NHL formally explain several rule changes ahead of the 2024/25 regular season

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Tom Banks
September 19, 2024 (11:10)

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The National Hockey League has made some slight rule changes in recent years, and with training camp upon us, they've now explained the new ones ahead of a new season.

The NHL is constantly under criticism, and while some of that is thoroughly deserved, one thing the league has been proactive in doing is making rule changes. Now, with the season less than a month away, they've done so again, explaining the rule changes ahead of the new season in their latest social media post.

One of the rule changes involves delay of game penalties, with the league offering the opportunity to rescind or take down a delay of game penalty when a puck is shot over the glass.

"This only will apply to delay of game penalties when the puck is determined to have deflected off a player, stick, glass or boards, and not on a judgment call on how the puck left the defensive zone (e.g., batted pucks or if the puck was shot out from the defensive zone). In the event of a failed challenge, another two-minute minor penalty will be assessed (in addition to the existing delay of game penalty)."

The next involves line changes following the net becoming dislodged, as well as an intriguing new rule regarding faceoffs following an icing call.

"There will be an adjustment to Rule 63.8 so that the defensive team cannot make a line change in the event its goaltender accidentally dislodges the net (old language applied just to skater).

Following an icing, the offensive center also now will receive one warning (same as the defensive player) for a face-off violation."

Finally, the league appears to be taking steps towards further player safety, prohibiting players and staff from sitting on the boards during play.

"The referee now will provide the offending team (coach and players) with one warning regarding players sitting on the boards (and will so advise the other team). After one warning in a game, the team precipitating the warning will be issued a bench minor penalty for future violations."

All of these rules were unanimously made official by the NHL's Board of Govener's, and while there's the opportunity to slightly change the language around these rules in the coming weeks, all of these appear to be positive moves that will positively impact the game next season.

Source: Blade of Steel
The NHL announces rule changes for the 2024-25 season