Never before has overtime in the National Hockey League (NHL) been more exciting, and yet so controversial. Beginning in the 2015-16 regular season, the NHL general managers and Players’ Association have agreed to switch to a 3-on-3 format during the 5-minute overtime period. The 2015-16 season has only been going on for a month, but so far there has been a drastic decrease in shootouts. One main purpose of 3-on-3 overtime was to reduce the number of shootouts needed in a game. Since they were introduced beginning in the 2005-06 season, shootouts have been unpopular among some coaches, with former Capitals head coach, Adam Oates, calling them a ¨carnival effect¨ in 2013.  Since the beginning of the 2015-16 season, shootouts have decreased by 45 percent, with only 13 games (as of November 10) having gone into a shootout, opposed to 33 shootouts at the same point last year.

While 3-on-3 overtime may be praised by hockey fans who dislike the ¨skills competition” nature of shootouts, there are still certain players and coaches in the NHL who disapprove of the current overtime format. Winnipeg Jets defenseman, Dustin Byfuglien, called it ¨a terrible part of hockey.¨ However, there are plenty of others who approve the overtime rules, with Florida Panthers coach, Gerard Gallant, calling it ¨fun.¨

So while the opinions about the overtime format have been mixed, one thing can be agreed on: The NHL has certainly changed. Whether it is for the better has yet to be determined.