would get rid of the trapezoid rule forever. It is not like Martin Brodeur is playing in the NHL ever again. Besides, goaltenders handling the puck would be even more of an adventure"
🙏 A Thank You to Our Experts
This piece wouldn’t exist without the people who generously took time out of their day to share their thoughts. Each answer here reflects not just a perspective on the NHL, but the passion and dedication of those who live and breathe the game every day.
We encourage you to follow and support every creator, journalist, and writer featured in this article. Whether it’s reading their work, subscribing to their channels, or engaging with their analysis, your support helps keep the hockey conversation alive and thriving.
Hockey is built on community and this roundup is proof of how strong that community really is.
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