Adam Oates on Increasing Scoring

But if the league is dead set on increasing scoring, I don’t think making the rinks bigger is going to solve anything. In fact, if I had to choose, I’d make them smaller if it wouldn’t lead to more contact-related injuries.

The reason is simple. There’s always going to be a ton of guys who can skate, especially with the emphasis now on training and athleticism. But there’s not enough of a premium on players with the brains or the hands to be real playmakers.

Personally, the best year I had in my entire career was in the old Boston Garden, which was tiny. If you look at Olympic hockey games, at least between the top teams, scoring is tight despite the bigger surface. More room doesn’t necessarily lead to more goals.