Doughty: New ASG format ‘really tiring’ The NHL has officially announced a 3-on-3 tournament format for the 2015-16 All-Star Game, but as defenceman Drew Doughty points out to TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli, the new format will test the endurance of the league's top players.

Frank Seravalli TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Follow|Archive

SEWELL, N.J. — Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty said he was honoured to be picked for last year's NHL All-Star Game in Columbus, somehow the first time he'd been selected in his career.

But Doughty admitted the game itself was lacking. For years, the game was the worst part of the weekend.

That's why the NHL announced changes to the format on Wednesday evening. Capitalizing on the thrill and popularity of 3-on-3 overtime, January's All-Star Sunday will feature a four-team, three-game tournament of 3-on-3 action on Jan. 31 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

Teams comprised of 11 players (six forwards, three defencemen and two goalies) and grouped by division will face off in two, 20-minute semi-final games: Central vs. Pacific and Metropolitan vs. Atlantic.

The victors of the first two games will then meet in a championship game. Tournament winners will evenly split $1 million, with a payout of approximately $90,909 USD per player.

"The money definitely will give guys a little bit more drive to play harder and win," Doughty said Wednesday after the Kings wrapped up practice in southern New Jersey. "But I don't think you're ever going to get an All-Star Game that's even close to real NHL hockey."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement the changes were introduced "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."

Doughty, 25, was on-board with the change but expressed concern that the potential for 40 minutes of wide open 3-on-3 action may be taxing for players. Doughty was not alone in his opinion, but the NHL Players' Association signed off on a one–year trial run.

"That would get really, really, really tiring. And quick. That's a long time," Doughty said. "That would be tough. But I think it will be better than last year's format. Hopefully it makes it better to watch, because the last couple All-Star games weren't great for the fans."

Even five-minute overtimes have been grueling. There were four breakaways alone in Tuesday night's extra session between the Kings and Philadelphia Flyers.

Doughty was not complaining. He knows the impact of ice time better than almost anyone else. Since joining the NHL in 2008, only Wild defenceman Ryan Suter has logged more minutes than Doughty's 13,976. He played 20:15 in last year's event in Columbus, but with three more defencemen and nearly half as much skating as 3-on-3 requires.

Doughty said avoiding injury is always the primary concern at All–Star games, but there is also a rest factor that comes into play.

"When you get there, all you're really thinking about is 'I don't want to get hurt, because I want to go back to play for my team,'" Doughty said. "There's so many injuries that we have throughout a season, you really don't have time to let them heal until the summer. Everyone else in the league is getting rest, they're going on vacation somewhere and we're going to play more hockey. You want rest, you want to be able to regenerate your body and get going again."

Frank Seravalli can be reached at frank.seravalli@bellmedia.ca.