Roman Jossi comes in on Semyon Varlamov in a shootout last March. Under new NHL rules, “spin-o-rama” moves will no longer be allowed in shootouts. Mark Zaleski, Associated Press
Some rules changes for the NHL were announced Thursday. Here they are, with a comment on each from yours truly:
Rule 1.8 – Rink – Goalkeeper’s Restricted Area
The trapezoid will be expanded by two feet from the goal post on both sides
of the net.
Dater’s take: I don’t mind this change. Goalies should be able to play the puck more, for better or worse. No, I don’t want to see a goalie play the puck on every dump-in, like the old days, and the trapezoid still will prevent that. But the fact that it’s a bit bigger allows the goalie to be a little more involved in the game – and we’ll probably see more goals from them misplaying pucks. As a guy who likes offense, I don’t mind that.
Rule 23 – Game Misconduct Penalties
A new Game Misconduct category will be created. Clipping, charging,
elbowing, interference, kneeing, head-butting and butt-ending move from the
general category into the same category as boarding and checking from
behind (“Physical Fouls”), whereby a player who incurs two such game
misconducts in this category would now be automatically suspended for one
game.
Dater’s take: A game-misconduct for interference? I don’t like that one. Interference can be a very innocuous thing, not done with any malice. So, a game-misconduct for that? I don’t get it. The other ones, that’s fine.
Rule 24 – Penalty Shot
The ‘Spin-O-Rama’ move, as described in Section 24.2 of the 2013-14 NHL
Rule Book, will no longer be permitted either in Penalty Shot situations or
in the Shootout.
Dater’s take: Meh, I don’t quite understand this one. We want the shootout to be less entertaining? The rule is intended to curb players going backward, which the spin-o-rama technically makes happen, and was always forbidden in the original rule. But I’m all for the most crazy shots imaginable in a shootout. The spin-o-rama is allowed in the first 65 minutes of a game. But it’s illegal in the final part of the game? No, bad change.
Rule 38 – Video Goal Judge
Video review will be expanded in the following areas:
* Rule 38.4 (viii) has been modified to allow broader discretion to Hockey
Operations to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all
potential goals (e.g., to ensure they are “good hockey goals”). The
revised Rule will allow Hockey Operations to correct a broader array of
situations where video review clearly establishes that a “goal” or “no
goal” call on the ice has been made in error. The new expanded rule will
also allow Hockey Operations to provide guidance to referees on goal and
potential goal plays where the referee has blown his whistle (or intended
to blow his whistle) after having lost sight of the puck.
* In reviewing “Kicked in Goals,” Hockey Operations will require more
demonstrable video evidence of a “distinct kicking motion” in order to
overrule a “goal” call on the ice, or to uphold a “no goal” call on the
ice.
Dater’s take: I, like , were kind of confused by all this. What exactly does “broader discretion” by the war room in Toronto really mean? What is the “broader array” of situations where video review establishes it’s a good or bad goal? Further clarification is requested before passing judgment.
Rule 57 – Tripping
The rule relating to “Tripping” will be revised to specifically provide
that a two minute minor penalty will be assessed when a defending player
“dives” and trips an attacking player with his body/arm/shoulder,
regardless of whether the defending player is able to make initial contact
with the puck.
But, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise be appropriate, if
the defending player “dives” and touches the puck first (before the trip),
no penalty shot will be awarded. (In such cases, the resulting penalty will
be limited to a two-minute minor penalty for tripping.)
Dater’s take: This is horrible news for the Vancouver Canucks.
Rule 64 – Diving / Embellishment
The supplementary discipline penalties associated with Rule 64.3
(Diving/Embellishment) will be revised to bring attention to and more
seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in
an attempt to draw penalties. Fines will be assessed to players and head
coaches on a graduated scale outlined below.
Incident # Player Fine(s) Head Coach Fine(s)
1 Warning N/A
2 $2,000 N/A
3 $3,000 N/A
4 $4,000 $2,000
5 $5,000 $3,000
6 $5,000 $4,000
7 $5,000 $5,000
8 $5,000 $5,000
Dater’s take: See above.
Rule 76 – Face-offs
To curb delay tactics on face-offs after icing infractions, in situations
where the defending team is guilty of a face-off violation, following an
icing, the defending player who is initially lined up for the face-off will
be given a warning, but will be required to remain in the circle to take
the face-off. A second face-off violation by the defending team in such
situation will result in a two minute minor bench penalty.
Dater’s take: Good change. Too many coaches invented all kinds of shenanigans to protect their gassed units in these situations. Amazing how many little “injuries” always occurred after a team’s second or third icing with the same unit on the ice.
Rule 84 – Overtime
* Teams will switch ends prior to the start of overtime in the regular
season.
* The entire ice surface will undergo a “dry scrape” prior to the start of
overtime in the regular season.
* The procedure requiring the head coach to submit a list of the first
three shooters in the shoot-out has been eliminated.
Dater’s take: Good change. The quality of play in OT will improve with smoother ice. This should have been done years ago.
Rule 85 – Puck Out of Bounds
There have been further rule changes made relating to face-off location to
avoid penalizing teams for plays intended to create bona fide scoring
opportunities. Specifically, the following are “categories of plays” where
face-offs will remain in the attacking zone despite the fact that the
attacking team was technically responsible for the stoppage in play: Shots
at the net by a player on the attacking team where: (i) the shot breaks
the glass; (ii) the shot goes off the side of the net and deflects out of
play; (iii) the shot goes off the dasher boards or glass and deflects out
of play; (iv) the shot is tipped or deflected out of play by a teammate;
and (v) the shot becomes wedged in or on the exterior of the goal net.
* * *
In addition, the following rule change will be enacted for the 2014
preseason and may be continued for the 2014/15 regular season if approved
by the League and the NHLPA.
Rule 1.9 – Rink – Face-off Spots and Circles – Ice Markings/Hash Marks
The hash marks at the end zone circles will be moved from three feet apart
to five feet, seven inches apart (international markings).
Dater’s take: I like this rule because play after faceoffs will be less “scrummy” (a word I just made up) and probably will cut down on fights, with guys standing a little further apart. Sorry, enforcers.
