The NHL Has a Shootout Problem

[@HecticHockey]

What are your thoughts on the state of the shootout right now?

[@43TH3R5T4R]

Anxiety Bursting

[@DERTHIX]

Love it, these top guys wanna get paid 10 million a season? Prove your worth it. Score al by yourself.

[@pgajudah7843]

its very intense

[@kylessportscards]

Most of the time, it's fine. However, as you stated, it shouldn't happen as often as it is. Shootouts can be a nail biter, though.

[@starwarriorterra8373]

I think the shootouts themselves can improve, but they're a good way to ensure the game ends. Leave the multiple overtime periods to the postseason and limit player injuries during the regular season. While enacting ties could also be an option, it may be more difficult than just saying "now you can tie in games" because of how the points system works. Do you just remove the OTL column to replace with ties, or do they get added as a new stat for game results? If the former, I could see issues with Ls and OTLs both being worth 0 points. There should be some benefit to at least getting to overtime against a team, just as there is currently, so I don't love the idea of removing the point gained in an overtime loss. If the latter, how do we rearrange the point system to give more weight to ties? The only thing I think on the fly is moving to a 3pt game results system (OTL 1pt, tie 2pt, win 3pt), but this is also likely lacking in foresight on my end over how that could change things. Admittedly, this does feel like the best compromise if I'm not ignoring something blatant, though.

[@VisuallyImpairedGamer1987]

Ten minute overtimes would be amazing, or why not do 5 minutes of 4 on 4 and then 5 minutes of 3 on 3? Shootouts may be a quick way to end a game, but they can also drag out. I'm a Penguins fan, and I cite one game last year against Montreal, where Jansen Harkins ended it for the Penguins. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy we won, but it was a slog to sit through.

[@yanpro8844]

Why not have it like the playoffs and play until death comes up when they have to play the next day. It's not like baseball where you can sit your ass in left field for 30 innings and still play the game the day after.

[@HunterMagunter]

Shootouts are a clownshow, proves nothing about who the better team is. Should just be a 10 minute OT and a tie if nobody scores

[@laughingbeast4481]

One goal in OT doesn't show who better team is either. Purpose is to decide the game. Nothing more.

[@intentionaloffside8934]

Perhaps a 3 point regulation win would be an incentive to limit both OT and SO’s.

[@danieliorio4537]

No such thing as two winners, in that case, at least a shootout determines a winner.

[@impulse_xs]

Man I sure do miss those 0-0 ties from 20 years ago...truly riveting stuff.

[@kevinburk1670]

So if I go to a game and it's a tie do I get my $180 back

[@AtomSplittingScience]

I die a little inside every time Kuznetzov gets to take a shoot out shot.

[@Sophie-28Storm_U15A]

omg yes fr

[@yanpro8844]

That problem can be fixed with a timer of 15 seconds or so without getting rid of shootouts.

[@coleh9990]

Kuzy is the shootout goat

[@cb84capri]

@@AtomSplittingScience I loved it, because he was making a statement to the league about how stupid the shootout is every time he did that.

[@laughingbeast4481]

​@@cb84capriNo, it was not. It's simply one of shootout strategies.

[@SalSagev-n3s]

Excellent video dude. You covered everything. I had no idea they've talked about a "no regroup" rule and shot clock.

[@Yambag]

I thought shootouts were so cool as a kid when they introduced them. Now i think they are so dumb

[@HecticHockey]

Exactly how I've felt

[@duckattak]

Rather have the OT go as long as it needs until a team scores. Once upon a time I liked shoot outs because I’m a goalie and I liked to see how these NHL guys stopped goals in them. But now I am just tired of it. Rather get rid of the shootout or make the OT 10 mins not 5

[@BloodRider1914]

Unlimited overtime works in playoffs but in the regular season longer games would cause more injuries and viewership would drop off at some point considering, again, it's just for regular season games.

[@duckattak]

@@BloodRider1914nah. Make OT as long as it takes. No shoot out. If the NFL can make 1 minute and 43 seconds left of the 4th quarter last 15 minutes then hockey fans can watch an extra 3 minutes of OT

[@omfg322]

2 main problems with taking away the shootout (i also want it gone) 1: tv stations want the game to end asap so they can brodcast the next game/show ect 2: playoff spot tie breakers.

[@YungKilogram]

1 ties would end games quicker 2 use goals for/against to break the tie

[@Willgo373]

I’d argue a playoff spot coming down to a shootout result is an even worse problem than having to think of a new tiebreaker. There’s a reason current tiebreakers have it after regulation wins and OT wins.

[@YOMMERRR]

We have a youtube hockey problem…every single video is titled “we have a blank problem.” Like holy fuck

[@alainsoucysergerie9879]

I've just noticed that as well...!

[@SmasherDark]

yeah its genuinely annoying

[@cptbluehawk57]

Shootouts have their place. A lot of fans love them (me included, go wings!) but it’s not the best way to end the game. I agree with you that 10 minutes of OT is probably the best way to do it. And keep up the good work, love the content

[@HecticHockey]

Thank you!

[@darrenpinard1658]

Shootout was the best option we had until we found 3on3. They should just play 3on3 until its over, it wont realistically last that long.

[@Anonymous-xt1hf]

I hate shootouts, they have to one of the worst things in the sport.

[@WantonBaby]

Luckily I don’t follow soccor because sucker shootouts happen in playoff games AND ARE PURELY STUPID IM SURE MOST PEOPLE COULD SCORE A SOCCOR GOAL ON AN AVERAGE PRO GOALIE

[@DMinish]

3 on 3 OT should be 7 mins to hopefully end the game. Incorporate a Center ice rule. If you carry the puck from the offensive side of the red line back into the defensive side then that player becomes the only one allowed possession of the puck, unless the other teams takes possession. That player becomes trapped and has to move the play forward without passing. If he panics and dumps it into his end, then thats ok but the opposing team has to play the puck next, or the play is whistled like a high stick or hand pass and a faceoff goes to the defensive zone. If it happens twice then its a penalty. The Shootout should be one single shot and the Home team decides which team has to make the shot. Comes down to one teams player and the others goalie. Which would be a lot of pressure and very tense. The Home team gets the home ice advantage in making that decision. Extreme change but it would make the shootout more thrilling and it will usually not come down to that decision anyway with other changes in OT

[@estellegrignon]

I wouldn't mind two 5-minute OT of 3 on 3, with a TV timeout between both. I also love the idea of essentially taking the half-court violation of basketball to OT. If a player deliberately goes back, it's a whistle. I don't know how often a play can fall in a grey zone of "deliberately".

[@redwineisfine]

The problem with a skills competition as a deciding factor, is that single talents out weight team play talents. Hockey is a team sport, not an individual player sport. Imagine football ending with a firld goal kick at the 50 yard line.. or baseball with a homerun derby

[@laughingbeast4481]

Team sport doesn't mean whole team or even multiple players are on field at once. That not the definition dunno why people keep talking like it is. We have sports like soccer where whole starting squad is on the field with only 3 subtitutions. (Is it more of a team sport than?) and yet shootouts work just fine and became integral part of the game. They're just tiebreaker, last resort. Dislike of shootouts in NHL by some if purely cultural. I guess big part of it is that NHL's regular season has loads of meaningless games - teams tanking etc. - way, way more than Euro leagues. Shootouts after such games are really just without any drama.

[@mehuldoshi486]

The problem is competing interests. If you don't want ties AND you want games to end as quickly as possible, then you need a mechanism to guarantee the games ends quickly. The alternatives: 1. continuous OT in the regular season 2. Ties. Personally I'm all for ties with a 5 point system - 5 for a regulation win, 4 for an ot win, 3 for a shootout win, 2 for a shootout loss, 1 for an ot loss, 0 for a regulation loss

[@johnscustomsaws]

I have been suggesting a full-contact best of 3 Rock/Paper/Scissors battle to end it... But sadly it's not gaining steam...

[@keirpatrick3045]

Good breakdown. I don't have any issues with the shootout itself, other than the fact that players tend to shoot more conservatively rather than showing off their skills (which makes sense I mean it's the least risky option) but to avoid having to watch a less exciting end of the game the NHL should adopt a similar rule to the KHL but instead of having to not cycle back past the red line I think it should be the blue line. The reason is it allows teams to change but also forces offence. Think about it, you need speed to rush past defenders so it would be the perfect balance of playing conservatively while playing with pace and end to end action. I haven't ever watched 4 v 4 OT so lemme know if it was better than what we have now

[@danieliorio4537]

Too many people complain about this. Shootouts conserve energy for the playoffs. Also, you openly admitted 1:11 "there super entertaining" These players play hard, regardless, shootouts are for a situation where no one is there very long. That's for the playoffs. These players will compete all night, but people who also attend don't got all night 😂

[@dougsundseth6904]

Shootouts in hockey are better than shootouts in soccer. But that's about the best that can be said of them. Its like ending a football game with a punt, pass, and kick contest. shootouts have no place in the game. Now, that said, I think there's way too much incentive for teams to go to OT. Under the current points system, a team that agreed to a draw in every game and then just played for a shootout every time would average 123 points per season, which is a ridiculous incentive structure. I would much prefer a change to the points system, with 4 pts for a win, 3 for an OT win, 2 for a draw, 1 for an OT loss, and 0 for a regulation loss. And a 10 minute overtime that is 4-on-4 for the first five minutes and 3-on-3 for the last five minutes. Then a draw if nobody scores in 10 minutes of OT. That would change the incentives enough, I think, in addition to making the game about hockey.

[@jonathanlong4066]

I agree with everything you said, except the implication about 'The Kuznestsov", I love that kind of creativity and real life cheat code stuff. I wish more shooters would go out of their way to find unstoppable moves. Its so impressive.

[@slushguy8398]

Shoutout is better than a tie. Those were really boring back in the day… 3 on 3 overtime is definitely the way to go. I think a “reverse no 2 line pass” rule should be implemented. I would replace the shoutout with another kind of mini-game. Something like each team has a 4 vs 3 for 1 minute, alternating until 1 team scores and the other one doesn’t. Or, each team has 3 puck possession (team start behind their net without face-off) play continues until they lose the puck then the other has possession.

[@YungKilogram]

I don't see how a tie is anticlimactic football has ties and its the most popular sport in the world. Also let's say it's near the playoffs and you need a win that means that they have to play aggressive in regulation/overtime maybe they pull the goalie or try to break out early this is a dynamic we don't get atm.

[@dustinrhodes4793]

That's interesting, like college football OT. Each team gets a powerplay for 2 mins. Rotating 1 turn each until a winner. Kinda like that

[@Jake-gc1kc]

@@YungKilogrambut you only rarely see ties in the nhl

[@mossig]

Here is my suggestions. The simplest first to implement. No offside during OT. Make the goals wider but not higher. That will increase scoring and thus make the possibility of a tie less likely. Move the goals backwards towards the rink, level with the rink. So that you can't skate behind it. This will make defense much more hard and goalies will have to be creative with pucks dumped in and not allowed to freeze them.

[@Ben.Mangels]

This would be insane just for overtime. If you mean for the whole game, then that's even more insane.

[@Cdubbz12]

Can’t forget as a Penguins fan no matter what the game last year that possibly was one of the most intense regular season OT - Shootout games I’ve ever watched on TV against the canadiens. It was so back and forth and we ended up winning in 12 (I think if I can remember that right?) rounds lol

[@dlacoursedlacourse3567]

I'm going to call you "Old Fashioned" just for s**** and giggles even though I agree with about 95% of what you said😅

[@ピカリFritzyBeat]

Nice vid~ My only real hard disagreement is your argument at 7:40 where you say the better team loses because they got unlucky and couldn't beat the goalie. The goalie is a member of the team, and imo if they couldn't beat the goalie then that means they weren't the better team. Sure, you could argue that they were better than MOST of the other team, the forwards and defense and whatnot, but if you can't beat the goalie, then you didn't outplay the team as a whole, since there was still one member you couldn't solve that outplayed you. I guess you could make a similar argument for the one player who wins the shootout for his team, but I think that's different since the shootout is naturally a very different game than the game itself. That said, you still made some interesting points. It would be interesting to see the NHL play with the overtime rules a bit in the future.

[@holofech9744]

dumb idea that just came into my head, what would a 2 on 1 shootout look like? Would it suck, be kind of cool, boring, take a long time? I have no idea. About the actual thing you were talking about, I'm not a huge fan of 3 on 3 overtime in general, I'd be happier with a 10 minute 4 on 4 and higher shootout occurrence than 3 on 3. Just feels almost as luck based as the shootout in the first place. I do like that red line rule, hockey has the best refs of any sport, they'll figure it out. Jokes aside I don't actually think many controversial calls would come from that, it seems pretty clear cut in theory

[@ddoghfx]

I think you are on to something here. Would the players go super slow? You don't even need to put a clock on them. Start one defender at the blue line. Start two offensive players at the red line. Start another defender at the far blue line. Blow the whistle. The offensive players will have to come in at speed. It could be super exciting.

[@SaunaPerkele_5]

Overtime should be 20 minutes. At very least 10-15 minutes. 5 is just too short.

[@HughJorgan1]

Teams with the top skilled players (Edm, Col, etc) are the ones who'd most benefit from extended OTs. Give McD/Drai and McK/Makar a few more shifts and the advantage is huge.

[@skrbl174]

Hockey Psychology V.2. Subscribed.

[@CallsignJoNay]

I disagree HARD with this video. The shootout is a problem, yes, but 3-on-3 OT is a far bigger problem, (which you finally get to about half way into the video). The current format is just a contest of keep away, with teams opting to skate the puck back into their own zone over and over if a high quality scoring chance doesn't develop. It's far more offensive to me as a fan than the shootout. Extending this obnoxious contest of keep away to 7 minutes just means we have to endure MORE of it. No thanks. Pass!! We need some NBA rules, either a shot clock, or rules against regrouping back across your own side of the redline. As for the shootout it can be easily solved by having an opposition player starting on his own goal line and chasing down the puck carrier who starts at center ice. Kuznetsov tactics won't exist any more. Extending the time of a broken OT format is not the answer. Edit/add: And while we're at it, fixing these extra time problems, let's also finally fix the stupid 3-point game problem. Regulation wins should be worth 3 points, OT wins 2 points to the winner 1 to the loser.

[@dominoranger6254]

Knowing the NHL, they either won't do anything about ot/shootouts or do something ridiculously stupid and controversial.

[@RickyLaFlor]

To your point on hockey being the sport that requires the most “team chemistry” is highly debatable. Hockey, often cited as a lucky sport is not the one that requires the most “team chemistry”

[@yanngagnon1484]

I think it's worth mentioning that ringette, which is more of a 3 on 3 possession game in the offensive zone, does have a shot clock.

[@darenlim1584]

I can't remember where I saw this, but there was a weekend tournament where penalty shots and shootouts, the other team was back at the blue line behind the shooter. once the shooter got the puck the play was live and they could chase him down. I wish I could remember where I saw that. That AHL experiment of 4 on 4 then 3 on 3 before this type of shootout.

[@Crmick-vo7pn]

Personally, I have broken two mugs while he was on the caps, but now he’s on the canes and I love the snoozy Kuzzy special.

[@stanlay204]

I think kids love them. It is a showcase of star players doing some tricks... why take it away from the kids... In the end, it is the show and not just for adults. I think kids should have a say in this as well

[@NHLineCombo]

3 on 3 kinda boring tbh. In theory it’s a great idea but the puck possession can be brutal. Should be you can’t voluntarily leave the zone once you gain it.

[@mondredgaming8927]

I like your points about making it a 10 minute OT period, my original thought was more like how the AHL did it in the trial but do 5/10 minutes of 4v4 and then the same amount in 5/10 minutes of 3v3 hockey

[@RoyalMela]

If there has to be a winner, make it a power play competition, similar to college football OT. Both teams get two minutes on OT, one scores, one doesn't. We have a winner. If both score or neither score, play again with two man advantage. If you score shorthanded, game over immediately. A penalty on OT leads to automatic penalty shot.

[@thefamilymans2545]

I like the not taking puck back across center redline idea. It sucks to see one team hold puck for most of ot.

[@bartek_ewertowski]

As a goalie, I don't mind shootouts, but I agree that overtime is way more fun and exciting. And I really dislike the trend of players drifting in extremely slowly in a shootout. There should be some sort of shot clock to encourage skating in with a more game-realistic speed.

[@bpastorb]

I think something that gets missed but should be a large consideration is the youth / next generation.. I agree that my opinion about shootouts has changed many times over the years, but that is as an adult. As a kid they were probably the number one most exciting part of the game. Probably one of my favorite things to watch, tied with 'dangles' during the era when players would get undressed regularly. This was the era of a new 'move' seemingly every week, with Datsyuk being one of the most idolized players. People mention boring OT but I think shootouts have gotten progressively more boring as well if you compare today to the early 2000s. Shootouts (can) serve as a huge inspiration for the next generation of talent and it gives the kids something to get excited about.

[@brandonhanson4503]

You’re so right though. It takes the most complex and competitive sport and making it less competitive. Shootouts should still happen but after 10 mins of OT

[@sergiomarucci]

3v3 but teams don't switch sides. What makes regrouping strong is that you have the offensive team near the opponents side, so the team with the puck benefits from regrouping because the other team can't get fresh legs if you control the neutral zone.

[@biffstrong1079]

It's boring and pointless, it's always been boring in pointless. This is generally when I get to this point I get up and leave. I dont really care who wins the shoot out. The nhl used to run a feature show down in the nhl where the best players competed against each other. I loved that Id watch that rather than the all star game and it gives you an idea when you have a champ scorer and champ goalie who the best one on one players are. That would be interesting. The shootout in any sport just feels like the league giving up. Id rather they just flipped a coin.

[@richardgagne3255]

10minutes of OT is a little rough with an 82 game schedule. Keep it 5mins 3 on 3 and bring back ties.

[@ピカリFritzyBeat]

While I'm fine with bringing back ties myself, if the argument here is "shootouts are not a satisfying way to end a game for many people" then I highly doubt bringing back ties will make it feel more satisfying for those people, haha

[@richardgagne3255]

@@ピカリFritzyBeat Good point. I only mentioned ties as an alternative to shootout. Personally I dont mind the sh in a regular season setting. Just never have that as a way to decide medals/championships.

[@laughingbeast4481]

​​@@richardgagne3255Ironically, SH are more fitting and needed in tournaments. Tournaments are just a quickies in the first place, one game playoffs and all. And coz of that, long OTs would be extremely unfair, out of place even.

[@dw7704]

3 on 3 yes, 10 minute OT yes. But also in OT, disallow teams who cross the centreline from passing or carrying the puck back across it into their end. Force them to attack. If they do the face off is in their zone, with no substitutions allowed. Will some teams get called for doing that by accident? Sure, but if their mindset is attack, it won’t happen often.

[@MC-24]

Playing more OT minutes is harder on players who are huge investments to the organizations. And if you have three really good, evenly matched teams in a division who tie all the time, one or two of them could lose a wildcard spot to a lesser team in an easier division. Some things just aren’t going to be perfect.

[@woodilicious722]

The only change I would personally like to see would be a longer overtime. If not that, then keep it all how it is. The absolute last thing the NHL needs is shot clocks or a rule that prevents you from bringing it back to your zone. I feel like both of those “technicality” rules would be considerably worse than just having a game end in a shootout.

[@Pikapiplup4]

3 on 3 overtime is fun but my issue is the teams that deliberately wind down the clock to go to the shootout, saw this in europe (don't remember what league is it) is if they pull back to their own blueline they get penalized

[@rayh592]

Get rid of shootouts, make OT 10 minutes 3 on 3. If a team wins in regulation, they get 3 points, loser gets 0. A win in OT, winner gets 2, loser gets 1. Tie after OT, both teams get 1 point. Make winning a priority.

[@Skynexstar]

my issue with your argument at 7:45 is that a goalie is part of the team. If you can't beat the goalie, it means that part of their team (the goalie) was better than that part of your team (your goalie).

[@bobothehobo420]

If shootouts are creating iconic moments for your league, you have a definite problem.

[@Cooldud863863]

Imo if you implement a 10 minute overtime you should also implement some sort of center ice rule. I could just see too many OTs where only one team had possession for 10 minutes if there's not some built in way to deter this.

[@keltdavies8792]

I think every game should be worth 3 points, except shoot-outs. Regulation win 3, OT win 2, OT loss 1, Regulation loss 0. For a shoot-out, each team get 1 point, with the winner getting a 'win' for potential tie-breaker scenariios at the end of the season.

[@pauljmorton]

Thought: If game ends in regulation, 5 points to winner and 0 to loser. If game ends in OT, 4 points to winner and 1 to loser. If game ends in SO, 3 points to loser and 2 points to loser.

[@gamogi7142]

I'm going to always vouch for a 2v1 shootout. Gives more chance for defensively focused and deep teams and feels more deserved imo, like lets say it ends after the normal 6 attempts, you get 9 players (10 with goalie) per team involved which feels way more like a group effort and like the best team won. Granted its likely to take a little bit longer/more attempts, but I think it'd be a massive improvement

[@KGrant_WA]

This comment is for your KZbin algorithm. Great videos.

[@HecticHockey]

I appreciate it

[@dupeiterpokemmo9117]

He talked about other leagues not allowing them to regroup in their zone or face a penalty. I guess you missed that part. I took from the video that his idea would be to do what the khl is trying, increase the time to 7 minutes, and put rules in place to not allow teams to just hangout in there own zone. Which i think is a pretty good idea, as he said, it would allow for more odd man rush opportunity and keep the play past the blue line.

[@daveblock1688]

There is a very simple solution to this. 3 points for a regulation win, 2 for an OT win, 1 for an OT loss/SO win. Zero for SO loss. Right now there is no incentive to risk anything late in the 3rd as you are guaranteed a point and maybe 2. Make that regulation win worth trying for, get a bonus for an OT win and dis-incentivise the SO completely.

[@SNW8191]

I agree 100%. Granted my favorite team sucks at shootouts, but it is pretty good at overtime. I'd rather have 10 min overtime. Because seriously, some teams with elite goalies just rag the puck because they know they'll win the shootout. I think most players want the longer overtime, too. And I think if you get rid of the loser point, you'll force teams to go harder in overtime instead of regrouping.

[@mramaretto114]

Remember watching the Hurricanes Panthers 2023 eastern conference final that thing was crazy 6th longest game ever played

[@Random_Guy518]

I personally love shootouts, and the ways of "fixing" overtime that constantly get floated around just sound like they would change the game too much. A shot clock doesn't work in a patient game like hockey, and the red line rule would just open a new can of worms like teams maybe being more hesitant to chase breakaways because they wouldn't get all guys above the line in time. IMO shootouts are a greatly entertaining way to end a REGULAR SEASON game. Let's see what the NHL decides to do though. PS. The Kuznetsov hate it so unwarranted. Literally just a skill issue, and I'm not even a Caps fan.

[@CoastGhostx]

i was literally just thinking the same thing after watching the panthers vs the devils, obviously this video is a bit older but yeah I definitely agree

[@thebatman8895]

4 points for regulation win, 2 for OT win, 1 for SO win. No points for any loss. This will change the focus of games.

[@pgajudah7843]

that was pretty sigma dude i love your vids

[@HecticHockey]

Thank you!

[@DirtyDan77]

NHL should definitely use that KHL rule. It's a pretty easy answer to the problem.

[@WhoEvenCares]

Imma be honest, the one thing I find dumb is the 3v3 OT instead of 4v4. The teamwork aspect of 3v3 is minimal compared to 4v4, it’s a speed contest off turnovers. 5 minutes of 4v4 followed by 5 minutes of 3v3 sounds best to me.

[@svntn]

Shootouts in the NHL are bad, but mannn ending international games, especially finals and semi-finals with a shootout is a thousand times worst

[@filipusfontanus]

I like the 7 minute OT suggestion. But ultimately, you want the shootout to become an unwelcome resolution of the game for either team. To achieve that, change the point system: 3 points for a win in regulation, 2 for a win in OT and 1 for a win in shootout. No points for any loss under any circumstance. Yes, it would pretty much destroy the so-called parity that was artificially introduced when the league starting handing out points losing games. But that never seemed right to me.

[@laughingbeast4481]

They didn't start giving points to losing teams. It's the ties that are rewarded. You just got opportunity to get extra point after that.

[@robwandell8166]

Agreed. 3 on 3 is stupid as well. Just play the game! Or put that board in front of the net with the small hole that they use for intermission games to win a car or something. Imagine the NBA using a game of horse after a tie. Or the NFL settling ties by a field goal competition. Same logic.

[@Andyanddiana467]

7-10 minute 3 on 3 OT, but…2 points for an OT win, 1 point for a shootout win, and no loser point. Won’t happen because the league love parity but it’s worth a shot.

[@peterphillips9541]

Just do 10 min of 3on3 ties after 10 and call more penalty shots during the game

[@alexhenner484]

I love 3 on 3 and would be thrilled with 10 mins of it. Why not just call it a tie after the 10 mins are up to increase urgency?

[@HecticHockey]

Nothing I hate more than ties

[@alexhenner484]

@@HecticHockey agreed. But a shootout after 10 min OT is just so long for one regular season game

[@Kieva_Storm]

I agree that the shootout should go. But also, the over and back rule can easily be nullified by a creative player, so the increased time on the clock might be better, and maybe move it to 4 on 4. Personally, in an over and back rule, if I had possession and my team needed a change or didn't want to risk it, I would walk in as wide as possible, and rip the hardest shot I could, but aim it at such an angle to make sure it careens around the boards all the way back to my goalie. There's a bit more risk involved, but you can also just force a faceoff by shooting in to the glove and rushing the net if you look across and see the fake dump could get picked off.

[@remimk]

I love shootouts. They're fun. And I gotta get to bed bro, a full OT game can go to 11pm

[@ryandagoose]

What if they did a shootout but incorporated teamplay by doing oddman rushes instead of breakaways. Have your lineup of attackers and your lineup of defenders and defend a 3 on 2 rush this could replace the shootout entirely and make for some equally interesting moments as well!

[@PWNSdaily]

Holy, I'm getting old. I thought the nhl switched to 3 on 3 the season before covid lmao

[@cmac3530]

Nill's argument against the "half-court" rule is stupid. The only time a review would come into play is on a goal that is challenged, which in OT means the game is possibly over so, why not take the extra minute or two to confirm? Just treat it the exact same as offsides, because it is pretty much the exact same situation as an offside call, the direction of possession is just reversed. And even in his scenario of "Now I've got the puck at center ice and you come and poke it. Did it go over the line? Did it not go over the line?" following the logic of the rule it wouldn't matter, because YOU, the player in the attacking zone did not poke it over the line, the defending player did. You can just re-grab the puck and bring it back over. It's not like your teammates have to tag up or something...

[@elephantrange]

Like having games end in ties. Go back to the old ways.

[@cabalavatar]

I may dislike the shootout, but it does have to stay, just after a long OT. Not that you were saying that it shouldn't stay. I've been saying the same thing as you, for years: 3-on-3 10-minute OT. I've also toyed with the idea of no D during OT. I love the prohibition against regrouping! I wish I'd thought of that. And dear god do some players need a shot clock, so I'm all for that because the shootout is supposed to be fun, not agonizing.

[@ddoghfx]

My biggest issue with the NHL is not the shootout although I would like to see some kind of possession rule in OT that doesn't allow you to take the puck back over center ice. Try that and then maybe try changing the length of OT. (Somebody else in the comments pointed out that TV stations wanted to get the game done because they have schedules of their own. That is true.) My biggest issue is that any game that goes past regulation becomes a three point game as opposed to two points for other games. That is just S-T-U-P-I-D! I remember people talking about preserving the points records from previous generations. A stupid argument that has been embraced. There were no three point games in the era of ties, now teams are playing many such games every year. Schedule lengths have changed and just about everything else about the game has changed. Three points for a win, two points for an OT or shootout win, one point for an OT or shootout loss and a goose egg for losing in regulation. Get it done.

[@swoosh1428]

Fewer shoot outs = better game experience. I recall people saying the shoot out was the “most exciting play in hockey”. I disagreed then and now. The odd man rush is WAY better.

[@intentionaloffside8934]

A potential “backcourt violation” scenario in the NHL probably isn’t the answer. Turning back facilitates player changes which keep them fresh and the game at its peak. I wouldn’t want to watch an OT of 6 players stuck on the ice in a 5 minute shift.

[@thekreal8703]

I like moving it to 7 min and no regrouping past the Red line. Very good ideas IMO

[@ElijahRudolph11]

Or. Continuous OT like the playoffs, keep 5 on 5 for the full 20 minutes and no one goes to sleep until someone wins, like it should be. And eliminate the right hand column for OTL/SOL and losses make no points and you have to actually win games to gain points and make the playoffs. You win or you lose no in between

[@baconstudios4996]

in my opinion you should be allowed to bring the puck back on your own ice for 10 seconds to allow minor mistakes like accidentally poking the puck back causing penalties

[@gorillamaster001]

Yeah sure, 3 on 3 ot is exciting, but I like shootouts. Players can showcase their skills and goaltenders can show how much raw skill and games sense they have.

[@ronfehr7899]

The problem with the shootout is that they never should have occurred in the first place. I have no problem with tie games during the regular season. Shootouts merely display one player against another, and should not be used to determine the results for what was a team effort.

[@kobaltteal7139]

the Junior League where i live does 10 min of 3 on 3 before a shootout.

[@dustinrhodes4793]

Im not a big fan of the shootout, but I HATE ties. I also hate the OTL point and the point system in general. You Win or Lose just like every other sport. OT, 10 min 3 on 3 would be cool. They could also adopt basketball's "back court violation" for OT. If you bring the puck back inside your own blue line, its a face off in your own end. The opposing team deflecting a puck is not a violation, same as basketball.

[@kadenthefoxbat1450]

If the goal is to decide the game in overtime just do 3 on 3 for a full 20 minutes before resorting to a shootout. No need to be fancy about it. Most games won't make it past the 10 minute mark. I also find it weird that games that go past regulation result in more overall points rewarded compared to a game that ends in regulation. Regulation wins should be worth 3 points *or* the losing team should receive nothing. 2011-12 Panthers come to mind.

[@lanekobel6006]

Nah they are sick, great players get to show off great skills. Even Kuz coasting in is exciting, Kuch's no move, Datsyuk his wizardry, Forsberg's iconic goal that lead them to gold. The shootout is iconic and a part of hockey. There is much more good than bad, don't try to find something to argue about that doesn't need it.

[@bolt8412]

The most fair thing would just be 5 on 5 overtime, but the game does have to end

[@newfie1613]

I don’t understand why everyone hates the Kuznetsov move. “They need to add a 10 second shot clock” ok then, it takes him 9 seconds after getting the puck to shoot, you’ve changed nothing other than the fact you admitted anything less than 10 seconds is fine so there’s no issue.

[@mramaretto114]

Honestly i think 4-4 OT is the best way to go with possibilites to be 4-3 on the powerplay, 3-3 is hell a lot of fun but feels a bit too swingy i think 4-4 is still fair game but opens up from the 5-5 enough

[@cb84capri]

10 min 3 on 3 would be amazing! Throw out the shootout altogether, if still tied after 3 on 3, the team with most ot shots on goal wins. That would end the ot lollygagging. Game score shown as 4* - 3 to signify a win without a goal scored in ot.

[@northgrave]

Give 0 points for a tie. This rewards wins alone and will force teams to try to win. Sometimes late in the season a team will play for the tie, but even this will be interesting because it will be rare.

[@stormcloudfilms]

While I think it’d be better if OT was longer (at least 8 minutes), I dont really mind the shootout. The criticism is more than fair though and I do agree it isn’t the greatest way to end a good game