Players should be able to hit Goalies behind the net

[Paris in Flames]

We have this thread with positive responses until Tom Wilson ends MAF's season and suddenly we all realize it's a pretty shitty idea.

 

[powerstuck]

I'm all for goalies staying inside the crease at all times.

But in return I would also ask that whenever a player touches the goalie, intentional or accidental, with skate, body part or his stick, if a goal is scored that goal is automatically disallowed (only review would be to confirm there was contact between the player and the goalie) and it should also be an automatic 2 minutes goalie interference.

 

[hockeyfan747]

Every freaking. Year!

Goalies should not. Be fair game because their equipment isn't designed to protect against checks. What's next allow players. To shoot the puck at opponents? Imagine this I'm carrying. The puck up the center of the ice, stop turn to your bench and rip a slap shot. Into your bench at your best player. Then after the brawl subsides my defense is " you shoot the puck at our goalie 30 times a game! Rabble rabble fairness"

Freaking idiotic.

The irony of saying “freaking idiotic” while making quite likely the worst analogy ever.

 

[GrkFlyersFan]

The only way goalies should ever be fair game is if you take out the trapezoid. The trapezoid is there for this reason. If you take out the trapezoid and make goalies fair game(at least outside the crease), it could deter them from going behind the net too often. Like it's ridiculous how on power plays, the goalie of the team on the PP sometimes has to watch the puck and wait for it to get to the trapezoid. There's nobody nearby at that point, and therefore no harm in letting him get the puck back up the ice.

 

[tapi]

This would be an exciting rule change. Just think of all the highlight reel moments when a goalie takes his chance to go behind the net, gets absolutely destroyed with a huge hit and a goal is scored.

 

[NDiesel]

Logically it makes sense for, but unless they had better helmets that don't fly off so easily it won't happen.

 

[57special]

This is one of the most ridiculous proposals I've ever heard.

What's next allowing goalies to wear firearms to protect themselves? Has the OP ever tried to skate with goalie equipment?

 

[TOGuy14]

I don't think you should be able to Byfuglien steamroll a goalie but agree that contact with the goalie behind the net should be fine.

Hate when a goalie plays the puck behind the net and does a body block on the forechecker knowing that if the player even brushes up against him it is a penalty.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Took less than a second to mentally picture Tom Wilson jumping into a goalie. Great idea.

Some degree of contact, sure, it's a joke that just brushing up against a goalie can draw a penalty...but outright hits? That's a huge safety issue.

 

[COHawk]

Hit them? No, absolutely not. But if they leave their crease, they shouldn't be protected from incidental contact.

This is my stance. I'm honestly surprised at all the support for this. I opened this thread expecting the large majority of responses to be hell no.

 

[COHawk]

I’m with you too. Behind the net you should be able to hit the goalie. Especially if that goalie is Mike Smith

Shaw's got your back. Though Smith is still an Oscar nominee for this one:

 

[PeterSidorkiewicz]

Every freaking. Year!

Goalies should not. Be fair game because their equipment isn't designed to protect against checks. What's next allow players. To shoot the puck at opponents? Imagine this I'm carrying. The puck up the center of the ice, stop turn to your bench and rip a slap shot. Into your bench at your best player. Then after the brawl subsides my defense is " you shoot the puck at our goalie 30 times a game! Rabble rabble fairness"

Freaking idiotic.

Ding ding ding.

 

[sandysan]

The only way goalies should ever be fair game is if you take out the trapezoid. The trapezoid is there for this reason. If you take out the trapezoid and make goalies fair game(at least outside the crease), it could deter them from going behind the net too often. Like it's ridiculous how on power plays, the goalie of the team on the PP sometimes has to watch the puck and wait for it to get to the trapezoid. There's nobody nearby at that point, and therefore no harm in letting him get the puck back up the ice.

goalies should not be fair game even if there were two freaking trapezoids.

it has nothing to do with the speed of the game of a bunch of whiny forwards who think that they should be able to go wherever the hell they like on the ice unfettered. its a safety issue. Goalie equipment is designed to do one thing, protect the goalie from pucks ( and even then its not absolute). it is WOEFULLY designed to protect goalies from full out body checks.

how about this, instead of a 2 minute minor, defensemen who get penalized have to play 5 minutes with no shin pads ? That will cut down on all the shot blocking because really who the hell do the defensemen think they are, getting in shootiung lanes and taking on the goalies responsibilities?

idiotic on so many levels, and predictably idiotic.

 

[I am not exposed]

I always thought Goaltenders get far too much protection personally.

 

[sandysan]

The irony of saying “freaking idiotic” while making quite likely the worst analogy ever.

the basis is " if i can check players I should check goalies" is entirely consistent with " if I shoot the puck at a goalie I should be able to shoot it at any player". both ARE idiotic.

and this rationale, why is it limited to the trapezoid? why dont we allow players to lucic goalies anywhere on the ice ? that'll teach em.

 

[Calad]

Its a safety issue, allowing it would create more problems than its worth probably

 

[sandysan]

I always thought Goaltenders get far too much protection personally.

when goalies get trucked, how many times does the guy doing the trucking come out on the short end ?

the answer pretty much never. goalies are largely stationary and are essentially sitting ducks.

 

[Hansen]

In Lacrosse this is the rule, the goalie is allowed to engage physically when they step out of the net, just as players are allowed to engage the goalie. It doesn't happen often though because if you touch a goalie every player on their team is coming after you

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Took less than a second to mentally picture Tom Wilson jumping into a goalie. Great idea.

Some degree of contact, sure, it's a joke that just brushing up against a goalie can draw a penalty...but outright hits? That's a huge safety issue.

He didn’t mean to jump, was an accident

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

This is a horrendous idea.

Goalies are not mobile enough to avoid incoming checks.

Injuries would happen far too often, and teams would target goalies just to "get them off their game"

There is a multiple sport movement to get away from concussions and you guys want to make it legal to hit a stationary player?

 

[bellringer77]

I have always thought the same thing.

 

[Coffey]

YES!

 

[Perfect_Drug]

If hitting a goalie is so stupid, then make it so the goalie can never leave the crease.

More goals, and problem solved.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

behind the net? no IMO.

BUT, goalies should not be allowed to make sure they are in the way of opposing players back there either.

Now coming out of their crease in front of the net to play the puck and act like a 3rd D? Yeah, they should be fair game then. If you are going to act like a skater you should be treated like one. Like the Lucic on Miller hit.

and before someone says "but their pads arent made for hits"...then they can stay in the crease where they have the rules protecting them.

 

[Rorschach]

What about if the goalie leaves his crease to get to the bench for an extra attacker? Can you pass the opposing goalie the puck and then drill him in front of the opposing bench, Dustin Brown-style?