If you read me often you know, I am working on a book about the Great Hockey Debates which will include my opinions, the opinions of some of the most prestigious people in hockey, and the opinions of the best readership on the planet..YOU. So remember, your answer may end up in a book! Thanks.

Currently the NHL point system awards 2 points for any win, and 1 point for a tie in overtime. It is a system, combined with league wide parity that keeps all the teams VERY close in the standings and does allow for some great playoff races come March.

However, I feel it is VERY broken, and too often shootout wins, which are the result of one-on-one matchups, are deciding who makes the playoffs and who doesn't.

Also, come March, we see way too many conservative third periods, as teams play for the one point, and will take their chances with the second. This makes it VERY hard for teams in say 12th or so place to make the playoffs, even if they are only single digit points out. The "three point games" (where one team gets 2 points and the other gets 1 point) mean that leap frogging over teams is harder than ever.

This MUST be changed. In an ideal world I would like to return to wins and losses, and scratch points all together. It just makes sense. In a game, someone loses and someone wins. Deal with it!

The NHL's fear is this system would allow the better teams to build up bigger leads in the standings...but shouldn't they? They are the better teams, right?

The other option I would semi support would be:

3 points for a win in regulation
2 for a win in OT
1 for a win in a shootout.

You could award 1 point for a loss in OT, and maybe .5 points for a loss in a shootout.

This would definitely keep teams "mathematically" in the race, and present us with some exciting hockey...

I would also be in favor of a ten minute OT...

While we are talking about it...if we are to have a shootout, we need at least 5 shooters aside to make the shootout feel more cohesive with the game...and bring more of a team concept to the shootout...

That's where I am...how about you?

Really interested to read your opinions on this topic.

Cheers

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