NHL to change tiebreaker rule

There are many people who aren't fans of the shootout, and apparently that includes folks who work within the parameters of the NHL. For example, one of the proposed rule changes bandied about at recent NHL meetings involved going from a four on four overtime to a three on three overtime and, perhaps, even a two on two overtime. Now, while I feel a two on two overtime is barely less gimmicky than the shootout, there is certainly some merit to such a system. Although, on a side note, I myself am more partial to a 3-2-1-0 points system in which regulation and overtime wins are worth three points and shootout wins are worth two. While that rule change hasn't happened, a different ruling to devalue the shootout has, but it only involves end of season tiebreakers.

Under the new rule, the first tiebreaker should two (or more, I suppose) teams finish tied in the standings would be regulation and overtime wins, with shootouts excluded. That is certainly a rule change with some merit, as it rewards teams who have won games through the course of gameplay as opposed to in the shootout which bears only a slight resemblance to a hockey game. This wouldn't completely render the shootout useless, but it also wouldn't make a shootout win as important as the two other kinds of victory. Of course, the 3-2-1-0 system does that as well, and it takes it to the next level. Regardless, it is a good rule change from the NHL, and it is nice to see them doing something other than voided completely legitimate contracts.