Since its “inception” in the 2005-06 season where games would finally be decided with a win or a loss, the shootout has been widely ridiculed from the hockey community. Having a game that is still tied after the five-minute overtime session be settled in a gimmick was certainly a problem that needed a solution.
Nothing has changed about the shootout and it will still be intact for the foreseeable future, but its impact will most certainly be lessened thanks to the addition of 3 on 3 overtime for the 2015-16 season.
“I’ve never really been a fan of the shootout so anything you can do to get rid of shootouts is fine by me,” Bruins President Cam Neely said during Thursday’s Media Day Press Conference.