The Rise & Fall of the Trapezoid

The trapezoid…no, it’s not the name of the monster composed primarily of Devils players from the 1990s. It’s that almost triangular box of hate behind the goal line which demands that goalies remain within its confines, for the tiniest portion of skate found outside this geometric talent-inhibitor smacks the poor goalie with a two-minute minor for delay of game.

Listen. The only thing that’s being delayed are all those extra goals the league wants so badly. The trapezoid has neither created goals nor prevented them, but it has come with an unfortunate side-effect. Players chasing the puck into the corner, an area which was once playable by the goalie, are now far more susceptible to head injury.

It is for this reason that the NHLPA is discussing removing the trapezoid, to prevent further career-threatening injuries. But there will be a very important secondary gain to removing the trapezoid. While it was once believed that offense would be stimulated by preventing the goalie from clearing the puck, the rule conveniently overlooks the truly great puck-handling goalies, who can actually create breakaways and 2-on-1s with their headman passes, and even score some goals themselves! Martin Brodeur has already done it, and other goalies like Rick DiPietro have concrete evidence on film proving they could as well if given the opportunity.

This is strange considering that those same goalies (read: Martin Brodeur) are the reason the trapezoid was put into place to begin with. I mean, the thing probably would have been called “The Martin Brodeur Memorial Trapezoid” if the league wasn’t trying so hard to pretend Marty’s sick puck-handling skills didn’t scare them to death.

I, for one, hope the trapezoid goes the way of the inflatable dartboard, the underwater screen door, the solar-powered flashlight, and yes…even the glow puck. Not just to help curb headshots and injuries, but also to show that there is just as much upside in allowing goalies to play the puck wherever they so choose as there is downside.