NHL's New Rule Changes: What You Need To Know Ahead of 2024-25

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL announced Thursday four new rule changes for the 2024-25 season.

Here are the key details you need to know about the new rules:

Rule 38.2 (Situations Subject to Coach’s Challenge)

The NHL has expanded its coach’s challenge rule to now allow for a penalty to be taken down if it concerns a puck knocked out of play.

This doesn’t affect officials’ judgment calls on how the puck left the defensive zone. Rather, it applies to delay-of-game penalties called when a puck is deemed to have deflected off a player, stick or the glass or boards. If the coach’s challenge fails, the officials will hand out another two-minute minor penalty to the team making the challenge.

Rule 63.8 (Line Change Following Dislodged Net)

Under this altered rule, a defensive team whose goaltender accidentally dislodges their net will no longer be able to make a line change on the ensuing play.

Rule 76.4 (Face-Off Procedure – Centers)

In the wake of an icing, the center on offense also now will receive one warning – just like the defensive player – for a face-off violation.

Rule 75.3 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Player Sitting on Boards)

With this new rule, the official will provide the offending team’s coach and players with one warning to players sitting on the boards. After that warning, a team judged to have players sitting on the boards will receive a bench minor penalty.

All in all, these four changes represent tweaks to the rulebook rather than major changes, which is typical. They were unanimously approved by the NHL board of governors, GMs and NHL and NHLPA competition committee.

Time will tell if the new rules have their desired effect, but it’s a good comment on the game’s gatekeepers that they’re open to changing the rulebook to address issues that arise from season to season.

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