As the 2024-25 season is less than a month away, the National Hockey League announced a series of rule changes that will be implemented. Coaches’ challenges have been a big topic in the last several seasons ever since they were first implemented. But as the game is getting faster and faster, with better technologies and camera angles, the league has to keep up with the times.
Ever hate it when the officials call a puck-over-glass penalty, and it clearly wasn’t a penalty? Well, it’s now challengeable, effective next season. Coaches from the bench can now wave to challenge delay of game penalties that come their way and force a video review by the referees and the situation room in Toronto.
According to Scouting The Refs, this is the first instance of a coach’s challenge affecting penalties, and is a big step in the right direction regarding challenges. With so many camera angles and resources to spare in one of the biggest leagues in the world, it’s a no-brainer to implement this rule. But fans are skeptical of it. Perhaps it’ll be another one of those offsides reviews that take so long to determine its precise ruling (2016, The Guardian).
Now, can a team challenge a delay of game penalty if the officials deem it not a penalty? No, the penalty must be originally called by the officials in order for it to be challengeable. In other words, the officials have the prerogative to make the initial decision before the coaches can have a decision. So, what’s the penalty for losing the challenge? Well, like all failed video-review challenges, the defending team will be assessed a minor penalty for delay of game.
However, since the team is technically challenging a penalty, they will be assessed the original two-minute minor plus an additional two minutes — effectively making it a four-minute double-minor penalty that will be five-on-four. The challenge comes with a hefty price, and it’s up to the individual team’s video coaches to get it right before initiating the challenge.
The NHL Official Rule Book Description
When a minor penalty for delaying the game has been assessed under Rule 63.2 (iii) for shooting or batting the puck out of play from the defending zone. This will only apply to delay of game penalties when the shot/batted puck is determined to have subsequently deflected off a player, stick, glass or boards, etc., and not a judgment call.
The standard for overturning a minor penalty for delaying the game – puck over glass call to a defending player is the NHL Situation Room, after reviewing all replays and consulting with the On-Ice Official(s), determines that the puck was deflected or rebounded off the boards, glass, goal net frame or otherwise, or did not break the plane of the glass directed upwards, and should not be subject to a minor penalty (38.12).
No challenge can be issued for a non-call, in other words, no challenge is to be considered when the On-Ice Officials deem that it was not a violation of Rule 63.2 (iii). A challenge can only be used to rescind a penalty, not to have one assessed.
In the event of a failed challenge, an additional minor penalty (or double-minor penalty, as appropriate in cases where teams have already been penalized for an unsuccessful challenge in the game) will be assessed in addition to the existing delay of game penalty.
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