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5 NHL rule changes hockey fans want to see implemented in the league

By Mary Clarke

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 16: A San Jose Sharks fan takes a photo of Corey Perry #10 in the penalty box in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Corey Perry
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 16: A San Jose Sharks fan takes a photo of Corey Perry #10 in the penalty box in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Corey Perry /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 30: Matt Duchene #95 of the Nashville Predators scores the game winning goal in the shoot-out against Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 30, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Predators defeated the Devils 6-5 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 30: Matt Duchene #95 of the Nashville Predators scores the game winning goal in the shoot-out against Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 30, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey. The Predators defeated the Devils 6-5 in the shoot-out. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Extend 3-on-3 overtime

No, I’m not going to advocate for eliminating the shootout here. I don’t like the shootout, sure, but I think the NHL can get away with doing something else before trying to remove the shootout from the game.

Instead, the NHL should try extending the 3-on-3 overtime period from five minutes to seven or eight, or even 10 at max. A longer overtime period would — more than likely — eliminate the need to rid the NHL of the shootout in its entirety, given that the longer a 3-on-3 period goes, the more chances will be created by the open ice.

Five minutes is also a very short period of time for 3-on-3 as an overtime format. While games are often decided in the 3-on-3 format, it still feels too short for such an action-packed sequence. Instead of taking an axe to the shootout right away, the NHL should give more time to the overtime period for that to decide the winner of a game.

Getting rid of the shootout is probably not the right way to go about this problem, at first anyway. Sure, you could bring back ties or a tiered point system, but adding a few more minutes to the 3-on-3 overtime wouldn’t be as drastic of a change and could be implemented in small steps over the course of a few seasons.

If it doesn’t work, then by all means try reinstating ties back into the NHL and getting rid of the shootout, but extending the 3-on-3 format feels like a good compromise to this problem while keeping the current working overtime system.

Next. The 7 most filthiest shootout goals in hockey. dark

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