This deal really is good for both sides. While everyone has suffered (owners/players/fans) it's probably the "best" deal for all involved even though it came a year late. Add in the opportunity it presents to make big rule changes and I think it'll be good for the game.
I don't think the larger ice surface would make that much difference, if you look at play on larger ice the style is still the same. Even in world hockey tourneys you see the same trap/lock styles played well, how else does a team like Germany manage to keep pace with a real hockey powerhouse. Most of the arenas could support larger ice (a good percentage of teams have arenas recently built or in the process of being negotiated/built) and those were typically made to support larger ice.
You wait and see how these rule changes may impact the game though. If they follow-through with half of that has been talked about then you can expect some very high scoring games. Smaller pads, less obstruction, no centerline, tag-up offsides, no-touch icing, etc. Those are the likely additions. It might mean some serious adjustment time for some teams/players as they are used to a decade of trap/lock hockey, but it should also let some talented guys put some pretty large point totals... maybe getting back to the year where some guys can put up 120+ points. That hasn't happened in a number of years now.
-Soda
