GMs will consider altering OT rules
Lengthening the overtime period in regular-season games will be one of the major topics when NHL general managers gather for their annual spring meetings today through Wednesday in Boca Raton, Fla.
The idea was debated at the November GM meetings in Toronto, and there appeared to be an appetite for change, though there was no consensus reached on whether it should go from five minutes to seven, eight or 10 minutes.
Another overtime format discussed in November was playing 4-on-4 for five minutes and switching to 3-on-3 for another segment.
It seems clear that general managers would like to make a change to reduce the number of games decided by shootouts, which have been in effect since the 2005-06 season.
This season, entering Sunday, 14% of games had been decided by shootouts and 40% of overtime games had gone to shootout.
Traditionally, GMs raise issues at their November meeting and make recommendations for rules changes in March.
Any recommendation would have to go to the competition committee, which includes player representatives. Rules changes also must be approved by the league’s board of governors.
GMs also likely will discuss expending criteria for video replay. Earlier this season, the Los Angeles Kings were denied a win in a game against the Detroit Red Wings because none of the on-ice officials saw that a shot by Niklas Kronwall had hit the netting at the end of the rink before bouncing into the goal off the back of goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Had that been noticed, play would have been blown dead once the puck hit the netting because it was out of play, but the Red Wings tied the score and won in a shootout.
The general managers will also listen to various league reports, including one on the NHL’s Olympic experience in Sochi.