The NHL has been exploring doable adjustments to extend the thrill of the sport. One of many most important subjects below dialogue is the 3-on-3 additional time format, an thrilling addition to the game since its introduction within the 2015-2016 season.
Just lately, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared insights right into a proposed rule change for 3-on-3 additional time, shedding mild on its potential influence.
Friedman highlighted a compelling case research from the BCHL, the place a transfer to a 10-minute 3-on-3 additional time interval resulted in a major drop within the variety of video games that resulted in shootouts – from 41% to simply 14%.
“Somebody contacted me from the BCHL and mentioned that this 12 months, as they said beginning this 12 months, they went 3-on-3 for 10 minutes and the share of video games that went to a shootout dropped from 41 to 14,” Friedman mentioned on the 32 Ideas podcast.
This statistic presents intriguing prospects for the NHL to think about as they take into account changes to their very own additional time format.
The proposed change will see the 3-on-3 additional time interval prolonged to 10 minutes, with the intention of decreasing reliance on shootouts and offering a extra complete instance of groups’ depth.
In response to Friedman, the longer period prevents groups from shortening their benches too rapidly, permitting for deeper participant rotation and probably extra dynamic and unpredictable gameplay.
Friedman mentioned:
“I really assume this is likely to be the reply: Go to 10 minutes of 3-on-3,” Friedman added. “What you actually see taking place is you may’t shorten the bench as a lot as you may in 5 minutes. It’s important to dive deeper into your huddle than in a 5 minute OT as a result of guys are getting drained”
NHL normal managers assembly Tuesday
NHL Senior Government Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell acknowledged the continuing discussions about doable upgrades to 3-on-3 additional time throughout a normal managers assembly on Tuesday. He expressed concern concerning the regrouping of groups within the impartial zone, which might scale back the anxiousness and pleasure that the format dropped at the match for the primary time.
Throughout these discussions, a number of concepts have been thought-about, together with eliminating the power to drag the puck from the offensive zone after crossing the blue line and introducing a shot clock to encourage extra aggressive play. Nonetheless, the problem lies to find the precise stability to take care of the movement of the sport with out disrupting the pure rhythm.
The info-driven conversations about additional time adjustments will proceed when the NHL normal managers meet once more in March. The purpose stays to extend the thrill of the sport and handle evolving methods, whereas sustaining the integrity and spontaneity followers love in 3-on-3 additional time.
