Your Thoughts On Possible Changes?

It’s long overdue and given the speed of the game, it was only a matter of time for this to get put in place in the NHL.

We all understand that the game is far faster than it ever was and yes at times situations can and will be missed by the on-ice officials.

This is no way a reflection of their ability, but rather giving them yet another “tool” in which to better the game for the players, the league, but mostly the fans.

We all attend games, regardless of the sport and question some of the current rules in place, so why not make changes?

Mostly it’s due to the “old school” way of thinking by those that think the game is “just fine” the way it is, but times they are a changing!

So must the rules of the game for the betterment of everyone, even the casual viewer that knows nothing about the game.

They see a game and if it’s not to their liking, they lose interest and change channel and that alone for the league is lost revenue dollars.

So these are what was discussed and will move forward to the committee.

Expanded Video Review:

Coach’s Challenge

The Committee recommends that a Coach’s Challenge be adopted for expanded video review for goals that may have resulted from (1) goaltender interference and (2) offside plays.

The video review process and all decisions on goals where goaltender interference may have occurred will be the responsibility of the Referees at ice level.

This will happen in consultation with the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto; similarly, goals that may have resulted from an offside play will be reviewed and determined by the on-ice officials, in consultation with the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto.

In order for a coach to make a challenge, the team must have its timeout available.

Face-Offs

The Committee recommends a change to the face-off rule, whereby, for all face-offs in the defensive zone, the player from the defensive zone team must put down his stick first.

For face-offs at center ice, the rule will remain the same, requiring that the visiting team player put his stick down first.

Overtime

There was considerable discussion of changing the current overtime format but no consensus was reached.

The NHLPA and NHL will continue discussions in the coming weeks on potential changes with the intention for the Committee to make a decision on overtime later this month. There will be no changes to the shootout format.

The new rules recommendations require approval by the NHLPA’s Executive Board and the NHL’s Board of Governors, at which point the language of the rules will be formalized.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=769919