Respect The Trapezoid or Respect The Crease?: Addressing The Issue of Goaltender Movement

By Mike

If you take a good look at the NHL rule book, there's a rule that's rarely ever called, but it's there:

28.7 Participating in the Play Over the Center Red Line - If a goalkeeper participates in the play in any manner (intentionally plays the puck or checks an opponent) when he is beyond the center red line, a minor penalty shall be imposed upon him. The position of the puck is the determining factor for the application of this rule.

I couldn't make that up if I wanted to...

I guess seeing that begs the question: What is the best way to address goaltender movement? I mean, I wouldn't consider this a hot issue like say, hits to the head, but is there any way we can address how goalies are used in a game that could add for more excitement to the game?

I say yes!

Currently as it stands, goaltenders have a trapezoid that they can play behind the net and if they play outside of it, it's considered a minor penalty. Why? Because if anyone hits a goaltender, it's considered goaltender interference and whenever a goalie would play the puck behind the net, it would theoretically slow down the game because a goalie would be playing the puck and no one could touch him. So what would I suggest the league solve this problem? Implementing a new trapezoid and reapplying how goaltender interference is called. Check this out:



Above would be an alternate design for the trapezoid. If a goaltender played the puck within the trapezoid and someone hit them, the referee would call the offending player for goaltender interference. Yet if the goaltender plays the puck outside that trapezoid, then that goaltender could be checked by an opposing player without penalty. In exchange, the goaltender would not be issued a penalty for playing the puck over the red line or leaving the crease. This would allow the goaltender to play the puck wherever they'd like and get certain functions more in line with a player.

So why is this significant? Video Reviews Below:

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While the fights are a bit gratuitous, the fact is as the game's evolved, we now have goaltenders who're becoming excellent puck handlers. Yet whenever there's a critical situation where a team is down by a point in the waning seconds of the game, they're forced to pull their goaltender for an extra attacker because the goaltender cannot be used in an offensive manner. Goaltenders like Evgeni Nabokov, Marty Turco, and Martin Brodeur are shown to be excellent puck handlers. If they can be used to lob shots from the point (and can be counted on to skate their tails off should the possession of the puck turn over) then I think allowing goaltenders to play the puck on the opposite side of the red line could be exciting.

As it stands, hockey remains pretty bright and exciting without the dimension I've just described. And of course, as long as there's Datsyukian dekes and Chara's checks, we're going to be talking about the excitement that forwards and defensemen can bring. But in addition to just making great saves, I think the rules should be revamped to help exceptional goaltenders stand out by being able to demonstrate the ways that they can be more than just guys that throw themselves in the way of a shot to keep the team in the game. They can be playmakers, agitators, and most importantly of all, teammates. I say let's expand the spectrum from which they play and allow some of their other talents to shine.