I LOVE this idea
31 Thoughts: Bowman believes 'more Cup runs' possible for Blackhawks - Sportsnet.ca
Chicago Cubs, John McDonough became president of the hockey team in 2007. His baseball background is relevant for the purposes of this conversation.
“John’s been asking me for a long time, ‘Explain this healthy-scratch idea,’” Bowman said Monday, referring to players who don’t dress for games. “He’d say, ‘But we are paying them, right? I don’t get why we are not using them.’
“To be honest, I wasn’t really sure of a good answer. I think the idea used to be, you didn’t want a situation where if someone was coming in down four goals, they’d start a lot of trouble. But those guys don’t exist any more. If you can’t play, you can’t play.”
What Bowman suggested was every team continue to be allowed an in-game roster of 18 skaters and two goalies. However, coaches could insert their “healthy scratches” during a game. Like baseball, once someone is taken out, they cannot return.
Someone gets injured? Substitute. Down 2–0 heading into the third period, with an offensive player not dressed? Hey bud, suit up. Up 2–0 heading into the third period, with a good defensive player relaxing in a La-Z-Boy? Get dressed!
Allowing anyone to be substituted for any reason rules out concern for faking injuries. If someone who enters the game late does start a fiasco, they could be eligible for extra supplemental discipline. Players would have to work out during the game to stay ready, so they aren’t totally cold.
Bowman did get pushback, particularly concerns that this would benefit the wealthy franchises who can afford to carry 23 players. Not necessarily, he countered.
“We have money, but we can’t carry 23 because we don’t have the cap room. Nobody only carries 20. I’ve been looking every month. Everyone would have at least one substitute,” he said. “[And] if you’re really worried about that, maybe limit it to one substitution instead of three.
31 Thoughts: Bowman believes 'more Cup runs' possible for Blackhawks - Sportsnet.ca
Chicago Cubs, John McDonough became president of the hockey team in 2007. His baseball background is relevant for the purposes of this conversation.
“John’s been asking me for a long time, ‘Explain this healthy-scratch idea,’” Bowman said Monday, referring to players who don’t dress for games. “He’d say, ‘But we are paying them, right? I don’t get why we are not using them.’
“To be honest, I wasn’t really sure of a good answer. I think the idea used to be, you didn’t want a situation where if someone was coming in down four goals, they’d start a lot of trouble. But those guys don’t exist any more. If you can’t play, you can’t play.”
What Bowman suggested was every team continue to be allowed an in-game roster of 18 skaters and two goalies. However, coaches could insert their “healthy scratches” during a game. Like baseball, once someone is taken out, they cannot return.
Someone gets injured? Substitute. Down 2–0 heading into the third period, with an offensive player not dressed? Hey bud, suit up. Up 2–0 heading into the third period, with a good defensive player relaxing in a La-Z-Boy? Get dressed!
Allowing anyone to be substituted for any reason rules out concern for faking injuries. If someone who enters the game late does start a fiasco, they could be eligible for extra supplemental discipline. Players would have to work out during the game to stay ready, so they aren’t totally cold.
Bowman did get pushback, particularly concerns that this would benefit the wealthy franchises who can afford to carry 23 players. Not necessarily, he countered.
“We have money, but we can’t carry 23 because we don’t have the cap room. Nobody only carries 20. I’ve been looking every month. Everyone would have at least one substitute,” he said. “[And] if you’re really worried about that, maybe limit it to one substitution instead of three.
