from Jason Kay of The Hockey News,

When a defending team’s goalie freezes a puck, or one of its defenders tips it out of play, his club gets a 50 per cent chance of getting possession back immediately. If an attacking team causes a delay of game by going offside, they, too, get invited to win back the disc right away.

No other sport operates with such benevolence. When the ball goes out of bounds in soccer or basketball, possession goes to the opponent. When a team is flagged for delay of game in football, they are penalized yardage. In baseball, when you hit the ball foul, it’s a strike against you. In hockey, all is forgiven. Instantly.

If we like this about ourselves, then carry on. Just stop jeering linesmen for trying to keep the faceoffs fair. If, however, it gives you pause for thought, perhaps it’s time to reconsider the role of the draw in our game.

The solution? Somehow give immediate possession of the puck to the non-offending team following whistles, without drastically altering how the game is played. Easier said then done, perhaps, but we’ll hand the baton off, very politely, to Brendan Shanahan’s R&D department. Ummm, sorry Brendan.

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