How NHL stars feel about 4 Nations Face-Off…
MONTREAL — Zach Werenski wish to see a longer time beyond regulation. Brock Nelson is open to the concept. Aleksander Barkov sounds skeptical. Patrik Laine couldn’t care much less. Nathan MacKinnon desires no half of it.
After the opening recreation of the 4 Nations Face-Off supplied (*4*)a first have a look at a 10-minute time beyond regulation period — a rule change instituted for this short best-on-best event — there may be a complete lack of consensus amongst gamers about whether or not or to not institute such a change for the 82-game common season, the place the time beyond regulation format has long been a speaking level.
MacKinnon induced a stir Wednesday night time when he described himself as utterly gassed during the additional period of Canada’s 4-3 time beyond regulation win over Sweden — when Mitch Marner scored on the 6:06 mark, that means the sport would have gone to a shootout beneath common season guidelines. But in the exact same reply, the Avalanche star stated he could be open to a seven-minute OT, and mere minutes earlier, Connor McDavid sounded optimistic about the new format.
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon skates with the puck during time beyond regulation towards Sweden on Feb. 12, 2025. World Cup of Hockey by way of Getty Im
“I think it’s a good little trial run to see how it works,” McDavid stated. “I don’t think anyone wants to see it go to a shootout. The players, the fans, nobody does, so it’s good to have a little bit of extra time. Obviously if we didn’t have that, we would’ve ended this one in a shootout.”
At least within the best-on-best format, gamers are usually pleased that there’s much less probability issues will finish in a glorified abilities competitors.
“Obviously shootouts can be a lot of fun,” Barkov stated. “But I think when there are so many talented guys, skilled guys playing three-on-three hockey, I think it’s probably one of the best things to watch, how much skill there is on the ice.”
MITCH MARNER!!! 🚨 He wins it for Canada in simply an wonderful time beyond regulation! 🍁 #4Nations pic.twitter.com/lcXpPbkoBw— NHL (@NHL) February 13, 2025
Based on Wednesday’s time beyond regulation, when Canada and Sweden performed dramatic, end-to-end hockey all through, that’s actually true.
The common season, although, just isn’t best-on-best, and the three-on-three format has confirmed to be hit and miss, with some overtimes turning uninteresting as groups prioritize possessing the puck over all the pieces else. And over 82 video games, there could be concern about the additional toll on gamers.
“If you just keep adding longer and longer overtimes, I don’t know how guys would take it,” Barkov stated. “I’m fine with how it is right now. I’ll do whatever would be the decision.”
Canada’s Connor McDavid will get set for a faceoff in time beyond regulation towards Sweden on Feb. 12, 2025. World Cup of Hockey by way of Getty Im
Nelson, who described himself as detached however up for attempting it, hit the nail on the top.
“I guess it all goes back to the question of whether someone wants to decide it in a shootout,” he advised The Post.
One factor that would help keep gamers recent if the NHL chooses to elongate time beyond regulation could be adopting one other rule change for this event: including 30 seconds to TV timeouts whereas taking a minute off every intermission break.
Of course, that additionally provides coaches leeway to play their high guys even more, so maybe it might have the other impact in follow.
“Your top guys go on and if it’s a back-to-back, it takes a lot out of you,” Werenski stated. “It’d be one thing to fiddle with, I believe. Especially possibly preseason or one thing,simply to see how guys feel.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to going to 10 minutes. But seeing MacKinnon’s comments, he was pretty gassed it looked like. It takes a lot out of you.”
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