Cam Neely Supports 3-On-3 Overtime Proposal
The two major potential changes to the NHL that came out of the GM meetings involved the addition of coach's challenges and a format change to overtime.
Bruins president Cam Neely joined Felger and Massarotti on Thursday -- with Adam Jones filling in for Felger -- and lent his support to the implementation of a 3-on-3 overtime.
"For me, anything we can do to eliminate more shootouts is a positive," Neely said. "I don't know if you remember that game against Tampa, we had 3-on-3 in overtime due to some penalties. I thought it was extremely exciting to watch. I think our fans would love it. It does give a little bit more of an element of trying to decide the game in more of a team atmosphere than it does in shootouts."
The proposal for change offered two choices. The first would have three minutes of 4-on-4, followed by four minutes of 3-on-3. The other proposal would keep the overtime period at a five-minute maximum, with 3-on-3 play from the beginning. Neely said he would prefer the latter.
"A lot of games, as we've seen since the 4-on-4 was adopted, don't really end in a winner. I don't know exactly what the percentage is but it's fairly high that the game goes into a shootout after 4-on-4. My guess is that would drop dramatically if it goes right to 3-on-3 after regulation, you're going to find a winner," Neely said. "If I had to vote, I'd vote to go right to 3-on-3."
Neely also discussed the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of the Bruins, what to expect from "The Hamburglar," and much more. Listen below: