Connor McDavid, the NHL’s brightest celebrity, wouldn’t thoughts seeing shootouts changed with an additional 5 minutes of 3-on-3 time beyond regulation.
And the Edmonton Oilers captain could possibly be on to one thing with that intriguing take.
The 26-year-old appeared on Sportsnet’s Tim and Friends present on Thursday and mentioned quite a few subjects, together with his stance on shootouts. Though he hasn’t at all times been keen to supply criticism, the two-time Hart Trophy winner didn’t conceal his emotions about deciding video games with a abilities competitors.
“No one loves the shootout,” McDavid stated. “It’s a crappy strategy to end a recreation.”
McDavid, providing to play satan’s advocate, additionally talked about that enjoying 10 minutes of time beyond regulation could possibly be hazardous for gamers’ well being as it will add to their already-high regular-season workloads. At the identical time, although, that could possibly be definitely worth the threat.
“At the top of the day, additionally, it’s in regards to the gamers’ well being and security,” McDavid stated. “It’s an extended season. The time beyond regulation, it taxes loads of guys. So, making that longer might have some results there.
“But I agree, nobody desires to see the sport finish in a shootout.”
The Oilers’ franchise icon isn’t the one particular person advocating for extending the additional interval, both, as former NHL skater and present hockey analyst Kevin Bieksa doubled down on No. 97’s thought. And Bieksa went even additional, suggesting ties ought to return to the NHL.
“It’s the primary [time] I’ve truly thought of it, however I’d love 10 minutes of 3-on-3 [overtime] after which axe the shootout,” Bieksa defined. “Shootout was thrilling when it first got here as a result of earlier than that, we had been ending video games in ties. And we had been like, ‘No, this isn’t soccer. We wish to see a winner.’
“And then the shootout was nice — it served its goal. It acquired some offensive explosion and [we] acquired to see some nice strikes. And now I feel it’s form of fizzled out and you bought to maintain evolving. I like the 10-minute 3-on-3.”
The NHL first adopted 3-on-3 time beyond regulation forward of the 2015-16 season, with steady 5-on-5 time beyond regulation remaining unchanged within the playoffs.
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Interestingly, 3-on-3 time beyond regulation within the East Coast Hockey League modified to a seven-minute format previous to the 2019-20 marketing campaign however didn’t eradicate shootouts. And it proved profitable, with extra contests ending within the additional body.
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