In case you haven't noticed, on the bottom right side of the page there are some news feeds about the NHL. I noticed this morning there was a new link concerning the NHL Research and Development Camp to Yahoo Sports.  There was also an article on NHL.com. This is where the NHL tests potential changes to the rules of the game, equipment changes, or safety precautions. Presiding over this camp is a familiar face to Devils fans, the disciplinarian VP of the NHL, Brendan Shanahan.

     This is the second year this camp has been held, and this year they tested some rule changes that people have been insisting on for years, but never implemented.Although we haven't seen many major rule changes since the lockout, this is the place for any possible ones to be lightly tested. Yes, although different rule changes are tested, they aren't tested fully, just briefly in order to get a feel for it.

      The changes tested this year included changes to the plexi-glass next to the benches, different overtime and shootout formats, verification lines for determining goals, and a proposal to remove the oh so detested trapeziod.

I personally like the idea of the new glass next to the bench, but think it should be more of a  bigger rounded edge instead of being further from the ice, which might lessen some of the ricochets. I would like to see a continuous 4 on 4 for overtime. The shootout is nice, but I don't think it should really be the solution to deciding games. The verification line I think would be a good idea, as I remember a bunch of games where the refs blew the call. And to the stupid trapezoid, GOOD RIDDANCE! I never thought it was a good idea, mostly a way to stop goaltenders like Marty from handling the puck.

What do you have to say about these potential rule changes? Anything that you would add to this? None of these will be coming for next season, but who knows? They might be coming to the rinks in the near future. Thanks for reading.