The NHL conducted a three day research and development plan in Etobicoke, a subhurb of Toronto. The leage experimented with a variety of ideas aimed thanks to the participation of overage junior and university players who were not drafted. The camp was attended by folks from the NHL hockey operations staff, team general managers, the media and other key personnel. The league tried various changes including removing the red line, allowing longer passes, removing the red line, reducing the size of goalie equipment, increasing the size of the nets and calling all the rules.


The NHL was trying to get a feel for all the different proposals by watching them during these high-level scrimmages. There were two practice sessions each day focusing on the different concepts. At the end, most observers felt that there were many changes that may help the game of hockey. Goalie equipment was one key focus as smaller equipment or bigger nets seem to be gaining a foothold amongst the powers that be. The same goes for removing the red line and possibly adding 'no touch icing'.