Testing NHL Potential Changes

Wednesday August 18 (all times ET; subject to change)

10:00 a.m. – Noon
• Hybrid icing rule;
• No line change for team committing an offside;
• Crease reset rule;
• Face-off variation (face-off controlled by whistle in place of traditional puck drop);
• Overtime: three minutes of 4-on-4; three minutes of 3-on-3; three minutes of 2-on- 2 followed by shootout (5 players per team).

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Bigger crease;
• Verification goal line (additional line situated behind the goal line);
• Wider blue lines;
• Line changes zone in front of each bench;
• Face-off variations (infringement results in the offending player moving back further, three face-off dots down the middle of the ice);
• No icing the puck while shorthanded;
• OT – three minutes of 4-on-4; three minutes of 3-on-3; three minutes of 2-on-2 with long line changes; followed by three shooters per team shootout (if tied after three shots then players who have shot previously can shoot again).

Thursday August 19 (all times ET; subject to change)

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• No touch icing;
• Team that commits an offside infraction cannot make a line change and face-off is in offending team zone;
• Face-off variation: after a face-off violation, opposition center may choose his face-off opponent;
• Second referee located off the playing surface;
• Delayed penalty rule
• No icing the puck while shorthanded;
• OT – 4-on-4 (with long line change) followed by a shootout with five players.

1:30 p.m.  - 3:00 p.m.
• Variations of special teams play;
• OT – 4-on-4 (with long line change).

Honestly, I'm not particularly fond of most of these rule changes. I like the goal verification lines, no touch icings, and longer changes in OT. No icing the puck while shorthanded? That's a terrible idea. The league really has to stop attempting to increase scoring, because it's alienating the true hockey fans who can appreciate a well-played 1-0 game.

The 3-on-3 and 2-on-2 OT rules seem absolutely stupid to me. I really hope they are not seriously considering that. It's bad enough having a shootout, I can't even imagine having games decided by a practice drill.