Interpreting the goalie interference rule: Should netminders be fair game?

There is one disturbing trend in the intrepretation of NHL rules in the last decade that, to date, no one seems to be discussing. It is a sacred cow.

The disturbing trend is how the goalie interference rule is used to give goalies carte blanche to handle the puck without interference from other players. Over the years, goalies have been given more protection from opposing players, and therefore, more freedom to roam and handle pucks outside of the crease.

Today, you commonly witness a goalie skate behind the net to retrieve a puck and then opposing players who could easily get the puck off the goalie ease up, for fear of getting a goalie interference penalty.

The result has been that, until this year, goalies who could handle the puck well could easily interupt a dump in and clear the puck from their zone. This reduced scoring chances, and the NHL realized. So, in their wisdom, this year the NHL introduced the trapezoid area behind the net, outside of which goalies cannot handle the puck. And this isn't the first time the problem of wandering goalies taking advantage of their protected position has been addressed by a rule change. Years ago, the NHL also introduced the rule that goalies cannot cross the centre red line after Gary "Suitcase" Smith famously skated the puck up ice and across the centre line unimpeded.

It seems to me that this new NHL rule, as with the centre line rule, addresses a symptom, and not the problem.

The problem is, and I'm definitely going to take some heat for this, is that once a goalie leaves the crease, once the goalie leaves a position from which they can stop a puck from entering the net, they are no longer acting as a goalie. They are a puck carrier. And as a puck carrier, they should be fair game for opposing players to check in order to retrieve the puck.

But goalies will get injured people will say. Goalies are not built the same as skaters and can't handle checks the same.

Well, then perhaps those goalies should stay in their crease where they can stop shots on net, rather than wandering out of the net to do the defenceman's job.

If the goalie interference penalty was applied only to interfering with a goalie in the crease, while doing the job of tending the goal, and if they were subsequently at risk of being checked or otherwise engaged if they left the crease, a lot of goalies would stop leaving the crease to handle the puck.

If they couldn't handle the heat, they'd stay out of the kitchen.

Voila...no need for a trapezoid behind the net. No free passes to clear the puck from the zone. Increased scoring chances. Fewer unneccessary penalties.

The NHL, and most leagues, needs to address the disease, not the symptoms. The result will be a more free flowing game for fans and players alike.

Comments

[Chris]

/agree completely

Interpretation is the NHL's biggest
albatross. Anything that can reduce the amount need to officiate a game, I'm all for. Taking away a goaltender's 'player' status is wrong for the direction of the game.

[Piglet]

I also agree with this idea, and I'm a goalie! That's the whole point of having a crease right? Now it's true I'm a stay at home goalie, as anytime I leave the net to play a puck it ends up in the net. But I think there are goalies other that play the puck, that would love to have players try and check them, I mean goalies have more padding then the players so bring it on!!!! Just imagine Hextall playing the puck and someone coming in to check him, you don't think he would love that?

[JBurgess]

Yes - but maybe a two stage crease to allow playing the angles. They are a bit small. Also, if a goalie is a couple feet out and makes a save, can he then be bowled over to get the puck away? You can freeze the puck outside the crease and that is not the same kind of play being talked about here - but if the goalie is then hit for "playing the puck" outside the crease it opens up a new can of worms. Piglet is right Hextall or Billy Smith would love it - most goalies would. I know I do. It's the coaches and GMs that would have heart attacks.

[Piglet]

Maybe the crease should go back to the old half circle? I think the rule could be that if the goalie freezes the puck outside of the crease, then you can't touch him? Freezing the puck would mean the goalie is on the ice, not on his skates, if he's on his skates, he is then "playing" the puck? Also maybe if the goalie became fair game, they would have to do away with the "instigator" rule/penalty and let the teams tuff guys look after anyone that takes a cheap shot on a goalie that is freezing the puck?

[Silk]

Lunacy. Who wants to see goons running goalies? Exactly what will happen. Goalies are well protected but most aren't very nimble, they'd be sitting ducks.

[Jake Litva]

I agree with the Goalies being fair game behind the icing line. It is very frustrating watching guys having to back off of goalies who are very adept at puck handing.
I still think goalies who are "goal tending" out of the crease should not be interfered with as they got a tough enough job just finding the puck.

[Ivan]

I totally agree and I also am a goalie. When I played up north the guys I played with told me up front outside of the crease you are fair game. Also mind you I'm a wondering goalie. So I was like ok, and to be honest making a save a couple feet out was never a problem there is that unwritten code you are making a save. But going to get the puck big whoop. Weren't we all taught how to check and get checked? I know I was.