TORONTO — A competition committee has recommended changes to the NHL’s video review and coach’s challenge format along with how regular season tiebreakers take place.
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs were among the players representing the NHL Players’ Association while Ken Holland of the Oilers and Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman were some of the executives attending for the NHL.
The committee recommended expanded video review which would include a referee’s ability to review calls on the ice.
Referees have been under fire for controversial calls during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a non-hand pass decision in the Western Conference Final and major penalty issued on the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round against San Jose.
Modifying the current regular season tie-breaking procedure to add additional criteria is also recommended.
The NHLPA’s executive board along with the league’s board of governors still need to approve the new rule recommendations.
Other proposed changes include:
• Requiring a player to leave the ice when his helmet comes off during play.
• Not allowing a defensive team to change lines when a goalie freezes the puck on a shot from outside the centre red line. The offensive team would have the choice of which end zone dot the face off takes place.
• After an icing, the offensive team has the choice of which end zone dot the face off will take place. This will also be the case to begin a power play. No line change would be permitted for the defending team if the referee determines the actions of a skater on the defensive team caused the stoppage by unintentionally knocking the net off.
• All faceoffs will take place at one of the two dots in the attacking zone when the attacking team is responsible for the puck going out of play in the attacking zone.
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