QOTD: Thoughts on 3 on 3?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by chopper89

Add in soccer shootouts, and you have to admit they're always incredibly exciting.

I think the best I could offer for a shootout in soccer is that it is usually slightly less tedious than the game itself.

I have never understood why people bring soccer up in defence of a shootout. Soccer does not use penalty kicks to decide regular season contests. Soccer is actually the big, shining example of how a tie is not a bad thing.

Where soccer does use shootouts is tournaments, because unlimited overtime is completely impractical in that sport. We have a 100 years of history that demonstrates unlimited overtime in hockey tournaments/playoffs is feasible.

[Robbob]

More regulation wins is a good thing. The NHL already conceded that Shoot out wins aren't the same.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Unlimited overtime 5 on 5 overtime is not remotely feasible for regular season games though.

[Huntingwhale]

I don't hate the shootout anymore because we are actually good at it now. Back when we had guys like Iggy, Langkow and Kipper on the ice for shootouts, for some reason they sucked at it and we always seemed to lose. Now with guys like Monahan, Hudler and Colborne we are quite good at it. So I don't mind it as much anymore.

I'm all for the 3v3 also. Clearly it works in the AHL so why not try it up here.

Those of you that are still stuck on the thinking that ties or 3 points for wins are the way to go need to remove that idea from your head. Clearly the NHL enjoys the parity and neither of those ideas are ever going to fly.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Really looking forward to this, should be really fun to watch

[Erick Estrada]

3 on 3 is a rare situation that exists only due to staggered penalties. Adding it to the end of games is reducing the NHL game to shinny hockey. The shootout is used in many sports over the world to decide a winner and it's at least accepted universally as a means of ending ties. Reducing the game to pond hockey is a joke plain and simple. I'm sure it will be exciting at times but it's simply not professional hockey nor international. The NBA is the closest sport to WWE but 3 on 3 hockey moves the NHL that much closer to sports entertainment.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

3 on 3 involves all aspects of hockey. The shootout involves... skating, stickhandling, shooting and goaltending I guess.

One resembles ice hockey. The other does not. The "throwing a football through a tire" analogy is as valid now as it was ~ ten years ago when this was first introduced.

[automaton 3]

The few times that I've seen 3 vs. 3 it was entertaining, really looking forward to seeing more of it and less shootouts.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Zevo

None of the above. 3 on 3 is even more gimmicky than the shoot out. I don't think I've ever seen teams play 3 on 3. I don't like the shoot out but it's more like a real game situation than 3 on 3 pond hockey since I've seen way more penalty shots in a game than 3 on 3.

The flames have played 3 on 3 a few times over the years.

[mikephoen]

I'm an insane radical and I would like to see 4 on 4 hockey ALL GAME! It's too easy to defend 5 on 5 in the modern game.

If it ever happens it won't be for years and years though. Too radical a change. It would likely mean smaller rosters (or at least different ones, more defensemen, less wingers, the reappearance of the true 'rover'). Some of Gretzky's records might actually fall.

PA would likely never go for it either.

As for the question at hand, I don't hate the shootout, but I think 3 on 3 sounds fun. I think 7 minutes of 4 on 4 would settle most games also. With the long change now, we're already seeing many fewer shootouts, add 2 more minutes of any kind of overtime and it should drop further.

[edn88]

If you don't want ties and
If you don't want overtime of an indeterminate maximum length and
If you don't want too many games going to a shoot out then
3 on 3 is a good way of accomplishing this.

I like 5 on 5 hockey, but if a game is still tied then playing an extra frame and getting to see some even faster hockey is fine. I would like to see no more loser point however.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by FBI

The flames have played 3 on 3 a few times over the years.

Don't remember them. I do remember many, many penalty shots.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Don't remember them. I do remember many, many penalty shots.

Penalty shots have been on a rapid increase since the first lockout and introduction of the shootout. They really opened up what was eligible as a PS.

Many of the plays that end up as penalty shots look like good defensive plays.

With coincidental penalties not meaning 5on5 anymore, there have been a lot more 3on3 situations in the past few years as well, if my memory serves me well.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I'm surprised that so many are against 3vs3 which is sounding like a done deal for next season. Any of the opposition actually watch an ahl overtime this year? From what I hear it works and is fun hockey to watch.

[schteve_d]

I'm afraid I can't vote in that as I don't like the 3-3 or the shootout. I have to admit I like the 4-4 though.

I guess for me I'd like to see a full 20 minute period of OT with 4-4 and if there's no winner at that point then it's a good 'ole-fashioned tie.

[Jets4Life]

Love it.

[IgiTang]

Wish there was a option for going back to no loser point and allowing a game to end in a tie.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Wish there was a option for going back to no loser point and allowing a game to end in a tie.

So we could go back to two teams holding on to a single point? No thanks

[Komskies]

I don't buy the argument that 3 on 3 isn't real hockey. It's a situation that can and does happen in real hockey games.

[dammage79]

Where's the undecided until I see it in action option? Or the "Meh" option? Needs better options.

Honestly seems just as gimmicky as when the shootout was brought in. It's tinkering. Still won't change anything other than granting more ROW. But nothing for the points.

Change the points system first. Tinker later if need be.