New NHL Rules for 2024-25: Smart Changes or Potential Game Disruptors?

Do the NHL’s new rule changes improve the game?

The NHL's recent announcement of rule changes for the 2024-25 season has sparked significant conversation. While some fans welcome these adjustments, others question their necessity or potential impact. From coach’s challenges to goaltender safety, each rule has its own implications, and it's worth examining if these changes truly enhance the game or create new problems.

The notable changes include the coach’s challenges for delay-of-game penalties, consequences for displacing the net, new face-off procedures, hanging out on the boards, and warming up replacement goalies.

Coach’s Challenge Expansion (Rule 38)

One of the more intriguing updates is the expansion of Rule 38, which now allows coaches to challenge delay-of-game penalties for pucks shot over the glass. Considering the NHL is allowing replays on most other potential infractions and tough-to-call situations, it makes sense that the NHL would allow reviews on a play that can literally change the outcome of a game.

Former Wild coach Dean Evason frustrated on Wild bench

One would think this simple; either the puck goes straight over or it doesn’t. But, it isn’t always an easy call to make since trying to figure out if the puck was deflected in real time or where it crossed over the glass can be tricky.