The NHL has begun testing potential new rules at their research and development camp, which is being held at the Mastercard Centre in Ontario.

What follows is the list of rules being tested and a brief explanation where applicable.

 

Hybrid icing

For years, many have been calling for no touch icing (Don Cherry and myself included). The NHL is not ready to make that leap as of yet, so what we have instead is hybrid icing. This rule would allow the linesman to call icing if he feels that the defender will clearly reach the puck first. It's a step in the right direction, but really, there is no reason that no touch icing should not be written into the rulebook.

 

No line change for team committing offsides

Possibly opens up some scoring against the team which was offsides, due to fatigue. This one is questionable. I can see it on intentional offsides, but not every offsides call is intentional. 

 

Crease reset rule

This one has potential, but it is also a perception call.  If the attacking player is in the crease or if the attacking player prevents the goalie from defending his goal, the play shall be blown dead. The faceoff will then be moved to a neutral zone.

 

Faceoff variation

No more dropped pucks—the puck will be placed on the dot and the faceoff will commence with the blowing of the whistle.

 

Overtime

OT would be increased to nine minutes. There would be three segments if needed, each running three minutes, four on four, followed by three on three, and finally three minutes of two on two. This one seems a little silly. I hate shootouts, but two-on-two?

 

Five man shootout

Each team has five players involved in the shootout. If the score is tied after each team takes their five shoots, the shootout will move to sudden death.

 

Shallow nets

Reduce the depth of the net by four inches, allowing more room behind the net. The thought on this one being it will increase the chance for wrap-arounds and increase ice behind the net.

Bigger crease

Increase the size of the crease by three inches in all directions.

 

Verification line

A yellow line will be set three inches behind the goal line. This line will be used during reviews to make certain the puck has crossed the goal line.

 

Wider blue lines

Blue lines will be twice as large. The lines will be placed so that the offensive zone will be larger, while the neutral zone will shrink.

 

Line change zone

A five foot shaded area will be added in front of the benches. This will be used during line changes with regard to too many men on the ice penalties.

 

Three faceoff circles in the middle of the ice

Each zone will have one faceoff circle and it will be in the middle of the ice. The two faceoff circles in the offensive zones will be reduced to one.

 

Faceoff variation

If one of the players in the faceoff is deemed to have committed an infraction, he will stay in the faceoff, but be forced to move his skates behind a penalty line, and thus, lose leverage during the faceoff.

 

No icing while shorthanded

Teams will be whistled for icing while shorthanded and not allowed to make substitutions after the whistle.

 

Switch ends during overtime

This works with the adding of the three-on-three and two-on-two periods in overtime. The teams will switch ends before each OT period. The idea behind this is the longer time for a line change in the second OT period, due to longer skate to the bench, might increase scoring.

 

Three man shootout

Three players from each team will participate in the shootout. If the score remains tied the shootout moves to sudden death. During the sudden death shootout, a player may shoot more than one time if the coach elects to put them on the ice for multiple attempts.

 

Red mesh nets

Switch the meshing from white to red on the nets. The idea is the net will be more visible and not blended into the boards/ice.

 

No touch icing

Icing is blown as soon as the puck crosses the goal line. In my opinion, this one should already be in the books. Don't believe me? Look at YouTube for some video evidence of what happens when players are allowed to crash the boards during an attempted icing touch up.

 

No change after offsides and the faceoff goes back to the offending team's end

Pretty self-explanatory in the description.

 

Faceoff variation

If a faceoff participant is removed from the faceoff, the opposing team gets to pick the next player who will take the faceoff.

 

Second referee removed from the ice

There will be only one referee on the ice. The second referee will be located off ice on an elevated platform.

 

Delayed penalty rule

A defending team which has committed a penalty would have to, not only gain control of the puck, but get the puck from their zone before the penalty is called.  This could result in more delayed time before the whistle is blown, allowing the offensive team to have more time to pull the goalie and allowing for more time with the extra attacker on the ice.

 

Overtime switch ends

Normal four-on-four overtime, but the teams will switch ends at some point.

 

Five Man Shootout

Five players from each team take part in the shootout. If the score remains tied, the shootout will move to sudden death. One player may shoot multiple times if the coach chooses during the sudden death phase.

 

Nets

Thinner mesh on top of the net to allow for increased visibility from overhead cameras.