Connor McDavid wants more overtime hockey, and he’s not alone.
The recent 4 Nations Face-Off gave hockey fans something they’d been craving – the world’s top players going head-to-head. But it wasn’t just the star power that got people talking.
The tournament tried something new: doubling the length of overtime from 5 to 10 minutes of 3-on-3 action. Fans loved it.
“It’s so exciting to watch,” said McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers superstar. “You’ve got the best players in the world with all that extra space and time to create magic.”
The extended format meant fewer games ending in shootouts, something both players and fans have complained about for years.
Traditional NHL overtime is just 5 minutes of 3-on-3 hockey before moving to a shootout. The shorter period often feels rushed, with teams sometimes playing conservatively to get to the shootout.
But with 10 minutes? That’s when things get interesting.
Players had more time to show off their skills, and games found their natural winners more often. The extra space and time led to some pretty amazing plays that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Now McDavid, widely considered the best player in hockey, is pushing for the NHL to make the change permanent.
“It just makes sense,” he said. “The fans want it, the players want it. Why not give everyone more of what they love?”
