AHL Will Experiment With The Big Lines

The blue lines themselves are considered part of the neutral zone, increasing the length of the zone by four feet.

Picture a player carrying the puck out of his own zone. As soon as he reaches the blue line, he can fire a pass to the far edge of the center line. With the extra paint, he has an added three feet to work with: two more feet of blue in his own zone and an extra foot of red at the far side of the center line.

If he makes a pass from blue line to blue line, he has an extra four feet of ice to work with - the two feet of blue paint added to the net side of each line.

Still confused? TSN's Bob McKenzie diagrams the "bigger lines" concept. You have register with TSN to watch their video stuff, but it's free.

McKenzie also helpfully points out that there is an easier way to add four feet to the neutral zone: Push each net two feet closer to the end boards, and move the blue lines accordingly. All that room behind the net is just wasted space anyway.