GM Meetings: NHL to amend offside rule? "breaking the plane"

[sureLoss]

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
After 3 years of discussions, it appears the NHL will amend the offside rule. Skate in the air...or breaking the plane is expected to be part of the change.

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Competition Committee must approve all potential rule changes....but it appears as if GMs have voted to amend offside rule to football-style “breaking the plane.”

[Robbob]

good. I think that is the change everyone wanted when they were looking to tweak the rule last time.

[TheScorpion]

It's about time.

[PeteMoss]

They should change the offside review to clear and obvious. This just changes the threshold of the rule, you'll still have those 5 minute reviews to break down if the guy's skate was a mm away from the blue line

[SuperMatt18]

Other rules they should change:

1) You still get the PP if you don't score on the penalty shot.

The penalty shot should be treated the same as a delayed penalty call to me. The penalty shot replaces the chance that was eliminated by the penalty, if you don't score you still get the 2 minute PP just like if a normal penalty was called on the play instead.

2) Align the rules of the blue line on what is considered in/out of the zone.

When entering the zone the puck needs to be considered completely over the blue line to be in the zone, but when exiting the zone the puck needs to completely exit the blue line to be considered out. So in the two situations the way the "blue ice" is handled is different. They should make it the same, and once the puck hits the blue ice it should be considered in the zone, just like it's considered in the zone still as long as it's on the blue ice once already entered.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Other rules they should change:

1) You still get the PP if you don't score on the penalty shot.

The penalty shot should be treated the same as a delayed penalty call to me. The penalty shot replaces the chance that was eliminated by the penalty, if you don't score you still get the 2 minute PP just like if a normal penalty was called on the play instead.

2) Align the rules of the blue line on what is considered in/out of the zone.

When entering the zone the puck needs to be considered completely over the blue line to be in the zone, but when exiting the zone the puck needs to completely exit the blue line to be considered out. So in the two situations the way the "blue ice" is handled is different. They should make it the same, and once the puck hits the blue ice it should be considered in the zone, just like it's considered in the zone still as long as it's on the blue ice once already entered.

I agree with both.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I've never noticed a professional league change the rules as much as the NHL.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I've never noticed a professional league change the rules as much as the NHL.

Literally every league does rule changes every offseason.

[dissentowner]

Not that it matters much when the officiating is so incompetent.

[FlamesAddiction]

I know I am probably going to feel stupid for asking, but what exactly does "skate in the air" and "breaking the plane" mean?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I know I am probably going to feel stupid for asking, but what exactly does "skate in the air" and "breaking the plane" mean?

You won;t need your skate on the ice for it to be onside, it can be in the air above the blue line. Eliminating those off side reviews where the guy has lifted his skate in the air and is above the blue line.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Literally every league does rule changes every offseason.

These discussions should happen in the offseason though. GMs shouldn't vote that a rule needs to be changed and then continue to play out a season with what they determined is a bad rule.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Not that it matters much when the officiating is so incompetent.

For how fast the game is I think the refs get a lot more things right than wrong.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I know I am probably going to feel stupid for asking, but what exactly does "skate in the air" and "breaking the plane" mean?

It means they won't be able to see it clearly. So instead of having a black and white rule, they will make it grey and up to interpretation.

For further clarification, google "Superbowl Touchdown Controversy 2020".


.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They should change the offside review to clear and obvious. This just changes the threshold of the rule, you'll still have those 5 minute reviews to break down if the guy's skate was a mm away from the blue line

There will then be 5 minutes reviews if something is clear and obvious.

Whatever threshold is used, there will be questions as to whether that threshold is met.

[Fuzz]

Hopefully the upgrade the blue line potato cams too, otherwise it's going to be tricky to spot in some situations. An overhead positioned laser mesh would help, but that's far to advanced for them.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

For how fast the game is I think the refs get a lot more things right than wrong.

No, no they don't. We see it time and again an official staring right at the infraction and no call or they make a weak one. The game is not called by infractions, it is dictated by game management and until that changes the product will continue to be frustrating to watch.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

There will then be 5 minutes reviews if something is clear and obvious.

Whatever threshold is used, there will be questions as to whether that threshold is met.

They should just do away with offside challenges. Half the time the war room doesn't get it right anyhow. Again, I think that is a game management thing.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I wish they'd go further. A player entering the zone a fraction of a second ahead of the puck doesn't make a realistic difference in the play, and all the rule does is slow down the game. I'm not sure they even need the offside rule, would teams really put a cherry picker in the offensive zone and give the other team a 5-on-4? If you must have offsides, then put a timer on it. If a player enters the zone within 1 second of the puck, then it doesn't matter who was first

[Roof-Daddy]

The worst thing about professional sports officiating is "discretion".

It's terribly inconsistent at best, blatantly biased at worst.