As everyone knows, goal-scoring is down in the NHL. Ever since the early 1990s, the ability of teams to score goals has been diminished considerably. Though up slightly after the lockout of 2004-05, the number of total goals scored is again on the decline.
The cause? Some would say the perfection of the neutral zone trap defensive style is to blame. Others would say a general increase in the size and skill of defensemen trumps other causes. Still others, including myself, contend that goal-scoring talent has been diluted by runaway expansion of the league to the current 30 teams.
One guy, however, places the blame squarely on the shoulders of just one man, and it's actually not Gary Bettman.
