Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Should the NHL consider 4 on 4 as the new standard?

shadowlord · 01-01-2018, 07:30 PM

I think that over time (5-10 years), coaches/teams will develop new strategies and techniques to counter the added open ice, and we'll just be back a square one again.

For now, 3-on-3 is a novelty effect because not many teams practice it regularly, but as time goes on, players will learn to maximize it to their benefit. Players are already adapting to 3-on-3 with it being a game of keep-away, and freely exiting the offensive zone back to the neutral zone rather than losing possession. It used to be only the Flames and a couple other teams did this, but now nearly every team plays 3-on-3 as a game of keepaway until the scoring opportunity is there.

01-01-2018, 07:30 PM	#43
shadowlord First Line Centre Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Vancouver, BC Exp:	I think that over time (5-10 years), coaches/teams will develop new strategies and techniques to counter the added open ice, and we'll just be back a square one again. For now, 3-on-3 is a novelty effect because not many teams practice it regularly, but as time goes on, players will learn to maximize it to their benefit. Players are already adapting to 3-on-3 with it being a game of keep-away, and freely exiting the offensive zone back to the neutral zone rather than losing possession. It used to be only the Flames and a couple other teams did this, but now nearly every team plays 3-on-3 as a game of keepaway until the scoring opportunity is there.