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I heard an interesting discussion today, in which a change to the NHL rules was proposed. It struck me as a decent idea and it pretty much went as follows:

if a player on Team A is interfered with on a breakaway against Team B, the rules presently call for a penalty shot for Team A. Given that Team A has been the wronged party, and a penalty shot has been historically considered a more valuable opportunity, why not give the coach of Team A the opportunity to decline the penalty shot and take a power play (2 minute minor to Team B) instead?

The idea makes some sense for several reasons. First, the penalty shot was once revered as the rarest and most special moment in hockey. But in recent years, they have not only become more common, but have almost completely lost their novelty due to the advent of shootouts when a game remains tied after overtime. In these games, viewers are treated to a minimum of six penalty shots, and sometimes more than twenty. Penalty shots just aren’t that special anymore.

Second, as Team A is the wronged party, there is an inherent justice in giving them the option to choose the remedy of their liking.

And third, it would implement a new element of strategy into coaching at the NHL level. Opting for the two minute minor could allow the coach to drain the opposing team’s penalty killers and keep opposing prolific scorers (who rarely kill penalties) on the bench.

Finally, it could increase scoring and excitement, especially if the “penalty shot infraction” occurred while Team A was already on a 5-on-4 power play. While a penalty shot results in one great scoring chance, goaltenders typically stop two-thirds of penalty shots (or more). With a two minute power play (and especially a 5-on-3) there could be an array of scoring chances, depending on Team A’s power play proficiency.

On the other hand, a penalty shot is (in its way) the perfect retribution. What was lost due to the infraction was a breakaway for Team A. Team A had a breakaway, which was illegally foiled by Team A. The solution? A breakaway (penalty shot). While a two-minute minor may also be a suitable remedy, a penalty shot is an almost-exact replica of the opportunity that was lost due to the infraction.