The NHL’s general managers are all currently in Florida for their annual three-day meetings in March. In the past, one of the major topics of conversation during the meetings has been alterations to the league’s rulebook and that’s no different this year.
Two of the major changes being suggested to the NHL’s competition Committee and board of governors for approval will be video review related. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the GMs want to add a review for puck-over-glass delay of game penalties as well as “friendly fire” high-sticking infractions.
The reviews, initiated by a coach’s challenge only when a penalty has been already called, will not come without heavy risk though. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provided clarification on both potential additions which will include handing your opposition a five-on-three advantage if you are wrong on the challenge.
Previously, the delay-of-game calls were non-reviewable and the high-sticking penalties needed to be of the double-minor variety to be reviewed.
New York Rangers' double-minor for high-sticking rescinded after review. Referee T.J. Luxmore ruled that Detroit Red Wings' Lucas Raymond grabbed Will Cuylle's stick and hit himself in the face. No penalty. pic.twitter.com/t0sUAcqNZP
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) November 30, 2023
Friedman also provided a list of other more minor tweaks that will be submitted for further consideration. A few of those edits contain interesting faceoff-related implications.
- If a goalie loses his mask and play is blown dead, the opposition team would now get an offensive-zone faceoff with their choice of which circle no matter where the puck is on the ice.
- If a player refuses to play the puck off of a high stick or hand pass, the non-offending team would get a faceoff one zone better than where the play occurs. So, if the offense occurs in the defensive zone, the faceoff would move to neutral ice.
There was also reportedly more discussion about the NHL’s current 3-on-3 overtime period. Back in November, GMs were concerned with the number of games going to a shootout due to teams being unwilling to advance the puck in overtime.
According to NHL.com’s Nicholas Cotsonika, they are no longer considering any changes to the format after being presented with data that shows that a league-record 70 percent of extra-time games are being ended in overtime. Previously, a shot clock of sorts and a rule resembling basketball’s backcourt violation were being considered.
“All of a sudden, now I’ve got the puck at center ice, and you come and poke it,” Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill told Cotsonika. “Did it go over the line? Did it not go over the line? Do we have a video replay on that? It just opens up a can of worms.
“Now we’re going to have another clock?” Nill added. “It’s not worth it.”
Per Friedman, the only immediate change to the rulebook will come after an official suffered a skate cut in a recent Winnipeg Jets-Minnesota Wild game. Due to that, players will no longer be allowed to have their legs dangling over the bench while the puck is in play. Teams will get an initial warning and then be assessed a bench minor penalty if the offense is repeated.
