After months of negotiation it appears the NHL and NHLPA have reached a consensus regarding the overtime format for the 2015-16 NHL season.
According to hockey insider Bob McKenzie, a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime will be played at the conclusion of the third period followed by a shootout, if needed. There will be no 4-on-4 overtime at all.
McKenzie reports that the NHLPA was “adamantly opposed” to the AHL format, which sees teams play 4-on-4 for four minutes prior to switching to 3-on-3.
“We came out of the competition committee meeting with the players’ association and we talked about both formats, and they went back to their representatives and players, and I think the consensus with them and back to us was 3-on-3 would be the right way to go,” Nashville Predators GM David Poile told NHL.com. “I’m excited about it. From a general managers’ standpoint we’re hopeful to have less shootouts. We felt almost unanimous that we would like to have more games ended in overtime versus the shootout. We got our wish. We got 3-on-3. I don’t know what the statistics are going to prove out, but I know there certainly will be less shootouts. This could be very exciting. It’s another tweak to the game that could be very fan friendly.”
During the June 6 meeting, the NHL and NHLPA recommended changes to defensive zone face offs and suggested changes to video review including a coach’s challenge.
All recommended changes still need approval by the NHLPA’s Executive Board and the NHL’s Board of Governors.