NHL commissioner: Shootout is not going anywhere

By David Rogers

The NHL will adopt a new 3-on-3 overtime format in 2015-16 in an effort to cut down on the number of games decided by a shootout. Despite deploying a change which will drastically reduce the importance and frequency of the shootout, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reiterated that the shootout isn’t going anywhere and a majority of fans are still in favor.

Bettman’s comments, as seen in the Boston Globe, shed some insight on how the league is handling the reduction of the shootout.

Say what you will about Bettman, but his remarks were pretty accurate. There is a vocal chunk of hockey fans who hate the shootout, but at the same time Bettman is correct that a ton of fans (albeit less vocal) love the shootout. Perhaps more importantly is how much it appeals to casual fans and even non-fans.

Bettman is also correct in the fact that fans hated ties (most probably more than the shootout) and it’s unrealistic to have players compete in marathon games during the regular season. The 3-on-3 format is a gimmick, but it’s closer to real hockey and better to settle games than the shootout.

More from Puck Drunk Love: