It’s Time For The NHL Points System To Change

2005 Saw Major NHL Rules Changes Except For the NHL Points System

Back in 2005, NHL general managers made some stunning changes to rules. What they neglected was changing the points system to a proposed 3-2-1 system. They eliminated the center-ice red line negating two-line passes to open up the game. The shootout was added so if a game ended in regulation time tied, overtime would hopefully decide a winner, avoiding the “kiss your sister” tie game. They also changed obstruction rules to again open up the game.

3-2-1 NHL Points System Died in 2007

The general managers decided to kill the idea of changing the points system in 2007. One GM, Brian Burke then with the Anaheim Ducks stated, “Because it’s a terrible idea, that’s why it didn’t have any support.” Burke and other GMs worried that some teams would be out of the playoffs contention by Christmas with the three points for a win rule change. The fact that a team winning in regulation is rewarded three instead of two points, should display that team’s ability to win in regulation instead of both teams “playing it safe” by not pushing the envelope in a tie game near the end of regulation. Thus the term “loser point” for getting to overtime was adopted. The NHL is not a wins/losses league, it is a points-generating league.

The fact that when the standings are compared using the three points for a win, two for an overtime or shootout win, and one for an overtime loss they don’t differ considerably. But, what also must be considered is that is not a valid comparison. If the NHL adopted the 3-2-1 points system, teams would be using an entirely different strategy to go for that extra point.

Vancouver Canucks Would Love to Have This System in Their Playoff Hunt This Season

Take a team like the Canucks who are wavering near elimination this season. They won six consecutive games recently and instead of obtaining 18 points for their late-season run, they only got 12. One must admit that a new proposed NHL point system in that example holds merit. It does put some pressure on both teams to attempt to win a game in regulation and avoid overtime, or God forbid a shootout.

The Shootout Needs To Go

Let’s face it, the shootout is a skills gimmick to excite fans and at first it worked. But now, even after going to the 3-on-3 in OT games should not be decided by a skills contest, especially with one player coming in alone on the goalie. Why not just eliminate the shootout and extend the overtime 3-on-3 a few more minutes? That way if a team loses, at least they lost as a team, and not from failing to score (which doesn’t even count in the scoring totals for players) in a shootout.

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Senators Honour Eugene Melnyk With a Few Great Performances

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers

NHL: The Possibility of Patrick Kane Leaving The Chicago Blackhawks

NFL: FPC 2022 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Getting Defensive Rather Early

Wrestling: NXT Black and Gold Shine In Loss To NXT 2.0 in War Games Match

PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 25: Eugene Melnyk Passes Away; NHL Salary Cap Rises

Or, How About The System Used in The AHL

In the American Hockey League standings are decided by points winning percentage. That may be the purest method to decide which team is winning the most. Still, if researched the standings don’t fluctuate much at all… if at all. In that league, some teams play fewer games which of course changes their points percentage ratio.

Final Analysis

It seems that the NHL will never admit that the current point system needs overhauling. The only way to determine if it works is to try it! See, the current system can falsely give GMs that feather in their cap that if their team has a 33-25-12 record, they are over .500. When in reality, they lost 12 games in overtime. That gives them something they can go back to their owners and brag about how successful the team was.

The ‘loser’ point is not the way to go. What other professional sport awards a loss? Perhaps changing the overtime period to seven or eight minutes may work to end games and avoid the dreaded shootout. The NHLPA may have something to say about that since it could wear out some of the stars of the game. It could prevent the onslaught of shootouts, which at this writing total a whopping 190! That’s an average of almost six per team.

The sad facts are only 47.7 percent of games (at this writing) were decided in overtime. That means that 52.3 percent are still decided by the ridiculous means of a shootout.

Something needs to change.