Brad Marsh: Not All Change is Bad: What I Like in Today's NHL

I've heard plenty of friends grumble "As far I'm concerned, this game was a tie, and the skills competition gimmick point is a fake finish."

Funny thing, though: they never turn off the television or get up from their seat and leave when the buzzer sounds on a scoreless overtime. They keep right on watching.
- Brad Marsh

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the shootout.

EDIT: After thinking about it, I feel bad leaving my post at just this. I enjoyed the blog, it's a breath of fresh air to read some positive opinions on how hockey has changed. I love the tradition of the sport, but as a younger fan who chats with older fans, it gets old hearing how things were always better and how we're doing it all wrong (and need to turn down our rock music and get off their lawns ). I still don't like the shootout though.

Fun read, Brad. Still not a fan of the shootout, but I see your point.

Brad Marsh: Not All Change is Bad: What I Like in Today's NHL
- Brad Marsh

People don't usually turn away from train wrecks, but that doesn't mean they're a fan.

I do not like them, but I watch. Why? Because it's your team, and you want to see them win. Do you like it? No. But you want to see them get 2 points instead of only one.

One of the biggest grips I have with the shoot out is it eliminated the suspense of one the greatest aspects of the old NHL, the Penalty Shot. The excitement for a Penalty Shot has been completely removed since the shoot out.
Play 4-4 for 10, 3-3 for 10 and then end in a tie if so. Why would you open up the possibility ( however slight ) that a team could lose every game and end up with 82 points and possibly get into the playoffs. It's possible.
GET RID OF THE SHOOTOUT!
And yes, I have turned off games when it went to a shootout, on a number of occasions. Usually out of frustration becuase it was such a great game and the circus sideshow was going to determine the outcome.

One of the biggest grips I have with the shoot out is it eliminated the suspense of one the greatest aspects of the old NHL, the Penalty Shot. The excitement for a Penalty Shot has been completely removed since the shoot out.
Play 4-4 for 10, 3-3 for 10 and then end in a tie if so. Why would you open up the possibility ( however slight ) that a team could lose every game and end up with 82 points and possibly get into the playoffs. It's possible.
GET RID OF THE SHOOTOUT!
And yes, I have turned off games when it went to a shootout, on a number of occasions. Usually out of frustration becuase it was such a great game and the circus sideshow was going to determine the outcome.
- jtb3rd

The only thing worse than the shootout is the tie.

Brad Marsh: Not All Change is Bad: What I Like in Today's NHL
- Brad Marsh

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