Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley is making waves with a bold suggestion for a new NHL overtime rule. The 28-year-old rookie has been a standout story this season, boasting a 2.51 GAA, a .915 save percentage, and a 9-9-5 record over 27 games.
His performance on Thursday night was no exception, as he turned away 30 of 33 shots. Despite his efforts, the Flames fell to the Anaheim Ducks in a 3-2 overtime loss, with Mikael Granlund sealing the win in the final second.
The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for Cooley, but he’s channeling his frustration into a constructive idea aimed at spicing up 3-on-3 overtime play. Cooley proposed a rule that would prevent teams from crossing back over the red line, aiming to increase the pace and excitement of the game.
“I think they should make the rule where you should not be able to go back over the red line just to force it a little bit,” Cooley shared. “I think that’d be more entertaining.”
Realizing the potential impact on goalie stats, Cooley offered an additional tweak to his proposal. “I don’t think it’d be good for goalies.
Probably be bad for my stats, so maybe they should have a separate category for overtime stats. I think that would be better.”
This idea isn’t entirely new; fans and analysts have been calling for changes to counteract the regrouping strategies that slow down overtime. Cooley’s public endorsement adds weight to the conversation, aligning with the NHL’s ongoing quest to boost offensive play.
While it might present challenges for goaltenders, Cooley’s willingness to embrace change shows that some goalies are open to innovative solutions. Whether this rule change will happen remains uncertain, but Cooley’s input certainly adds fuel to the discussion.