NHL announces rule change concerning offside calls!

Finally!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
NHL announces rule change concerning offside calls!
Zuma Press

The National Hockey League has finally come to its sense announcing an important rule change for the upcoming 2020-21 season. 

It has been confirmed that at the beginning in the 2020-21 regular season, a player’s skate will not have to be in contact with the blue line in order to be on-side.

“83.1  Off-side - Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone.”


This is as explained in the NHL's Players Association press release: 

“A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line. On his own side of the line shall be defined by a “plane” of the blue line which shall extend from the leading edge of the blue line upwards. If a player’s skate has yet to break the “plane” prior to the puck crossing the leading edge, he is deemed to be on-side for the purpose of the off-side rule.”

Finally, a player’s skate will not have to be in contact with the blue line in order to be on-side! 

This will be much clearer for referees and linesmen out there. Can you imagine how many goals would have been allowed his past season and postseason if the rule change had been made before? 

This is important news for the upcoming season. How do you feel about it?