The NHL is looking at a rule change that would certainly add a new wrinkle to things. TSN’s Elliotte Friedman tweets that the NHL is kicking around the idea to assess two minute minor penalties to coaches who lose a challenge. Colleague Frank Saravelli tweets that it would be for challenges on offside calls, replace the loss of a timeout, and according to Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, makes coaches “careful” about when they challenge. The Scores’s Josh Wegman writes that the league is looking for a way to cut down on the number of challenges, as it would make coaches more timid in using that challenge. However, before any rules are changed, both the board of governors and competition committee would have to agree.
- TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that a deal between defenseman Kris Russell and the Edmonton Oilers could be finalized as soon as tomorrow. He adds that Russell could get close to $4MM AAV for four years. This confirms what was reported earlier in the day, but now includes a duration and dollar amount. Russell played in 68 games for Edmonton and notched a goal and 13 points for them. The 30-year-old defenseman is known less for his statistical contribution and more for his shot blocking abilities.
They get one timeout a game I think it’ll be okay. It’s not the NBA or NFL with multiple timeouts. Just one
That would be a terrible idea to assess penalties for a failed challenge. Might as well award a team a powerplay opportunity if they get a successful challenge while we’re at it. Speeding up the game really isn’t an issue. Most teams don’t even use their challenges unless its a crucial decision since they’d rather keep their timeout if it comes down to a close game.
If they want to reduce the number of challenges, why don’t they adjust the offsides rule? Count the goals where the players foot is in the air, but still on or behind the blue line. Also, it would help if the NHL would actually define what goalie interference is. There was no consistency on those calls. Identical plays were called differently on different nights. Make it easier for the refs to decide and takes some of the decision-making process out of their hands. Every ref has a different interpretation of goalie interference. This is what leads to the inconsistency of the calls. If it is more defined, it will be easier for the refs to call it & it will also be easier for teams to determine if it is goalie interference & could reduce the number of challenges for that infraction
I think one of the things the NHL should do is basically what the NFL and NBA already do. Let anyone wearing stripes be able to make any call in the rule book. 4 man crew running a box. 2 officials up high and 2 down low.
Another rule I thing the NHL should look at expanding is the bench. Allow teams to run with 4 lines of forwards and 4 lines of defense. If the NHL is so worried about player safety help out the guys logging the most minutes and most damage on their bodies.
The solution to the offsides thing is so simple…
NO slow motion replays. Only full speed video.
The only calls that would be overturned are the obvious ones and, thus, coaches will only challenge the obvious ones.
It would restore the real intent: preventing the blatant offsides (like Duchene or Briere) plays that result in goals.
Yet another stupid idea for the garage league. The league won’t alllow,their,officials to call penalties in the playoffs, won’t punish players for blatant headshots in the playoffs, but yet seem willing to penalize a team that will have the audacity to question an officials call. Can see it now. The replay will clearly show an offsides. They won’t overturn the call and punish the team that made the challenge and in stead of a goal being disallowed, the offending team gains a power play and scores a second goal. Talk about letting the officials determine the outcome of a game or a series.