Annual NHL GM Meeting Could Bring Significant Changes
By Josh Clark
The NHL general managers will gather for the third and final day of their annual meeting on Wednesday. They have been conversing since Monday in Boca Raton, FL on ways to improve the game as a whole and make it better for the players, coaches, and fans altogether.
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A few different topics were talked about among the various meetings, but there were two that proved to be most entertaining and provoking.
The first is in regards to the possibility of switching overtime from 4-on-4 to a 3-on-3 scenario. This has been a hot topic and many feel that this rule change would be beneficial because it would cut down on the number of games decided by a shootout. As of this past Saturday, 255 of the 1,029 NHL games played were sent to overtime. Of those 255, 110 were decided in the five minute overtime period, a 43.1% rate. That leaves a 56.9% rate in regards to games being decided in the shootout this season.
The American Hockey League (AHL) introduced a seven minute overtime this year, with three minutes of 4-on-4 followed by the final four minutes being played at 3-on-3. Since the change, they have seen a 77% rate of games being decided before a shootout is necessary, a great increase from 35.3% last season. Not only that, but of the 170 goals scored in overtime this season, 73 of them were scored in 3-on-3 play.
General managers seem indifferent about the proposal, and talked it out a good bit, trying to find the best formula to make for the most exhilarating and helpful overtime.
“There’s pluses and minuses to it. It was very exciting. I think there is some merit there. That’s the plus side, the excitement of it. There is some downside: Is it more taxing on the star players who are going to play more? That’s what we have to figure out. There are some concerns, but it’s something we definitely need to have some healthy discussion on.” -Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill
The 3-on-3 would be an exciting change, and may improve or decline the overall gameplay of the NHL. A few different Dallas Stars were questioned about it, and there were a few different thoughts about it:
“I think it’s good to think of a way to get less shootouts in the game. There have been so many of them over the last ten years,” said Stars center Jason Spezza. “I am for looking for some kind of change to make a different way of deciding games. I am not sure how they are going to do it. I don’t think adding time to overtime is the way to go.”
“I really enjoy it. It’s exciting hockey,” Curtis McKenzie said of 3-on-3 play. “It’s still a team game where the shootout is more individual. I think it would be a good change.” McKenzie has played in the AHL a few different spans of this season and has experienced the new rule.
“For me, it would be a more exciting way to finish a game because you are still playing hockey, and there are still mistakes being made,” Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff said. “If you get a scoring chance where a couple players are in it, you are going to get a scoring chance going the other way.”
“Honestly, I haven’t heard one guy that doesn’t like the shootout. Who doesn’t like it? I haven’t heard anyone who doesn’t like it,” said Dallas Stars backup Jhonas Enroth. “They are on their feet during the shootout. Everyone loves it. I am not sure why we are talking about this. It’s disappointing.”
The other portion of significant chatter was the possible creation of a coach’s challenge. This challenge could be used in only two scenarios: the possibility of goaltender interference on a scoring play and a delay of game penalty from clearing the puck over the glass. The challenge on goalie interference would only be if the opposing team scored a called goal. The delay of game challenge would only be for challenging the call on the ice, not to challenge if a questionable play should be a penalty. The team would need to still have their timeout and if they lost the challenge, they would lose their timeout and their ability to challenge for the rest of the game, so there would need to be some clear clarification for the coach before he chose to challenge.
Once again, both of these topics are only talking points and nothing is set in stone yet. Some GM’s support both, some support neither, and some support one or the other. The final day of meetings today will help clear the air and give them a clear-cut solution to present to NHL officials.
Dallas Stars notes:
The Dallas Stars sadly fell eight points behind the final wild card spot last night with Winnipeg’s victory over the San Jose Sharks. They could be as far back as nine points if the Los Angeles Kings knock off the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night. The Stars are still TECHNICALLY applicable in the playoff hunt, but with twelve games left to go in the season, they will need a miracle and a half to get there…
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