Rule changes you are thankful for

[Ovie's Neighbor]

I have been watching hockey for 30 plus years now, so I have seen a lot of rule changes. Some have been not so great but some I am really happy exist. Here are some rule changes that I think have made the game a lot better.

No touch icing
No two-line passes
No line changes after icing
Delayed offside

Any others you think are great? (like delay of game or 4 min high sticking for blood, etc.)

Click to read more...

 

[Thenameless]

The effort to get rid of head shots. Concussions are a big problem in hockey and football.

I like the game to be played physically, so it's a difficult balance. But we're just losing too many players (and people are having to retire with permanent disabilities).

 

[Philadelphia Ducks]

Can't throw out 'centres' after icings, was so dumb teams made the winger go in for the draw just to delay the game and jump the draw.

 

[Seb]

The effort to get rid of head shots. Concussions are a big problem in hockey and football.

I like the game to be played physically, so it's a difficult balance. But we're just losing too many players (and people are having to retire with permanent disabilities).

I hope the day fights are banned is close.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

I hope the day fights are banned is close.

Have you watched "Ice Guardians" on Netflix? Interesting perspective on fighting in hockey.

Agreed on 2-line passes rule change.

 

[PuckItUp27]

Im loving the enforcement of the slashing this year. It has created more scoring, more chances and less cheap plays.

 

[LeafGrief]

Getting rid of the two line pass rule was brilliant.

 

[Evergreen]

Delayed offside and no-touch icing just because those are rules I grew up playing under and it seems to make more sense to have that consistency amongst the hockey ranks. Also the two-line pass.

 

[HansonBro]

Easily the crack down on water skiing

 

[The Macho King]

Getting rid of the two line pass rule was brilliant.

Just want to echo this - best rule change in my life time.

 

[Butch 19]

I have been watching hockey for 30 plus years now, so I have seen a lot of rule changes. Some have been not so great but some I am really happy exist. Here are some rule changes that I think have made the game a lot better.

No touch icing
No two-line passes
No line changes after icing
Delayed offside

what? 2 line passes are legal. (that's a good thing!)

I do not like no-touch icing. it's too vague who wins the race to the..... dot?? I"m not even sure what they're racing to.

And the puck over the glass/delay of game penalty is a good thing. It helps create offense.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Probably the biggest one that nobody talks about, is that they stopped blowing the whistle as soon as the puck was frozen along the boards.

That, and constant "oops I shot the puck over the glass accidentally on purpose" absolutely killed the flow of the game. Younger fans have no idea what they're not missing.

 

[X66]

The lottery changes.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

what? 2 line passes are legal. (that's a good thing!)

I do not like no-touch icing. it's too vague who wins the race to the..... dot?? I"m not even sure what they're racing to.

And the puck over the glass/delay of game penalty is a good thing. It helps create offense.

Sorry that was unclear. I meant making them legal.

 

[542365]

I will echo what others have said, getting rid of the two-line pass rule. Such an unnecessary and stupid rule. One of the dumbest rules in the history of professional sports. Thank god it's gone.

I also like hybrid icing.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Moving faceoffs out of the zone if attacking defensemen get into after whistle scrums has done more to affect the NHL than anything else.

 

[MaxV]

The only rule changes I could think of are the ones that would improve scoring.

But judging by how this season has started that doesn't seem necessary.

 

[Rec T]

Getting rid of head shots/hunting should be on the top of everyone's list. Ruining people's lives for entertainment... yeah, no.

As far as changes to the actual game itself, I completely agree with others that the two line pass was a great change.

The current crackdown on slashing could/should be good if it gets applied consistently. There's been more than a couple of games that I've watched where one team gets call after slashing call against them & when the other team does exactly the same thing, the officials are all checking out the blonde with a big rack right behind the bench....

 

[The Macho King]

Thankful for goaltenders being able to leave their skates to make a save. There's one.

Elimination of the rover.

Forward pass.

 

[Shakey Rustie]

The recent changes to the draft lottery system, although it looks like the Oilers are doing their best once again to win it despite said changes...

 

[Advanced stats]

Used to be a rule that you could only pass the puck backwards.

I think the league took a good step, allowing the forward pass.

Even so, games were higher scoring back than...go figure

 

[Devil Dancer]

I really like the 3 on 3 OT. I'm ambivalent about the loser point, but OT is a hell of a lot more fun than it was when I was a kid and teams were just desperate not to lose.

Don't you dare mess with playoff OT though.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Two line pass.

Delayed penalty for puck over the glass
I used to hate this rule but had a complete change of heart.

Allowing hand passes in the defensive zone.
I can understand the thinking of not allowing them but man did it lead to a ton of stoppages.

Cracking down on blindside hits and the "exploding upward" that had become popular while hitting.

 

[Master P]

No more faceoffs just inside the blueline.

 

[swiftwin]

With the 2 line pass rule, this play is blown dead