NHL Rule Changes
Everyone knew something had to be done. From Bobby Orr to Wayne Gretzky to Bob Gainey—everyone saw that the game they loved was no longer fun to watch. Part of it was the growth in goalie equipment that made the Net Masters look more like astronauts than hockey players and helped keep too many pucks out of the net. There was also that darn trapping on defense. Sure it helped the New Jersey Devils win all the time, but it also started to make baseball look like a fast moving sport. Also, the “I gotta get back” off sides rules stopped action flat. Oh, yes, and let’s not forget the tie. That longstanding, extremely frustrating result of sixty-plus minutes of hard-played, hard-checked, hard-nosed hockey. All of that effort for a tie? All of that money spent by fans for a tie? What is this—baseball in Japan?
Here’s some of the rule changes that should make hockey the type of sport it was meant to be—fast, exciting, unrelenting action.
RINK DIMENSIONS: Opening Up the Game
* To encourage more offensive play, especially on power plays,
the offensive zones have been made bigger by four feet. The
neutral-zone edges of the blue lines will be positioned 64 feet
from the attacking goal line and 75 feet from the end boards
in the attacking zone.
* The goal lines will be positioned 11 feet from the end boards,
two feet closer to the end boards than previously. This means
more chances to take a shot, more action, and more scoring.
* The size of the neutral zone will be reduced to 50' from 54'.
Once again, there’s more room for offense.
• The blue lines and centerline will remain at 12 inches
in width.
THE FLOW OF THE GAME: Keeping it Moving
* Players may now pass from behind the defensive blue line to
the attacking blue line. The center red line is no longer used
to determine a "two line pass".
* "The Tag-up Rule" permits the continuation of play
if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone return
to the blue line and "tag" it.
ICING THE PUCK: Icing and Line Changes
• If a team ices the puck, it will result in a face-off
in their defensive zone.
• A line change cannot be make prior to the ensuing face-off
by the team that ices the puck.
• "Touch" icing will remain the practice, although
the Linesman will have discretion to wave off icing if it’s
deemed the result of an attempted pass; this should also have
the effect of reducing the number of situations in which a race
for the puck might result in an injury to a player.
INSTIGATOR RULE: Keeping the Play Clean
* Instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game will
result in the instigator receiving a game misconduct and a one-game
suspension. The length of suspension doubles for each additional
incident.
* The player's Coach will be fined $10,000 for instigating.
The fine doubles for each additional incident.
LIMITS ON GOALTENDERS: Too much of an Advantage
* The dimensions of a goaltender’s equipment will be reduced
by 11 percent. In addition, there will be a one-inch reduction
(to 11') in the width of leg pads, the blocking glove, and upper-body
protector. Also pants and jersey will be reduced in size.
• The puck may be played by the goalie behind the goal
line only in a trapezoid-shaped area that is defined by lines
starting six feet from either goal post and extending diagonally
to points 28 feet apart at the end boards.
SHOOTOUT: No More Ties
* There will first be a five-minute overtime. If the game is
still tied, three players from each team will participate in
a shootout. The coach selects the order of the shooter.
* Each team is given three shots. The team with the most goals
after those shots is the winner.
* If the score remains tied, the shootout continues; this time
in a "sudden death" format.
• The final score recorded for the game will give the
winning team one more goal than the score at the end of regulation
time regardless of how many goals are scored in the shootout.
OFFICIATING POINTS OF EMPHASIS: What they will be Calling
* Interference, Hooking and Holding/Obstruction will be tightly
called.
* Delay of game for goaltenders playing the puck behind the
goal line but outside the demarcated puck handling area.
* "Freezing" the puck unnecessarily will result in
goaltenders being penalized for delay of game.
* Shooting the puck over the glass when a player is in his defending
zone will result in a delay of game penalty.
These rule changes go into effect this season and will certainly
help skaters and skilled players maintain momentum. The result
will likely be higher scoring games, more action, and faster
play.
