Latest on NHL All-Star Game: Old Format Is Gone, Now 3-on-3 Divisional Tournament
NHL fans are crazy about the 3-on-3 overtime plays instituted this season, and having to see this type of game once again, this time in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game should bring in more excitement to observers.
Hockey's version of the All-Star game will be held on Jan. 31 at the Bridgeston Arena in Nashville, where the NHL, together with the NHL Players' Association, announced that the game will be changed into a 3-on-3 tournament made up of three separate 20-minute games to be played by All-Star teams in each division. There will only be one winner who will be walking away with the million dollar prize.
For years, the NHL has implemented the traditional shootouts in games that extended to overtime, but the change this season of using thee 3-on-3 format instead of the shootout seemed to click, with almost 68 percent of all the games going to extra time. Last season, the league used the old 4-on-4 format during overtime.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly announced the changes. "The NHL All-Star Weekend festivities provide a unique opportunity for our fans, players, clubs and business partners to come together in one city to celebrate the game at its highest level. We are introducing a creative new format this year in Nashville not only as a way to enhance the competitiveness of the event, but also as a vehicle to highlight and emphasize the incredible skill, speed and athleticism it takes to play our game," he said.
Every divisional team will be required to name 11 players, while the fans will be given the chance to choose one player for each division, regardless of position for the Fan Vote. The players that gain the highest number of votes from fans will then be named as the captain of their teams. The remaining participating players will be named by the Hockey Operations Department of the league. The rule is that there has to be at least one representative for each team.
