NHL New Rule Changes for the 2019-20 Season

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1343 days ago

The NHL has once again made changes to the rules of the game. Here are the highlights.

Video Review

Officials will be able to look at a monitor and either confirm the call or reduce it to a minor penalty. They won’t be able to rescind the penalty.

The new rule allowing for review doesn’t include fighting majors. Referees can also review double-minors for high-sticking — either confirming the call or rescinding it in the case of friendly fire from a teammate. The reviews only apply to calls that have been made, and can’t see a penalty added or increased in severity.

Coaches Challenge

This year the NHL has added some things for the coaches to have a say in, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t come with a penalty if they’re wrong. They’ve been given the ability to:

Ask for a review of a play in the offensive zone that led to a goal, but should have been whistled dead.
Pucks that hit the protective netting above the glass
A hand pass to a teammate
A puck that was high-sticked.

The penalties for an unsuccessful coach’s challenge are:

First – two minute minor for delay of game
Second – a double-minor for delay of game

Coaches are allowed to ask for a review as many times as they want. Final minute of regulation and overtime will still be reviewed by the NHL.

Line Changes for Defensive Team

The defensive team will not be able to do a line change if the goalie freezes the puck on any shot from the center red line and/or the player from the defensive team unintentionally knocks the net off its peg. In both of these instances, the offensive team will have the choice of which end zone dot the faceoff will take place.

Faceoffs Following an Icing and to Begin a Power Play

Following an icing as well as at the beginning of any power play, the offensive team will have the choice of which end zone dot the faceoff will take place.

Puck out of Bounds

When the attacking team is responsible for the puck going out of play in the attacking zone, in all instances, the faceoff will be conducted at one of the two faceoff dots in the attacking zone.