From Stephen Whyno of the Canadian Press, covering the NHL general managers meetings in Boca Raton:
Peter Chiarelli says GMs agree to recommend some kind of 3-on-3 OT. Debate is: split it like AHL & add time or go right to 3-on-3.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) March 17, 2015
In the AHL, they have a seven-minute overtime period, going from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3 after the first whistle following three minutes of play.
Now, remember that any recommendation must still be approved by the competition committee, which is comprised of five players and five NHL-designated club officials.
That’s important, since there have been concerns raised by the NHLPA about 3-on-3 overtime, and whether it could lead to “more wear and tear” on the top players. It may be that the union prefers going straight to 3-on-3 and ending overtime as soon as possible. There may be GMs who prefer that, too -- especially if they believe it will lead to fewer shootouts.