The NHL’s general managers concluded their annual three-day meeting in mid-March, discussing the latest game trends and what new rules could prove impactful. Each of these rule changes is still in its infancy, needing approval by the Competition Committee and the NHL Board of Governors before they’re enacted.
We’re here to break down each of the new proposals, with all information courtesy of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
- Goaltenders will now join the list of players that can receive a penalty for intentionally dislodging the net — removing netminders’ ability to stop play on their own accord.
- Centermen will receive a warning before getting tossed from the dot in offensive-zone draws following an opponent’s icing. Previously, defensive centermen received a warning, while offensive centermen were tossed immediately.
- Backup goaltenders will receive a warmup if the starter is pulled out of the game due to injury or concussion.
- If a goalie’s mask is knocked off and the play is blown dead, the offensive team will have a choice of which offensive zone dot they want to take the faceoff at.
- Coaches will now have the ability to challenge a minor high-sticking call, in an attempt show that the infraction was the result of a teammate’s stick, not the offenders. This should clear up high-sticking calls from highly-congested scrums, where multiple players have their sticks up at once.
- Coaches will now be able to challenge a delay-of-game penalty for the puck going over the glass, attempting to show that the puck deflected off something. If they fail, the team immediately receives a 5-on-3 penalty kill — one penalty for the delay of game and one for the failed review.
- If a player refuses to play the puck after a teammate’s high stick or hand pass, the opposing team will receive a faceoff one zone better than where the play occurred — meaning the faceoff will be in the non-offending team’s offensive zone if the infraction occurs in the neutral zone.
- Players will no longer be able to have legs over the bench while play is ongoing. Teams will be assessed a warning and then a bench minor for the infraction. This rule change comes after an official was cut by a skate over the side of the bench.
- Notably, no changes to the league’s 3-on-3 overtime format were proposed. The NHL is on pace to have 70 percent of overtime games end before a shootout, which would be a league record.
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