According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN, the NHL is looking to start the season earlier, shorten the preseason, add two games for an 84 game season, and award the Stanley Cup early in June.
Many of these changes will be extremely welcomed by hockey fans, and even players and teams. The preseason has often been too long and risks injuries, 82 games is now insufficient after adding expansion teams, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs do extend far too much into the summer. NHL Cup Final television ratings took a hit this year, and many fans cited the fact that games were too spaced out and late into June being an issue.
Just a few days ago, the NHL announced four rule changes that will come into affect this season. Like these proposed schedule changes, many of the rule changes are actually great decisions. Coach's challenges will be used for puck over glass penalties, attacking players will be waived out of faceoffs less, goalies can't delay the game by knocking off the net, and players can get an unsportsmanlike penalty for improper line changes.
For all the brutal things Gary Bettman has done as part of the NHL, these rule and schedule changes are actually extremely welcome changes to the game. Hopefully the schedule changes are ratified in the next CBA, and most importantly, the players and owners can avoid another lockout under Bettman's tenure. Even with all these positive changes to the game, Bettman will destroy any goodwill if another lockout occurs.
