Rather quietly and without much fanfare, the NHL recently announced several rule changes for the upcoming 2019/20 season. The major alterations come to the existing coach’s challenge and video-review system with the league’s general managers, competition committee and board of governors approving them earlier this summer. Commissioner Gary Bettman said the video technology is in place so it may as well be put to good use.
Last season, NHL coaches were allowed a video challenge for offside and goalie interference after a goal was scored. They will also be able to challenge a missed stoppage of play if it results in a goal. For example, this could include an illegal hand pass or high stick or if the puck leaves the area of play and hits the protective netting above the glass. As long as the puck stays inside the blue line before a goal is scored, coaches will be able to make a challenge regardless of how much time has ticked off the clock. However, if the puck leaves the zone and re-enters it before a goal is scored a challenge isn’t possible.
These are basically plays that are black and white in nature and don’t include discretionary or opinion calls such as missed penalties etc. In addition, a coach’s challenge which fails will result in a two-minute penalty for delay of game for the first one and any failed challenge in the same game after that will result in a four-minute double minor. Last season, minor penalties were only handed out for failed offside challenges.
Bettman stated that the league doesn’t allow coaches to challenge alleged missed penalties such as tripping and hooking etc. since they are called at the discretion and opinion of the on-ice officials and are often debatable in nature. However, referees will be asked to quickly review any double-minor high-sticking and five-minute major and match penalties which don’t involve fighting on a monitor to make sure they have made the right call.
When it comes to major and match penalties, the referee will then have the option of sticking to the original call or change it to a minor penalty. For a double-minor high sticking call the official may cancel the penalty altogether. Bettman said it’s often difficult for referees to tell how players have been injured with a high stick and sometimes they may be injured by their own stick or that of a teammate’s.
Like last season, the league’s video replay situation room, which is located in Toronto, will be able to initiate reviews during the last minute of regulation time as well as in overtime and will also have the final say on all coach’s challenges during a game.
One rule changes has to do with player safety and will also be implemented in 2019/20. Any player who loses his helmet while on the ice will either have to leave the playing surface or immediately retrieve the helmet and place it on his head. However, if he has the puck at the time he will be allowed to finish making a play before retrieving the helmet or leaving the ice. Any player who doesn’t replace the helmet or leave the ice will receive a minor penalty and any player who removes the helmet of an opponent intentionally will receive a two-minute penalty for roughing.
A defensive team will not be allowed to change lines if its goaltender freezes the puck from a shot which came from the other side of the centre-ice red line. Also, a line change won’t be allowed if the defensive team accidentally knocks the net from its moorings and the attacking team can choose which circle the faceoff will take place in. The attacking team can also choose the faceoff dot when the defensive team is called for icing or a penalty.
The NHL announced that a goal will be awarded automatically if a goaltender intentionally knocks the net off its moorings during a breakaway. In addition, if the attacking team knocks the puck out of play inside the other team’s blue line, the faceoff will remain in the same zone.