The "Third Defenseman" Era: Why the NHL Created the Trapezoid Rule
If you look closely at the ice behind an NHL net, you’ll see two diagonal lines forming a four-sided shape. This is the trapezoid, and it wasn’t put there for decoration. It is a permanent tactical handicap designed to stop a specific breed of elite athlete: the effective puck-handling goalie.
When Goalies Ruled the Corners
During the late-80s, 90s, and early-2000s, a few netminders changed the geometry of the game. Legends like Martin Brodeur, Marty Turco, and Ron Hextall weren't just shot-stoppers; they effectively served as a "third defenseman."
Arguably, Brodeur was the master of this era, finishing his career with a staggering 45 assists. When opposing teams dumped the puck into the corner to start a forecheck, these goalies would effortlessly glide out, cut the puck off, and fire a laser-accurate pass to a teammate. It made the traditional "dump and chase" strategy almost impossible to execute.
GM Frustration: “The Game was Turning into A Tennis Match”
This dominance didn't sit well with NHL decision-makers. High-ranking executives and General Managers, including former NHL GM Brian Burke, felt that roaming goalies were "killing" the flow of the game. Burke stated that the game was becoming too predictable, noting that it was "turning into a tennis match" where a team would dump the puck in, only for a goalie like Brodeur to immediately fire it back out.
The league wanted to reward aggressive forechecking and force more physical battles in the corners. By the end of the 2004-05 lockout, the consensus was clear: to open up the game, they had to tether the goalies to the net.
The Birth of the Restricted Zone for Goalies
The result:
1.8 Goalkeeper’s Restricted Area: A restricted trapezoid-shaped area behind the goal.
27.8 Restricted Area: A goalkeeper shall not play the puck outside of the designated area behind the net.
Suddenly, it became strictly forbidden for goalies to touch the puck behind the goal line unless they are within a specific zone. With the new rule in effect, if goalies venture into the corners to help their defensemen, they receive an automatic two-minute minor for Delay of Game.
Interesting Fact: This rule still catches goalies off guard today. Recently, Connor Ingram (Edmonton Oilers) was penalized for playing the puck in the restricted area during a game against the Bruins.
Your Verdict: Has the “Trapezoid Rule” Improved the Game?
Clearly, the trapezoid exists because a generation of goalies became too good at their jobs. It wasn't just one goalie; it was the collective skill of highly effective puck-handling pioneers that forced the NHL to physically redraw the rink.
Quote from Martin Brodeur: “If they had 30 Martin Brodeurs out there, that rule wouldn’t be there; nobody would have voted for it. There are just too many teams that didn’t have these goalies that were ready to make sure the guys that were affecting the games weren’t able to do it anymore.”
In the end, when considering whether the game of hockey is better or worse off following the introduction of the “Trapezoid Rule” (also referred to as the “Brodeur Rule”), fans from both sides of the discussion will have their perspectives.