Video replay presently only includes eight criteria, used to establish whether or not a valid goal was scored (puck fully across goal line, puck in net before time expired, puck in before net dislodged, puck directed in by hand or kicking motion, puck in off official, puck batted in with a high stick, goal scored with offensive player in the crease) as well as to establish the correct time on the clock.
NHL Rule 87 will now have 42 criteria, ranging from establishing that a puck indeed crossed the goal line to establishing that a faceoff was fairly conducted.
"Yes, it might add a little time to the length of our games," said an NHL official. "But we believe the fans will be more than happy to accept that in return for knowing that every rule is being upheld to the letter."
The new criteria are:
Play offsides Position of player delivering offsides pass Position of player receiving offsides pass Puck iced from behind red line Valid touch-up on icing Which player deflected a puck out of play Intent in sending a puck out of play Hand passes Puck batted to teammate with high stick Teammate first to touch puck batted with high stick Hit from behind Boarding Slashing Roughing Hooking Tripping Cross-checking Interference Diving Verbal abuse/unsportsmanlike conduct (lip-readers will be retained) How far coach throws stick in protest Exact spot of faceoffs Valid line-changes Goaltender to bench too soon Contact with goaltender in crease Contact with goaltender outside crease Puck frozen along boards Which player froze puck along boards Whether stick was high enough for high-sticking call Severity of penalty (minor, double minor, major) Fair faceoff alignment Centers properly aligned for faceoff Players jumped on faceoff Puck dropped fairly
The impetus for the rule change seems to have come from the apparent success of in-the-crease video replay. The review clearly works, because goal after goal is wiped off nightly in the NHL, resulting in a great, suspensefully entertaining evening for NHL fans.
Arguments that the new criteria will take away from the flow of the game, taking the game even further out of the hands of the officials on the ice, were rejected by the league office. The league feels these reviews will improve the game, making all players play by the rules.
"We've continually said that players can't complain about the crease video rule, because it's a rule and the players shouldn't be in the crease in the first place," another NHL official said. "Well, if a play is offsides, it should be called that way. And if it's not offsides, it should be called that way. It's that simple."
The rule will be tested in the American Hockey League during their playoffs.