Fixing Overtime, Shootouts, etc.

[ohio BLUES]

I don't know if we've had a recent topic on this subject, but a week ago or so the NHL GMs convened to discuss several things, including social media policy for players and stuff. One of the topics they broached was fixing the overtime, mostly because shootouts suck.

The main ideas are to make overtime 8 minutes long, 10 minutes long, with half of it being played 4-on-4 and the other half 3-on-3. Ridiculous.

The more I think about this, the more to me it becomes obvious. If you want to fix overtime, make every game a 3 point game. Less games will go to overtime, and by default, less games will go to a shootout. Grabbing a third point will be crucial and teams will go all-out for it, especially later in the season when points are at a premium and teams are fighting for playoff positioning.

Forget about the nostalgia of team point records and crap like that. Detroit is the nation's glory hole, anyway. It's worth a try if you ask me, and I'm surprised that no one suggested it. A regulation win should inherently be more valuable than a shootout win, in the first place.

[goon attack]

Here's my plan:

5 minute OT like usual, 4-4

If the game remains tied, do what college football does only with power plays. Any shorthanded goal is an automatic win.

You want to talk about excitment.... plus there's still be an outside chance of more brawlage during the PP deal

[glen a richter]

10 minute OT, 1st goal doesn't necessarily imply an automatic win.

Most goals overall wins, tiebreaker being most shots in the OT period.

Every game worth 2 points like it should be.

[cprice12]

10 minute 4 on 4 OT

Extend shootout to 5 players for each team

Winner gets 2 pts...loser gets nothing.

[dmiles2186]

10 minute 4 on 4 OT

Extend shootout to 5 players for each team

Winner gets 2 pts...loser gets nothing.

This. Exactly what I'd like to see.

[goon attack]

Come on... dueling 2 minute power plays! Shorty wins it outright. Faceoff at center ice.

EPIC PLAN.

[ZigZagBluesFan]

I say each team has one skater on the ice. Both players start behind the goal line and race to the puck at center ice. From there the two play one-on-one hockey. Coaches can make line changes on the fly. This goes until there's a winner.

It would give the NHL a chance to really showcase its premiere talent. I'd love to see Perron or Oshie dangle some opposing team's offensive star.

[glen a richter]

I say we go back to ties. While we're at it, contract a few teams from warm-weather markets, return a couple clubs back to Canada, and re-institute the Norris Division.

Seriously, geographical divisions are for dumb sports like basketball, not tradition rich sports like hockey. And the only ice that should be seen in Florida, Phoenix or LA is in a drink glass.

[STLADOGG]

10 minute 4 on 4 OT

Extend shootout to 5 players for each team

Winner gets 2 pts...loser gets nothing.

or 5 min 3 on 3

[ohio BLUES]

Okay okay how about this. 5 skaters on the ice for both teams but two of those 5 are never allowed to enter their own defensive zone. When the play is in their defensive zone they have to be in the neutral zone on their defensive side of center ice. And you have to win by two.









Forget the convoluted crap. 3 point games will fix everything.

[Portland Blues]

Okay okay how about this. 5 skaters on the ice for both teams but two of those 5 are never allowed to enter their own defensive zone. When the play is in their defensive zone they have to be in the neutral zone on their defensive side of center ice. And you have to win by two.









Forget the convoluted crap. 3 point games will fix everything.

How about this - 5 players a side but no one plays their normal position, sticks can only be used upside down, and each team picks the opposing team's overtime goalie from the other team's coaching staff. Also "Sweet Georgia Brown" will be played in the arena at full volume. And there will be monster trucks and Kid Rock calling the game...

Make overtime special!

[philco_3]

3 pts for a win in regulation
2 pts for a win in OT (10 minute 4 on 4)
1 pt for the shot out winner (5 shooters)

[cprice12]

10 minute 4 on 4 OT

Extend shootout to 5 players for each team

Winner gets 2 pts...loser gets nothing.

or 5 min 3 on 3

I have never liked the 3 on 3 idea in OT. 4 on 4 is pretty damn wide open...3 on 3 seems gimmicky.

[WaukeeBlues]

[cprice12]

It's not beating a dead horse...the NHL just proposed changing the overtime/shootout structure.

It's topical and relevant.

[kodos]

If it was just up to me, I would simply bring back the tie.

If removing the tie is considered a necessity, I think the 3 point game is the best solution.

3 for a regulation win. 2 for an OT win, 1 for an OT loss.

Keep everything else the same. 5 minutes of 4 on 4. 3 man shootout.

[TheoSqua]

Okay okay how about this. 5 skaters on the ice for both teams but two of those 5 are never allowed to enter their own defensive zone. When the play is in their defensive zone they have to be in the neutral zone on their defensive side of center ice. And you have to win by two.

I believe that this is called soccer.

[JPonder94]

Here's a ridiculous idea that just may work. Get rid of the shootout altogether. 5 min of 4-on-4. If there is still no clear cut winner, the game ends in a tie. That's it; no more gimmicks. If the teams are evenly matched, a tie and one point for each team is deserved.

I don't know, that may be a little far-fetched.

[glen a richter]

Here's a ridiculous idea that just may work. Get rid of the shootout altogether. 5 min of 4-on-4. If there is still no clear cut winner, the game ends in a tie. That's it; no more gimmicks. If the teams are evenly matched, a tie and one point for each team is deserved.

I don't know, that may be a little far-fetched.

But then how would you appeal to dopey fans in southern cities* who don't know anything about hockey and never saw ice before in their lives?

*and other fans of the shootout, like Reel for example.

/ sarcasm

[WindyCityBluesFan]

If the NHL only cared about the die hard old school hockey fans they never would have eliminated ties. So, since they feel it is of utmost importance to get rid of the tie, then I think it is imperative not to make yet another major change to the structure of a game. I can tell you all the new hockey fans I know would be all upset that there is yet another change to have to try and remember. I agree with Curt, if you just lengthen the 4-4 OT to 10:00 minutes then I think you would drastically reduce the amount of shootout games. I am ok with a few shootout games here and there, I think it's kind of fun. I just don't see why they can't play a little longer before going to the shootout. This keeps the same format intact, just a little longer.