One in every of the new topics coming out of the 4 Nations, besides the games themselves, was the three v 3 time beyond regulation game between Canada and Sweden, together with Finland and Sweden. Because the 4 Nations was an NHL and NHLPA event, the principles were a little bit different. Mainly, the three v 3 time beyond regulation was going to be played at 10 minutes as a substitute of the standard five minutes.
The Sweden—Canada game went past the five-minute mark and led to the sixth minute of time beyond regulation. Players debated whether or to not expand the sport. Among the older guys thought, the younger might prefer it. Nevertheless, even a few of the perfect players, like Nathan MacKinnon, weren’t so sure about 10 minutes.
The Great Debate: Should the NHL Extend 3v3 Extra time to 10 Minutes?
Again, these coaches ride their best players in time beyond regulation every other shift to win the sport. In a 10-minute 3 v 3 time beyond regulation, coaches can have to make use of their bench even greater than they do already. MacKinnon told the media that perhaps seven minutes can be perfect.
This got people talking concerning the potential of expanding the time beyond regulation session within the NHL regular season from five minutes to 10 minutes to forestall as many shootouts. Nevertheless, it appears the League and the Players usually are not involved in making that change. Not even adding two extra minutes to time beyond regulation. It wasn’t even a subject of conversation.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on Wednesday morning before the GM Meetings in Florida wrapped up, and he said it didn’t get any traction.
Like, considered one of the things I used to be wondering about, and I do know they form of talked about it a bit, was increasing before they came, they talked about increasing 3-on-3 time beyond regulation due to Canada-Sweden OT on the 4 Nations, where (Mitch) Marner scored the time beyond regulation winner. But it surely doesn’t sound like that actually got any steam. So I don’t know that we’re going to see much of anything when it comes to rule changes.
Once the meetings wrapped up, Commissioner Bettman addressed the media and told them he was not a fan and he was frightened about deteriorating ice conditions and extra wear and tear on the players.
Bettman says he’s “not a fan” of extending length of 3-on-3 time beyond regulation for deterioration of ice conditions and the extra wear and tear on players.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 19, 2025
The second part is true, considering the highest players like MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Leon Draisaitl, Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Brady Tkachuk, and others are all the time on the market. They play three-quarters of the time beyond regulation period. And with games being back-to-back, there may very well be a rise in injuries.
Changing NHL Extra time Format Has Unintended Consequences
We usually are not saying the primary a part of the statement about deteriorating ice conditions is fake. Still, the ice conditions within the 4 Nations remained the identical within the time beyond regulation period. Similarly, the ice conditions are the identical at the top of the third period as they’re in time beyond regulation since the Zamboni doesn’t scrape in between periods.
Nevertheless, it is obvious the NHL has no appetite to expand the three v 3 time beyond regulation beyond the five minutes it’s being played. In most games, at the very least 77 percent are finished in the additional session slightly than the shootout. So, if stats don’t lie, that is the stat the NHL is banking on.
The ice didn’t deteriorate on the 4 Nations between Canada and Sweden.
Doesn’t sound just like the players wanted it. As MacKinnon said at 4 Nations possibly two minutes but doesn’t sound like they need it. #nhl @TheRGMedia @FullPressNHL @NHLrumorsX https://t.co/x1caE31LNd
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 19, 2025
Nevertheless, the response on the GMs’ Meetings also suggests that the Players don’t want it either. However the 10-minute 3 v 3 time beyond regulation was fun on the 4 Nations.
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