Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! The league is officially on Patrick Kane watch, as the decision could narrow down in a few weeks. Edmonton has made moves and is seeing the benefits and key players are making their return to game action for their teams. New Jersey could see Jack Hughes suit up Saturday night, as well as Igor Shesterkin for the Rangers. Today we focus more on the league itself and not teams. The rumours lie within the rule book and the Winter Classic.
NHL Rumours
Rule Changes
Rumour: Frank Seravelli from Daily Faceoff brings up the potential changes to the overtime
The 3v3 overtime is an electric aspect to the sport. It’s action-packed, fast-paced, and the scoring chances are off the charts. Seeing the way teams attack with the extra open ice is appealing to the fans. However, the league may look to change the structure of the overtime.
Seravelli states that General Managers across the league have discussed implementing a rule that decreases the number of times a team can loop back to their zone. Think of it like basketball where there is a backcourt violation. The GMs may be onto something, as overtime has turned into a puck-possession game. There is a potential solution that will be put on the table.
Seravelli brings up that once you cross the red or blue line you cannot go back. Or a shot clock. With the amount of open ice, being able to limit the looping around is not a bad idea.
The goal for the overtime is to increase the action. Remember that overtime game between the Rangers and Maple Leafs in 2021? That was electric and the league needs more of that.
Winter Classic
Rumour: Darren Dreger on Insider Trading discusses an option for the Winter Classic
Who doesn’t love a good outdoor hockey game? The NHL Winter Classic has been an annual thing for over a decade. This year, we get a battle of the expansion teams, as the Seattle Kraken host the Vegas Golden Knights. It is never too soon to plan ahead and figure out the future of the event. Dreger lays out a possibility for where it will be next.
According to Dreger, NHL officials set foot in Columbus, Ohio. They made their way over to Ohio Stadium, which is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Football stadiums are popular venues for the event, as the NHL Stadium series will take place at Met Life Stadium this season. The largest crowd for an outdoor game in the NHL took place in the Michigan Wolverines stadium.
The goal was to conduct a site survey for a potential Winter Classic game. Dreger states that it is in the preliminary stages but nonetheless would make for a great atmosphere. Given the location, the Columbus Blue Jackets would be one of the teams to play in this event. A new team is great for this event, as certain teams have been recycled for the games. Nothing is concrete for this but worth monitoring as we advance.
Main Photo: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
