NHL stars weigh in on 3-on-3 OT

After hearing what some the the NHL's brightest stars had to say about the "scoring problem", we get to hear what some of them have to say about the new 3-on-3 overtime rule. According to the Sportsnet report, it appears the players are as divided as the fans are on the subject. After giving probably the most interesting answer on the subject of scoring, Alex Ovechkin sadly didn't give any juicy comments on the 3-on-3 overtime. The Washington Capitals superstar only commented that he is more of a "4-on-4 type of guy". Pittsburgh Penguins' all-star defenseman Kris Letang is one of the player who is happy with the new rule.

I love it. I talked about it with a lot of guys. I think it will reduce the time we spend on the ice. For guys that are logging 25, 30 minutes, adding and adding time, the game would finish faster. It would be more exciting, three-on-three versus the shootout.

For his part, Norris Winner Erik Karlsson seems on the fence about it.

“For someone who plays a lot of minutes, I think three-on-three will be tough. It will be a lot more skating, and it will be harder on some players, but it’s a great one if you want to end the game because it opens up a lot. The league is going to have to make the call on what’s best for the players and the fans, and they will.

Then there is Ryan Getzlaf. The Anaheim Ducks captain is in big favour of ending games with a winner and a loser, stating he is not a fan of ties. But he doesn't like the idea of taking away the team aspect of the game.

I honestly don’t know if [three-on-three] will be good or bad or what it’ll be. I’m not a big fan of taking other players out of the sport, when you’re talking about a team sport we play. I know we have the shootout that helps decide things, and it’s generally the same guys, but when you’re talking about doing that in the overtime, you’re limiting another group of players that aren’t going to see the ice. And I’ll probably be on the ice—but I’m not a big believer that taking minutes from other guys is the way to go

Images courtesy of Keystone Press Agency