Rybin, Mishkin Slam Pre-Match Shootout Proposal

Two former players have dismissed the idea of moving shootouts to before the puck drops, an idea floated by KHL president Alexei Morozov.

Maxim Rybin, a former forward who played in the Fonbet KHL Championship, called it impractical.

"They are actively discussing this topic, but as far as I'm concerned, it's absolute nonsense. Firstly, there are simply people who don't make it in time for the opening faceoff — they might be running a little late, buying something for themselves, and the shootout has already started. To me, that's a completely irrational decision. We need to stop constantly changing the rules. We have good enough rules as they are. It's the same with the new hand-pass rule — that's alien to me, I can't understand it from any point of view," Rybin said.

Vladimir Mishkin, a former Dynamo and Soviet national team goalkeeper, was blunter still when asked to weigh in on the debate.

"Spare me! (laughs). It seems to me this idea itself was floated just so hockey people could have a laugh. Or maybe for another purpose — as a sanity check. Judging by some of the comments, that sanity is sometimes in short supply," Mishkin said.