from Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune,

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville called the new trapezoid dimensions "an important thing" and it is likely to change teams' strategies. Like all teams, the Hawks either dump the puck into the offensive zone with a long shot from inside the red line or carry it across the blue line. Now, goalies who handle the puck well will have more room to do so and forechecking and breakouts will be affected.

"I like to play the puck so it gives me a little more space to give it to our 'D,'" Hawks goalie Corey Crawford said. "Pucks (that) last year you weren't sure (about), we'll be able to get to before their guy (does)."

Quenneville said the Hawks' frequency of dumping pucks into the zone won't change much but they way they do it certainly could. For a team that thrives on retrieving the puck and then possessing it in the offensive zone to create scoring chances, it's an important aspect of the game.

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