NHL Approves Rule Changes for Coach's Challenge, More for 2024-25 Season

NHL coaches will be able to challenge delay of game penalties caused by deflected pucks beginning with the 2024-25 season.

The league on Wednesday announced four rule changes impacting delay-of-game challenges, line changes after net dislodgment, faceoff warnings for centers and warnings for players sitting on the boards.

The NHL said all four rule changes were unanimously approved by the league's board of governors, general managers and the NHL/NHLPA competition committee.

NHL Hockey Operations will now finalize the rules' language for inclusion in the 2024-25 rule book.

Coach's challenges were previously allowed to review only missed offsides or game stoppage calls on plays leading to goals, or missing goaltender interference calls on goals.

Teams will now be able to similarly challenge delay-of-game calls if they believe the puck deflected on something on its way over the glass.

Making the call will be even riskier than other coach's challenges, though. A failed challenge would result in a two-man disadvantage thanks to an additional minor on top of the original delay-of-game call.

The NHL has reported that missed out-of-play calls are rare, with the league officially reporting two incorrect calls during the 2023-24 regular season as of May, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton.

Another rule change dictates that teams cannot swap out any players when play is stopped because its goaltender has dislodged the net. The previous rule only stopped teams from changing line if a skater had moved the net.

Offensive centers taking faceoffs after icing calls will now receive one warning, rather than immediately being tossed out of the circle for a violation. Previously, only defensive centers received the warning.

Teams will also be assessed a bench minor penalty after one warning if players are sitting on the boards while waiting for line changes.

The competition committee and board of governors were considering other rules proposed by general managers that were not approved.

These included allowing officials to penalize goaltenders for intentionally dislodging the net, as well as offering replacement goaltenders time to warmup if they are coming in for a netminder pulled by a concussion spotter, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The league also did not approve a guaranteed choice of offensive-zone faceoff dot if an opposing goaltender stops play by losing their mask or allowing a coach's challenges for minor high-sticking penalties.