Numbers Game: The 3 Point Win

The NHL GMs are currently in Naples, Florida for the annual GM Meetings.  Besides playing a few rounds of golf, there are a number of issues being debated, including, fighting, headshots and moving to a 3-point point system.

The proposed 3 point system, which has talked about around the hockey world,  would see 3 points distibuted every game.  Instead of giving a team 2 points for a win, regardless of whethey they win in regulation or overtime, under the new system, teams that win the game in regulation will get 3 points.  If a game is tied after regulation, the points are split, with the winning team (either in overtime or shootout) receiving 2 points for the win and the losing team receiving 1 point.

The argument in favour of the change is that the standings based on the current point system create misleading impressions of a team’s performance.  As soon as a game goes into overtime, 3 points are given out, while only 2 points are awarded in games that end after regulation time. It is argued that awarding 3 points inflates teams’ records and obviously their conference rank.  A 3 point regulation win would reward teams that can win the game in regulation time and, arguably, create a more “accurate” picture in the standings.  But would it really?  

In today’s Numbers Game, I looked at whether the proposed 3 point win would actually change the standings. Sure enough, the change was very minimal, but in a league where a 1 point difference could determine whether a team is playoff bound or whether they have home-ice advantage, any change is significant.

Under the proposed change, the New York Rangers would find themselves outside the playoff picture dropping to 10th, while the Hurricanes would move up 2 spots into 7th. The Capitals would move ahead of the Devils to sit 2nd in the East and would be facing the Canes if the playoffs started today.  The Panthers would move up to 5th in the East and would play the Flyers in the first round instead of Brodeur and the Devils. If I am Jim Rutherford or Jacques Martin, the 3 point system would certainly be a change I would support!

In the Western Conference, there would be no change in ranks among the top 5 teams. However, the Wild would jump up to 8th, while the Predators would slide out of a playoff spot into 9th. The Oilers would move into 6th, switching spots with the Blue Jackets, and would face the Flames in the first round.

The 3 point system would clearly have a significant impact on the standings.  There are certianly some strong arguments in favour of switching to that system. The question is whether the GMs will actually support such a “drastic” change.  You never know, who would have thought they would add the shootout to the NHL game?