League Boots Gross Misconduct

For those of you who are immersed in the draft coverage, I thought I would let you know that while you were drooling over your team’s first pick, the NHL snuck in a few new rule changes!

There is nothing really major here, but some of the items are noteworthy:

Rule 24 — Gross Misconduct. The term “Gross Misconduct” was eliminated from the rule book. Any act that would have been assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty will receive a Game Misconduct penalty. Accumulated Game Misconduct penalties can lead to fines or suspension. (When is the last time you saw a Gross Misconduct called in an NHL game?)

Rule 25 — Penalty Shot. A player may be awarded a penalty shot if he is fouled on a clear breakaway outside his defensive zone (i.e., anywhere in the neutral zone or in the attacking zone). Previously, a penalty shot was awarded only when the player on a clear breakaway was fouled on the attacking side of the center line. (I’m really not sure how they referees will be able to declare a “clear breakaway” between ones own blueline and center ice unless it is a 3 on 3 situation and all of the players are caught deep.)

Rule 56 — Interference. Referees were given discretion to assess a major penalty and a game misconduct when an injury results from an act of interference. Previously, only a minor penalty could be assessed for interference. (An injury resulting from an interference penalty would be something to see now wouldn’t it!)

Rule 76 — Face-offs. All face-offs must be conducted at one of the nine face-off dots painted on the rink. Previously, there had been instances, such as when a puck left the playing surface, which caused the face-off to occur on unmarked ice, parallel to the dot nearest the place where the puck departed. (This could actually make a difference…no more attack zone faceoffs in the middle of the rink)

All in all, these changes won’t do a whole lot for the game from the fans point of view.  However, if the league wants to do something constructive, they could eliminate the touch icing and save players’ heads from getting run through the end of the rink!

Source: NHL