Personally I love the shootouts in the AHL. I have witnessed quite a few now, and
have watched my home team lose, but it is still better then going home after watching very boring hockey. And when my team ways, it just fills the building with excitement. I am sorry, but shootouts in Edmonton are very exciting, and that is for everyone in the building. I hope that they implement them in the regular season, as after a minnesota edmonton game, I need something to cheer about. Now I have been a fan since coming into this world, and was around for the early nineties hockey, so don't try and say I am just a brand new fan to the game. (I was around for the early 80's hockey, but a 4 year old can't retain that much) I have also played it my entire life, and thoroughly enjoyed shootouts. It sucks to lose in one, but sure does feel amazing to win in one.
Keep playoffs the same, as come playoff time it matters. And that is why fans will actually remain in their seats for 6 periods of hockey, and love every minute of it. But in the regular season, keep the 4 on 4 OT, and then head to a shootout. It will cause more teams like minnesota to actually have to try in the overtime period, cause if not they might get killed in a shootout.