Now, NHL general managers are wondering if it might be better to bring the red line back. At the GM meetings this week, several rule changes are being discussed, including reinstituting the red line in an attempt to make the game safer.
The thinking goes that by allowing two-line passes, players gather too much speed through the neutral zone, so any collisions are more dangerous and cause more concussions.
While the idea of protecting players in admirable, it might not exactly be that simple a relationship between two-line passes and more concussions. Besides, a major criticism of the sport pre-lockout was how the neutral zone trap bogged down games and limited scoring.
Should the NHL bring back the red line and ban two-line passes?