Watching Olympic hockey this past week gave me an appreciation of how different, and more fun to watch, European hockey is from North American hockey. With a rink 15 feet wider, and two-line passes allowed, the game is lightning-fast with long passes and quick breakaways. Even the TV announcers, used to North American hockey, had to marvel at the speed of the game. And the wider rink greatly reduces the holding and grabbing that so detracts from NHL hockey.
NHL management should take note: If they ever want to elevate TV viewership of their sport from its current low levels, allow two-line passes and widen the rink. It would probably mean fewer fights, and fewer seats in the arena, but the upside would be a far more entertaining game to watch and, I predict, far greater TV viewership.
