How about the winner in OT gets 2 point, the looser gets 0. BUT, if it goes to a shootout, winner gets 2 points, and looser gets 1 point.

How about 4. Get rid of the shootout completely.

Play 3 on 3 until there's a winner. Winner takes all. No points for losing,and no more individual skills competition to resolve a team game.
- leafsfann

I enjoy watching a shootout more than 3 on 3 mutant hockey

also don't think it need fixing, what I would love to see fixed is the playoff format.

Please go back tot he old 1 vs 8. Its more fun to a variety in the matchup and the reward is in theory better for the top seeds

Here me out here.

If the game ends after:
Regulation: 3 points for a win, 0 for a loss
OT: 2 points for a win, 1 for a loss
Shootout: 1 point for a win, 0 for a loss

Not only does it incentivize teams to win in regulation, it also incentivizes teams to do everything in their power to have the game end in OT, because if it gets to the shootout everyone loses.

God I hate the shootout.

Who cares about what other sports do..
- LeafGuy89

When a poster talks about what other sports do in a post, what other sports actually do is relevant in that conversation.

Just doing #2 wont work because teams will still try to make it to OT just to secure a point.

I would do a mixture of 2 and 3. Drop the loser point but give 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for an OT win, and 1 point for a shootout win. So a game could be worth just 1 point for either team if it goes to a shootout.

This will make teams win in regulation and better teams will separate themselves. While the league may not like it when teams separate themselves it also keeps the good teams that just barely miss the playoffs from being a top 10 draft pick. Meaning the bad teams will get the better picks and get better, instead of good teams that are artificially bad because everyone else gets points.

I HATE THE SHOOTOUT!! Let me repeat. I HATE THE SHOOTOUT. No game should be decided in a skills competition. I get the NHL doesn't want ties but guess what, some games deserve to be ties. A team that plays a team game is disadvantaged in a shootout to one that can throw 3 superstars or specialists in a row.

With that in mind I am all in favor of 3 points for a regulation win. A team should be rewarded for ending a game in 60 minutes. If not, then go to a 10 minute 4 on 4 OT. It's more ice but also more like real hockey. 3 on 3 although exciting is a little ridiculous. After 10 minutes if no one scores, each go home with 1 point. If a team does score in OT, 2 points to the winner, 0 to the loser. Dump the everyone gets a trophy mentality. And by making OT longer you won't have teams playing for the tie. Not for 10 minutes with more ice. They will want 2. At the end of the season add up the points and move on. No ROW. Just points.

Here me out here.

If the game ends after:
Regulation: 3 points for a win, 0 for a loss
OT: 2 points for a win, 1 for a loss
Shootout: 1 point for a win, 0 for a loss

Not only does it incentivize teams to win in regulation, it also incentivizes teams to do everything in their power to have the game end in OT, because if it gets to the shootout everyone loses.

God I hate the shootout.
- j_eng

Get rid of the loser point in OT and I am with you.

I've seen (and did one about 10 games ago) re-figuring the standings with a 3 point system for all games.

The standings remain almost completely unchanged at the end of the day. Kinda surprising, but true.

Example:

I just did the Current Metro standings, cause that has a tight race with Carolina, Pittsburgh and Columbus

Current system
Was 83
NYI 81 (-2, 1 RegW)
Car 78 (-5, 2.5 RegW)
Pit 77 (-6, 3 RegW)
CBJ 75 (-8, 4 RegW)
Phi 72 (-11, 5.5 RegW)
NYR 65 (-18, 9 RegW)
NJ 58 (-25, 12.5 RegW)

3-2-1 System
Was 112
NYI 110 (-2, 0.67 RegW)
Car 109 (-3, 1 RegW)
Pit 106 (-6, 2 RegW)
CBJ 103 (-9, 3 RegW)
Phi 97 (-15, 5 RegW)
NYR 85 (-27, 9 RegW)
NJ 79 (-33, 11 RegW)

Completely unchanged order, none of the gaps between teams is changed in any significant way.

The argument for 3 point regulation wins is completely disproven when you look at raw numbers. I know because I used to be for it, until I saw (and did) the math.

The bottom line, whether you love or loathe 3v3 and/or the shootout, is every game needs to be worth the same amount of points. The present system where some games are worth 2 points and others 3 is asinine and corrupts the standings.

Personally, I prefer moving to all 3 point games (3- reg win, 2OT/SO win, 1 OTL, O reg loss) as the shootout is now pretty well ensconced and most fans want to see one team or another win vs. a tie. The argument that historical team point records serve as some kind of hindrance seems kind of silly and backward looking as the game has evolved in so many other ways over the decades.

As a fan since the early 70's, I'd personally have no problem going back to ties and 2 point games, but I can't see the NHLPA advocating longer overtime periods to reduce the number of ties.

@Eklund

The next time you make a post like this, which you seem to do almost yearly, could you please show what the 3 point standings would look like.

After 10 minutes or so, I put this together for people to view.

Team AvAge GP W L OL PTS PTS% 3Pts GF GA OTW OTL SOW SOL
Washington Capitals 28.6 66 38 21 7 83 0.629 112 222 207 5 6 4 1
New York Islanders 28.3 65 37 21 7 81 0.623 110 184 152 5 2 3 5
Carolina Hurricanes 26.6 65 36 23 6 78 0.6 109 195 174 4 4 1 2

Tampa Bay Lightning 27.1 66 50 12 4 104 0.788 142 252 173 6 3 6 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 27.4 65 40 21 4 84 0.646 118 233 186 6 4 0 0
Boston Bruins 28.5 65 39 17 9 87 0.669 117 192 158 7 6 2 3

Pittsburgh Penguins 28.4 65 34 22 9 77 0.592 106 225 200 4 7 1 2
Montreal Canadiens 27.7 66 35 24 7 77 0.583 106 199 193 4 7 2 0

Philadelphia Flyers 26.6 66 32 26 8 72 0.545 97 199 218 5 7 2 1
Buffalo Sabres 26.5 65 30 27 8 68 0.523 87 183 205 7 6 4 2
New York Rangers 27.5 65 27 27 11 65 0.5 85 184 215 1 8 6 3
Florida Panthers 28 65 28 26 11 67 0.515 85 204 218 7 5 3 6
New Jersey Devils 27.5 66 25 33 8 58 0.439 79 187 220 3 5 1 3
Detroit Red Wings 29.5 65 23 33 9 55 0.423 69 177 218 7 4 2 5
Ottawa Senators 27.3 66 23 38 5 51 0.386 69 195 246 5 5 0 0

Team AvAge GP W L OL PTS PTS% 3Pts GF GA OTW OTL SOW SOL
Winnipeg Jets 26.5 65 39 22 4 82 0.631 113 220 192 6 3 2 1
Nashville Predators 28.7 68 38 25 5 81 0.596 111 199 179 5 4 3 1
St. Louis Blues 27.9 65 34 25 6 74 0.569 102 186 180 5 5 1 1

Calgary Flames 27.5 65 41 17 7 89 0.685 125 232 182 5 3 0 4
San Jose Sharks 29.2 66 39 19 8 86 0.652 119 238 203 6 5 0 3
Vegas Golden Knights 29.2 67 36 26 5 77 0.575 106 198 185 4 3 3 2

Minnesota Wild 29.5 66 32 27 7 71 0.538 99 181 188 3 4 1 3
Dallas Stars 28.1 65 33 27 5 71 0.546 98 166 170 6 5 0 0

Colorado Avalanche 26.8 66 28 26 12 68 0.515 94 215 207 1 11 1 1
Arizona Coyotes 27 65 32 28 5 69 0.531 92 172 182 5 4 4 1
Edmonton Oilers 27.1 65 28 30 7 63 0.485 82 180 211 6 5 3 2
Vancouver Canucks 26.8 66 27 30 9 63 0.477 82 177 202 5 5 3 4
Chicago Blackhawks 28.3 66 27 30 9 63 0.477 81 219 249 8 8 1 1
Anaheim Ducks 27.3 66 25 32 9 59 0.447 77 141 201 4 7 3 2
Los Angeles Kings 29.3 65 24 33 8 56 0.431 73 156 204 5 5 2 3

@Eklund

The next time you make a post like this, which you seem to do almost yearly, could you please show what the 3 point standings would look like.

After 10 minutes or so, I put this together for people to view.

Team AvAge GP W L OL PTS PTS% 3Pts GF GA OTW OTL SOW SOL
Washington Capitals 28.6 66 38 21 7 83 0.629 112 222 207 5 6 4 1
New York Islanders 28.3 65 37 21 7 81 0.623 110 184 152 5 2 3 5
Carolina Hurricanes 26.6 65 36 23 6 78 0.6 109 195 174 4 4 1 2

Tampa Bay Lightning 27.1 66 50 12 4 104 0.788 142 252 173 6 3 6 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 27.4 65 40 21 4 84 0.646 118 233 186 6 4 0 0
Boston Bruins 28.5 65 39 17 9 87 0.669 117 192 158 7 6 2 3

Pittsburgh Penguins 28.4 65 34 22 9 77 0.592 106 225 200 4 7 1 2
Montreal Canadiens 27.7 66 35 24 7 77 0.583 106 199 193 4 7 2 0

Philadelphia Flyers 26.6 66 32 26 8 72 0.545 97 199 218 5 7 2 1
Buffalo Sabres 26.5 65 30 27 8 68 0.523 87 183 205 7 6 4 2
New York Rangers 27.5 65 27 27 11 65 0.5 85 184 215 1 8 6 3
Florida Panthers 28 65 28 26 11 67 0.515 85 204 218 7 5 3 6
New Jersey Devils 27.5 66 25 33 8 58 0.439 79 187 220 3 5 1 3
Detroit Red Wings 29.5 65 23 33 9 55 0.423 69 177 218 7 4 2 5
Ottawa Senators 27.3 66 23 38 5 51 0.386 69 195 246 5 5 0 0

Team AvAge GP W L OL PTS PTS% 3Pts GF GA OTW OTL SOW SOL
Winnipeg Jets 26.5 65 39 22 4 82 0.631 113 220 192 6 3 2 1
Nashville Predators 28.7 68 38 25 5 81 0.596 111 199 179 5 4 3 1
St. Louis Blues 27.9 65 34 25 6 74 0.569 102 186 180 5 5 1 1

Calgary Flames 27.5 65 41 17 7 89 0.685 125 232 182 5 3 0 4
San Jose Sharks 29.2 66 39 19 8 86 0.652 119 238 203 6 5 0 3
Vegas Golden Knights 29.2 67 36 26 5 77 0.575 106 198 185 4 3 3 2

Minnesota Wild 29.5 66 32 27 7 71 0.538 99 181 188 3 4 1 3
Dallas Stars 28.1 65 33 27 5 71 0.546 98 166 170 6 5 0 0

Colorado Avalanche 26.8 66 28 26 12 68 0.515 94 215 207 1 11 1 1
Arizona Coyotes 27 65 32 28 5 69 0.531 92 172 182 5 4 4 1
Edmonton Oilers 27.1 65 28 30 7 63 0.485 82 180 211 6 5 3 2
Vancouver Canucks 26.8 66 27 30 9 63 0.477 82 177 202 5 5 3 4
Chicago Blackhawks 28.3 66 27 30 9 63 0.477 81 219 249 8 8 1 1
Anaheim Ducks 27.3 66 25 32 9 59 0.447 77 141 201 4 7 3 2
Los Angeles Kings 29.3 65 24 33 8 56 0.431 73 156 204 5 5 2 3
- currphij

Well done.

It's almost like good teams win games and make the playoffs and bad teams lose games and miss the playoffs (more or less), regardless of how many points they get for the wins.

I still like the idea of giving a reward for winning your division, but then seed all the wild cards 5-16 based on their overall league standings and play 1v16, 2v15, 3v14, etc.

Some people complain about the travel, but come on, a few years ago the first round featured Ana/Win and Det/TB. Conceivably, as is, Nashville could play Vancouver in the first round (2027 miles) and Columbus in the Finals (318 miles).

@Eklund

The next time you make a post like this, which you seem to do almost yearly, could you please show what the 3 point standings would look like.

After 10 minutes or so, I put this together for people to view.

Team AvAge GP W L OL PTS PTS% 3Pts GF GA OTW OTL SOW SOL
Washington Capitals 28.6 66 38 21 7 83 0.629 112 222 207 5 6 4 1
New York Islanders 28.3 65 37 21 7 81 0.623 110 184 152 5 2 3 5
Carolina Hurricanes 26.6 65 36 23 6 78 0.6 109 195 174 4 4 1 2

Tampa Bay Lightning 27.1 66 50 12 4 104 0.788 142 252 173 6 3 6 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 27.4 65 40 21 4 84 0.646 118 233 186 6 4 0 0
Boston Bruins 28.5 65 39 17 9 87 0.669 117 192 158 7 6 2 3

Pittsburgh Penguins 28.4 65 34 22 9 77 0.592 106 225 200 4 7 1 2
Montreal Canadiens 27.7 66 35 24 7 77 0.583 106 199 193 4 7 2 0

Philadelphia Flyers 26.6 66 32 26 8 72 0.545 97 199 218 5 7 2 1
Buffalo Sabres 26.5 65 30 27 8 68 0.523 87 183 205 7 6 4 2
New York Rangers 27.5 65 27 27 11 65 0.5 85 184 215 1 8 6 3
Florida Panthers 28 65 28 26 11 67 0.515 85 204 218 7 5 3 6
New Jersey Devils 27.5 66 25 33 8 58 0.439 79 187 220 3 5 1 3
Detroit Red Wings 29.5 65 23 33 9 55 0.423 69 177 218 7 4 2 5
Ottawa Senators 27.3 66 23 38 5 51 0.386 69 195 246 5 5 0 0

Team AvAge GP W L OL PTS PTS% 3Pts GF GA OTW OTL SOW SOL
Winnipeg Jets 26.5 65 39 22 4 82 0.631 113 220 192 6 3 2 1
Nashville Predators 28.7 68 38 25 5 81 0.596 111 199 179 5 4 3 1
St. Louis Blues 27.9 65 34 25 6 74 0.569 102 186 180 5 5 1 1

Calgary Flames 27.5 65 41 17 7 89 0.685 125 232 182 5 3 0 4
San Jose Sharks 29.2 66 39 19 8 86 0.652 119 238 203 6 5 0 3
Vegas Golden Knights 29.2 67 36 26 5 77 0.575 106 198 185 4 3 3 2

Minnesota Wild 29.5 66 32 27 7 71 0.538 99 181 188 3 4 1 3
Dallas Stars 28.1 65 33 27 5 71 0.546 98 166 170 6 5 0 0

Colorado Avalanche 26.8 66 28 26 12 68 0.515 94 215 207 1 11 1 1
Arizona Coyotes 27 65 32 28 5 69 0.531 92 172 182 5 4 4 1
Edmonton Oilers 27.1 65 28 30 7 63 0.485 82 180 211 6 5 3 2
Vancouver Canucks 26.8 66 27 30 9 63 0.477 82 177 202 5 5 3 4
Chicago Blackhawks 28.3 66 27 30 9 63 0.477 81 219 249 8 8 1 1
Anaheim Ducks 27.3 66 25 32 9 59 0.447 77 141 201 4 7 3 2
Los Angeles Kings 29.3 65 24 33 8 56 0.431 73 156 204 5 5 2 3
- currphij

I'll go you one extra step:

https://docs.google.com/s...CewaPCrg/edit?usp=sharing

Here's the standings with every point and game change method mentioned in this thread.

Highlights:
In the Atlantic:
-Every change mentioned results in the Leafs passing Boston with the exception of 1 scenario in which they tie. OMG Leaf Bias!
-No other changes

In the Central:
-In 4 Scenarios, Dallas and Minnesota switch spots (changes playoff seeding)
-No other changes

In the Pacific:
-In 3 Scenarios, Edmonton and Vancouver switch spots (doesn't affect playoffs)
-No other changes

In the Metro:
-Much more variability
-Columbus gets into the top 3 seeds in several scenarios, misses playoffs in other scenarios.
-Every other team moves at most 1 slot.

I'll go you one extra step:

https://docs.google.com/s...CewaPCrg/edit?usp=sharing

Here's the standings with every point and game change method mentioned in this thread.

Highlights:
In the Atlantic:
-Every change mentioned results in the Leafs passing Boston with the exception of 1 scenario in which they tie. OMG Leaf Bias!
-No other changes

In the Central:
-In 4 Scenarios, Dallas and Minnesota switch spots (changes playoff seeding)
-No other changes

In the Pacific:
-In 3 Scenarios, Edmonton and Vancouver switch spots (doesn't affect playoffs)
-No other changes

In the Metro:
-Much more variability
-Columbus gets into the top 3 seeds in several scenarios, misses playoffs in other scenarios.
-Every other team moves at most 1 slot.
- j_eng

It is all you can do to compare what happened now to what may be, but what is not taken into account is, if teams start the season knowing there are different points for wins/loses., they most likely play some games differently. So looking at records today and applying different point values really means nothing.

Are hockey fans so naive that they don't see a tie as a point lost, and a point won? That is a basic principle of points per game. Losing a point (because you had a lead and had the potential of 2 points), or gaining a point when you had 0, is huge. No one is looking at that? Reward the team that earns the point, and penalize the team that loses the point. Better hockey will follow.

It is all you can do to compare what happened now to what may be, but what is not taken into account is, if teams start the season knowing there are different points for wins/loses., they most likely play some games differently. So looking at records today and applying different point values really means nothing.

Are hockey fans so naive that they don't see a tie as a point lost, and a point won? That is a basic principle of points per game. Losing a point (because you had a lead and had the potential of 2 points), or gaining a point when you had 0, is huge. No one is looking at that? Reward the team that earns the point, and penalize the team that loses the point. Better hockey will follow.
- powerenforcer

Or maybe I just applied what I could to the proposed scenarios fully understanding that it was way more complicated than that.

Or maybe I just applied what I could to the proposed scenarios fully understanding that it was way more complicated than that.
- j_eng

Understood, I just don't want people to think that since there is very little change today, it doesn't mean things will be the same tomorrow.