from Matt Larkin of The Hockey News,

Not every top-100 selection sees the game as picture perfect, however. Mike Gartner, who ranks seventh in NHL history with 708 goals, recognizes that one too many games is a war of attrition and offered a fascinating theory as to why.

“The one thing I would like to change, you can’t change: I would like to ban coaches from the game,” said Gartner, 57, with a laugh. “The coaches are so good right now and the coaching staffs are so good that the game gets choked out sometimes. Obviously we can’t change that. But I think the game is in good shape right now. I really do. A lot of the things they brought in after the last number of years to open it up have been very positive.”

Not to be outdone Friday was a man forever known for being unorthodox. Dominik Hasek never did anything the way anyone else did, especially when it came to his trademark “floppy” goaltending technique. It helped him win six Vezina Trophies in his career, including five over a six-year stretch, not to mention back to back MVPs in 1996-97 and 1997-98. Naturally, ‘The Dominator,’ 51, had an out-there idea to jumpstart offense.

“I would put the net closer to the boards,” Hasek said. “Just because it brings more goals. You cannot score a goal from behind the net. Only Wayne Gretzky can do it. But there are 800 players who cannot do it. So bring the net two or three feet closer to the back boards. And one more thing: the goalies will hate me for it – but take the cheater from the glove (laughs).”

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