This could be one of the more controversial inclusions on this list, since at least at the NHL level, some believe the game would benefit from more scoring. Larger goaltenders, the reasoning goes, make for a smaller target area. In one minor experiment undertaken several years ago, the Maple Leafs trotted out a goal that was no larger but used oval-shaped posts designed to send more ricocheting shots into the net than circular posts do. That idea clearly wasn’t pursued.
The goal measurements supposedly have never changed, which if true, means that the sport’s forefathers instinctively got them right. Anything bigger and goalies might be forced to make too many guess plays and find it harder to cut down on the angle of shots.
And let’s face it, in ice hockey the skill of the goaltender is a major part of the show. A talented player between the pipes should be able to fairly defend his territory, and currently seems able to do so. That seems the more important consideration than jacking up goal scoring. Because of the small playing surface and speed of the skaters, there are many more shots on goal than in soccer, so hockey already provides plenty of excitement, even in low-scoring games. And the average shots on goal per game has remained remarkably stable over the years, so as long as that is the case, the goal dimensions need no tweaking.
