The KHL will be testing a new backcourt violation rule in their junior hockey league, the MHL (Twitter link). The rule that will come into effect for the 2024-25 season will forbid players from skating the puck back to their side of center in overtime more than one time. A first violation will cause a stoppage in play and the team guilty of the backcourt violation will see a faceoff occur in their defensive zone. Any additional violation in overtime will cause a minor penalty to be called.
The trial run will be interesting to watch as there have been calls for this type of rule in North America, although no change to the rule is pending. NHL clubs have been utilizing their defensive zone in recent years as a reset during overtime and it has made 3 on 3 overtime in the NHL far less exciting than it was when it was first introduced.
In other news from around the hockey world:
- David Alter of The Hockey News is reporting that the NHLPA has taken a new approach to arbitration hearings, opting not to release a full schedule ahead of the hearings. The news makes sense given that very little information is available about the scheduled hearings and they will begin tomorrow. The pivot means that fans won’t know about the time and date of hearings until an arbitrator has decided the outcome or the team and player have settled before arbitration. Arbitration can be contentious between teams and their players and might be something that is looked at the next time the NHL and NHLPA renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement.
- ESPN released a list ranking the top 100 professional athletes of this century. The list was largely absent of hockey players but there were a handful that made the cut. It isn’t shocking to see so few players on their list but keep in mind that this is the network that owns a lot of NHL distribution rights and streaming rights at the moment. Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby topped this list for hockey players, finishing 22nd, while Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin was 54th, and Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid finished a shocking 98th.
“Far less exciting…” is an understatement. Full disclosure, last year I began to fast forward OT when I recorded games.
Pretty sad that the KHL is more proactive to fan reaction than the NHL when it comes to rules adjustments.
Whereas I love the current overtime format. It’s so dramatic. The new rule seems alright but I wasn’t struggling at all to be on the edge of my seat already.
Any list that Bobby Hull isn’t on is a completely flawed list and not even worthy of a mention. Saw that man play hockey with a broken jaw and still out skate and out shoot anybody in the game. Not to mention he could have probably been a pro boxer if he wanted to.
I believe it was 21st Century athletes, but I assumed it was clickbait and avoided it so who knows.
Bobby Hull’s pro career ran from 1957-1980. None of those years are part of this century.
I thought it meant the last 100 years. And I think that’s what it said at first.
Who will experiment with getting rid of the Loser Point??? 34-34-14 is NOT .500!!
I’m surprised McDavid even made the list. Only hockey fans who know he is. He has less star power than Mike Trout.
Mike who?