1. Yes- the NHL should adopt a 3-2-1 point system, but nothing ever changes in the NHL because that would require Gary "Napoleonic Complex" Bettman to consider for a moment that his league might not be perfect.

2. They could, but players score at about a 33% rate for penalty shots and the best NHL power play this year (Edmonton) scored at a 30.6% rate. I don't have the advanced stats, but I'd assume the NHL standard PP percentage also includes 5 on 3 situations, so the pure 5 on 4 PP percentage rate is probably closer to 25%.

Having said that, I think the team should have the option to decline the penalty shot. For example, it's a fourth line plugger on the penalty shot, a team might rather try to wear down the opponent with a standard power play.

I wouldn't change a thing (said the guy who cost his team a championship once via penalty shot). Especially with the fourth-line plugger.

It's one of the most unique moments in sports. I think it's watered down by the OT penalty shots. I'd scrap those and live with the ties.

3-2-1-0 is obviously and clearly the right answer.

I think the reason is it makes it easier for casual fans to stay content. You go to or watch a game, and there's a 50% chance that your team gets a "full" win, plus a decent chance that if they lost, they didn't REALLY lose and got "half-credit." Then at the end of the season, it makes mediocre teams seem WAY better than they are to casual fans. For example, the San Jose Sharks went 39-35-8. 86 points in 82 games. At first glace, especially to a casual, that's a good/solid season. It's above .500! But it's not. In reality, the Sharks went 27-35-20 in regulation (Ouch!) and then went 12-8 in those OT/shootout games. They were 5th/8 in their division, 11th/16 in their conference, and 22nd/32 in the NHL. Don't get me wrong...Sharks fans should be optimistic. This season was a real step forward and their young players, centered around a truly dynamic young force, make the future look exciting and bright. But this year, they were still well below an average team. The record under this format makes it look good.

where you'd turn down the penalty shot and I definitely think there should be an option for that but to go 1on1 with no defense against the goalie, you'd better have a good reason to turn that down.

could be factors. The end of game situation I meant is that a team has a 1 goal lead and less than 2 minutes are left. Also I don't know if some goalies are outliers in the penalty shot situation (e.g. an 80% stop rate), and if this would be another consideration.

Of course, they only had the 2 man advantage for the last 6.3s.
Sabres-Canadians should be fun.