Making "The Coolest Game" Cooler

In all of the years I've written columns and blogs on sports, I have rarely
touched on the NHL.  Not that I've never watched hockey; in fact, I remember
rooting for Edmonton throughout their '80's dynasty in part because Gretzky was
just so awesome, and because they had a brother - Grant Fuhr - as their goalie.

I also was into them because they came out of the upstart WHA, which resonated
with me because I was a fan of the upstart ABA.  I found it interesting that the
most exciting player in the NHL - The Great One - came out of the WHA, and the
most exciting player (during the early '80's) in the NBA - Dr. J - came out of
the ABA.  And of course, who anywhere near New York could forget the euphoria
surrounding the Rangers' 52-year drought-ending 1994 Stanley Cup win, and the
excitement in the area as the Rangers and Knicks simultaneously played for the
championships of their respective leagues.

That being said, I never much touched on the sport within my writing. So what
leads me to do so now - in the midst of the baseball pennant races, no less? 
Well, it turns out that I had to make a trip to a seminar in Ottawa, and while
there I naturally picked up a copy of a local newspaper, the Ottawa Sun.  In it
columnist Lance Hornby's offering on prospective NHL rule-tweaking was entitled
"Three-point stance" - which led me to wonder if we were on the same wavelength. 
Turns out we weren't...Lance was discussing the concept of awarding three points
in the standings to the winning team.  My concept is off the chain - or possibly
off the wall to hockey purists...but here goes.

In a sense, my idea has its' roots in the old ABA, a league that in its' infancy
was not at all averse to trying anything to garner attention.  One such thing
was the establishment of the three-point shot.  Though ridiculed by basketball
traditionalists, the three-pointer was loved by fans and is now a vital part of
the game and its' strategy at all levels.  When a crowd sees a player prepare to
take an open three-pointer, the noise level rises in gleeful anticipation if the
shooter is on their favored team - or in fear if the shooter is an opponent. 

So my idea is for the NHL to place a semi-circle within the offensive end -
similar to the three-point line in basketball - behind which any shots on goal
would be "two-point shots." I'm sure there aren't that many goals scored from
out by the blue line, but I can also imagine the excitement as a great
slap-shooter lines up a two-point shot.  And what about the team down a goal
with a minute or so to go...now they pull the goalie to get a sixth skater on
the ice to give them a better shot at getting the tying goal, but with the
two-pointer available, they may try a couple of shots for the win.

The way I see it, the two-pointer has a lot of potential.  Gary Bettman, you've
got a NBA background...are you reading this?