As I’ve been rather neglectful of this blog lately, between the lack of hockey-related news and starting a new job, I just discovered a comment from my last post a few weeks back regarding the trapezoid rule.
Here’s your answer, Greg!
Post-lockout, in addition to cracking down on obstruction penalties in an effort to “increase scoring”, the NHL added an extra trapezoid area behind the nets. Any goaltender handling the puck outside of the 28-foot area is penalized. The rule is often jokingly referred to as the Brodeur rule because, as you mentioned, he was one of the best and it seemed to many as if he were being targeted.
I don’t think the rule has done anything positive for the game, and have hated it since it was first introduced. I love watching plays develop from a great pass from a goaltender (maybe I’m spoiled from watching Marty all these years) and I always loved watching him try to score. I think THAT’S exciting hockey. I think teams should be able to benefit from having that “6th defenseman” if they are fortunate enough to have a talented goaltender such as Brodeur, but what do I know 
Training camps are in session, preseason has kicked off for the early bird teams, and I will be going full force here soon enough! HOCKEY IS BACK 
As I have watched zero hockey in the post lockout era, outside of the game played outdoors last year, what exactly is the trapezoid rule?
What are they no longer allowing goalies to do with the puck? I remember Marty used to be all over the place handling the puck as though he were a skilled forward.