With the NHL attempting to increase scoring, new rules instituting harsh punishment for lost offside challenges will come into effect in 2017-18.
The conversation initially started with shrinking goalie equipment. But now, the NHL has found new ways to keep up an offensive team’s momentum.
First, a failed challenge of an offside call will now result in a two-minute penalty against the challenging team. As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman notes, this change will not only make head coaches hesitant to challenge but put a lot more pressure on video coaches.
A smaller change that still makes a noticeable impact: Attacking teams will no longer see a defensive-zone faceoff after playing a puck with a high stick in the offensive zone. Rather than go all the way down the stretch of ice, the faceoff will now be held in neutral ice closer to the defending team’s zone.
Lastly, and probably the most impactful change, is be that teams that ice the puck cannot call a timeout after.
While this change is something that will definitely help the attacking team produce more scoring chances, there’s definitely going to be a higher risk of injury for tired players. The attacking club may still call a timeout in this frame should they choose to do so.
Overall, these rule changes make it apparent the NHL is looking to increase scoring. It will be interesting to see how these changes affect the game, or if the league will still look to more controversial and drastic measures, like altering goaltender’s equipment.