The NHL has officially implemented several new rule changes for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Some of these rules will severely impact the game. We've listed these rule changes below.
Offsides see a big change
"If, during a delayed off-side, an attacking player in the attacking zone chooses to proceed to his players' bench (which extends into the attacking zone) to be replaced by a teammate, he shall be considered to have cleared the zone when both skates are off the ice, and the Linesperson judges him to have left the playing surface."
Coaches challenge changes
The rulebook now states that if the puck exits the play without officials noticing, it's eligible for a coaches challenge, regardless of which team sent the puck out of play.
Updates to helmet rules during warmups
Changes to who is allowed to not wear a helmet during warmup have been made for the upcoming season. Previously, it was only a suggestion for players to wear a helmet during warmup.
Now, if a player entered the league after 2019, they are required to wear a helmet during warmup.
Illegal Stick penalties more likely to be called
The rules around illegal sticks have been simplified this year, putting all the rules and conditions under rule 10.8. The purpose of this is to empower refs to more fairly call illegal stick penalties on players.
Some more minor tweaks
Just on a terminology basis, “Linesman” is now “Linesperson” and “fouls” are now “infractions”.
A redundant “the puck has been dropped” has been omitted from Rule 37.2 which is in regard to goal review procedures as the rule already states that no review can happen once “play has resumed.”
Rule 49.2 which goes over kicking the puck into the net now refers back to Rule 78.5 which goes over all of the types of disallowed goals.
Rule 57.4 which outlines tripping infractions now refers back to Rule 25 which covers awarded goals when there is an infraction committed by defending players with a goaltender pulled, with the net purposefully dislodged, and on penalty shots.
Rule 78.5 which covers the types of disallowed goals now refers back to Rule 63.7 which also goes over awarded goals if a defender purposefully dislodges his own goal to stop a scoring play.
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