There have been quite a few rule changes over the years, some more memorable than others.  Remember two-line passes?  The skate-in-the-crease?  No delayed offside?  Penalty shots from a specific circle on the ice?  20-minute power plays? How about requiring that each team’s captain be on the ice at all times?

Look back through the National Hockey League’s extensive history of rule changes over the years.

  • 1910-11
    • Game changed from two 30-minute periods to three 20-minute periods
  • 1911-12
    • National Hockey Association (forerunner of the NHL) originates six-man hockey, replacing seven-man game
  • 1913-14
    • All penalties set at five minutes and include a mandatory fine; teams allowed to subsitute the penalized player, remaining at even strength
  • 1916-17
    • Minor penalties reduced to three minutes; substitutions still permitted
    • Throwing a stick to result in an automatic goal for the opposing team; prior penalty was a game misconduct
  • 1917-18
    • Goalies permitted to fall to the ice to make saves. Previously a goaltender was penalized for dropping to the ice
    • Minor penalties remain at three minutes, but substitutions no longer allowed
  • 1918-19
    • Penalty rules amended. For minor fouls, substitutes not allowed until penalized player had served three minutes. For major fouls, no substitutes for five minutes. For match fouls, no substitutes allowed for the remainder of the game
    • With the addition of two lines painted on the ice twenty feet from center, three playing zones were created, producing a forty-foot neutral center ice area in which forward passing was permitted
    • Forward passing allowed only in the defensive zone
    • Kicking the puck permitted in the neutral zone
  • 1921-22
    • Goaltenders allowed to pass the puck forward up to their own blue line
    • Overtime limited to twenty minutes
    • Minor penalties changed from three minutes to two minutes
  • 1922-23
    • Match penalties for intent to injure result in the penalized player being ejected, and his team shorthanded for the full duration of a 20 minute penalty without substitution
    • Rule added for “fisticuffs” resulting in a major penalty with no substitution
  • 1923-24
    • Match foul defined as actions deliberately injuring or disabling an opponent. For such actions, a player was fined not less than $50 and ruled off the ice for the balance of the game. A player assessed a match penalty may be replaced by a substitute at the end of 20 minutes. Match penalty recipients must meet with the League president who can assess additional punishment
  • 1925-26
    • Delayed penalty introduced, though not formally added into the rule book until 1943
    • Each team must have a minimum of four players on the ice at all times
    • Two rules were amended to encourage offense: No more than two defensemen permitted to remain inside a team’s own blue line when the puck has left the defensive zone. A faceoff to be called for ragging the puck unless shorthanded
    • Team captains only players allowed to talk to referees
    • Goaltender’s leg pads limited to 12-inch width
    • Timekeeper’s gong to mark end of periods rather than referee’s whistle
    • Teams to dress a maximum of 12 players for each game from a roster of no more than 14 players
  • 1926-27
    • Blue lines repositioned to sixty feet from each goal-line, thereby enlarging the neutral zone and standardizing distance from blue line to goal.
    • Uniform goal nets adopted throughout NHL with goal posts securely fastened to the ice.
  • 1927-28
    • Forward passes allowed in defending and neutral zones
    • Goaltender’s pads reduced in width from 12 to 10 inches
    • Game standardized at three twenty-minute periods of stop-time separated by ten-minute intermissions
    • Teams to change ends after each period
    • Ten minutes of sudden-death overtime to be played if the score is tied after regulation time
    • Minor penalty assessed to any player other than a goaltender for deliberately picking up the puck while it is in play
    • Minor penalty for deliberately shooting or throwing the puck out of play
    • The Art Ross goal net adopted as the official net of the NHL
    • Maximum length of hockey sticks limited to 53 inches measured from heel of blade to end of handle
    • Home teams given choice of end to defend at start of game
    • Teams permitted to change on the fly; previously, players could only be substituted during a stoppage
    • Kicking the puck permitted along the boards in the neutral and defending zones
  • 1928-29
    • Forward passing permitted in defensive and neutral zones and into attacking zone if pass receiver is in neutral zone when pass is made. No forward passing allowed inside attacking zone
    • Minor penalty to be assessed to any player who delays the game by passing the puck back into his defensive zone
    • Ten-minute overtime – without sudden-death – to be played in games tied after regulation time. Games tied after this overtime period declared a draw
    • Exclusive of goaltenders, team to dress at least 8 and no more than 12 skaters
  • 1929-30
    • Forward passing permitted inside all three zones but not permitted across either blue line
    • Kicking the puck allowed, but a goal cannot be scored by kicking the puck in
    • No more than three players including the goaltender may remain in their defensive zone when the puck has gone up ice
    • Minor penalties to be assessed for the first two violations of this rule in a game; major penalties thereafter.
    • Goaltenders forbidden to hold the puck. Pucks caught must be cleared immediately. For infringement of this rule, a faceoff to be taken ten feet in front of the goal with no player except the goaltender standing between the faceoff spot and the goal-line
    • High-sticking penalties introduced
    • New rinks required to be 200′ x 85′, with exceptions for Boston (191’x88′), Chicago (188’x85′), and much later Buffalo (193’x84′) due to limitations of facilities already built or under construction
    • Forward passing rules instituted at the beginning of the 1929-30 season more than doubled number of goals scored. Partway through the season, these rules were further amended to read, “No attacking player allowed to precede the play when entering the opposing defensive zone,” similar to the modern offside rule. (added December 21, 1929)
  • 1930-31
    • A player without a complete stick ruled out of play and forbidden from taking part in further action until a new stick is obtained. A player who has broken his stick must obtain a replacement at his bench.
    • Offside rule refined to state that the puck must first be propelled into the attacking zone before any player of the attacking side can enter that zone; for infringement of this rule, a faceoff to take place at the spot where the infraction took place.
    • Kicking the puck no longer permitted; play to be stopped when a player kicks the puck.
  • 1931-32
    • Though there is no record of a team attempting to play with two goaltenders on the ice, a rule was instituted which stated that each team was allowed only one goaltender on the ice at one time.
    • Goaltender interference is introduced. Attacking players forbidden to impede the movement or obstruct the vision of opposing goaltenders.
    • Defending players with the exception of the goaltender forbidden from falling on the puck within 10 feet of the net.
  • 1932-33
    • Each team to have captain on the ice at all times.
    • Maximum number of players in uniform reduced to 14 from 15.
    • If the goaltender is removed from the ice to serve a penalty, the manager of the club to appoint a substitute.
    • Match penalty with substitution after five minutes instituted for kicking another player.
  • 1933-34
    • Two referees replace one referee and one linesman. Each referee would handle one half of the rink.
    • Number of players permitted to stand in defensive zone restricted to three including goaltender.
    • Visible time clocks required in each rink.
  • 1934-35
    • Penalty shot awarded when a player is tripped and thus prevented from having a clear shot on goal, having no player to pass to other than the offending player. Shot taken from inside a 10-foot circle located 38 feet from the goal. The player may not contact the puck outside the circle, and the goaltender must not advance more than one foot from his goal-line when the shot is taken.  Penalized player was also assessed a minor penalty to be served in the penalty box
    • Goal crease measuring 5′ x 8′ painted on the ice
    • Referees required to switch sides during the game (added in February 1935)
    • Face-off circles painted on the ice; only the two players taking the draw were permitted inside the circle
  • 1935-36
    • Players no longer penalized for kicking the puck after breaking their stick
  • 1937-38
    • Play stopped for icing the puck.
    • Penalty shot awarded when a player other than a goaltender falls on the puck within 10 feet of the goal.
    • Misconduct penalty added to the rule book
    • Goaltenders receiving a major penalty were allowed to remain in net, with a substitute serving their penalty; goalies were still required to serve minor penalties, but could hand their gloves and stick to a position player.
    • A player with a broken stick kicking the puck no longer results in a penalty, but still results in a stoppage in play.
    • Abuse of officials penalties added; first offense results in a ten-minute misconduct, with a second in the same game prompting a game misconduct
  • 1938-39
    • One referee and one linesman replace two referee system.
    • Penalty shot modified to allow puck carrier to skate in before shooting
    • Blue line widened to 12 inches.
    • Face-off violation penalty added if a player entered the faceoff circle twice on the same face-off
    • Faceoff duties handed over to the linesman, so the referee could watch for infractions
  • 1939-40
    • A substitute replacing a goaltender removed from ice to serve a penalty may use a goaltender’s stick and gloves but no other goaltending equipment
    • Goal crease reduced from 5′ x 8′ to 3′ x 7′
    • Ten-minute penalty added for verbal abuse of officials; second incident in same game resulted in game misconduct
  • 1940-41
    • Play allowed to continue if the puck hit the official in the neutral zone; prior rule required stoppage in play any time the puck hit an official
  • 1941-42
    • One referee and two linesmen employed to officiate games.
    • Penalty shots classified as minor and major.
      • Minor shots – for holding the puck, throwing the puck, deliberately shooting the puck into the stands, or a minor penalty taken by the goaltender – to be taken from a line 28 feet from the goal
      • Major shot, awarded when a player is tripped with only the goaltender to beat, permits the player taking the penalty shot to skate right into the goalkeeper and shoot from point-blank range
    • For playoffs, standby minor league goaltenders employed by NHL as emergency substitutes
  • 1942-43
    • Regular-season overtime discontinued on November 21, 1942, due to wartime train restrictions
  • 1943-44
    • Red line at center ice introduced to speed up the game and reduce offside calls; foward passing allowed from zone to zone. This rule is considered to mark the beginning of the modern era in the NHL
    • Delayed penalty added to NHL rule book, though it had effectively been in practice since 1925
    • Pucks deflected into the net on a high stick by a defending player would be a legal goal; previously, any goal on a puck deflected by a high stick would be disallowed
  • 1945-46
    • Goal indicator lights synchronized with official time clock required at all rinks.
    • All penalty shots allow players to skate the puck in from the blue line and shoot it before they reach the goal crease
    • Penalty added for players carrying the stick above the shoulders
    • Officials considered ‘in play’ with no stoppage if an official is struck by the puck anywhere on the ice. Goals still cannot be scored directly off a referee or linesman
  • 1946-47
    • System of signals by officials to indicate infractions introduced.
    • Linesmen from neutral cities employed for all games; previously, linesmen were provided by the home team.
    • Broken Sticks:
      • Players who have lost or broken a stick allowed to remain on the ice; previously had to obtain a replacement stick or leave the ice
      • Goaltenders allowed to play with broken stick
  • 1947-48
    • Thrown Sticks:
      • Goal awarded when a player with the puck has an open net to shoot at and a thrown stick prevents the shot on goal.
      • Major penalty to any player who throws his stick in any zone other than defending zone.
      • If a stick is thrown by a player in his defending zone but the thrown stick is not considered to have prevented a goal, a penalty shot is awarded.
    • All playoff games played until a winner determined, with 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods separated by 10-minute intermissions.
    • Player benches required to be separated by “a substantial distance”
    • Four officials’ hand signals introduced: icing, delayed whistle, intentional offside, and washout.
  • 1948-49
    • Goaltenders no longer permitted to be captains or alternate captains.
  • 1949-50
    • Ice surface painted white.
    • Clubs allowed to dress 17 players exclusive of goaltenders.
    • Major penalties incurred by goaltenders served by a member of the goaltender’s team instead of resulting in a penalty shot.
  • 1950-51
    • Each team required to provide an emergency goaltender in attendance with full equipment at each game for use by either team in the event of illness or injury to a regular goaltender.
    • Bench doors required to open into the neutral zone
  • 1951-52
    • Goal crease enlarged from 3′ x 7′ to 4′ x 8′.
    • Number of players in uniform reduced to 15 plus goaltenders.
    • Faceoff circles enlarged from 10′ to 15′ radius.
    • Players no longer permitted to catch the puck out of mid-air and hand it to the referee for a stoppage in play
    • Icing waved off when goaltender came out of his net to touch the puck
    • Players who repeatedly use “foul or obscene” language automatically suspended for three games
  • 1954-55
      • Benches and bench doors required to be uniform for both teams
  • 1956-57
    • Player serving a minor penalty allowed to return to ice when a goal is scored by opposing team. Players were previously required to serve the full two minutes.
  • 1959-60
    • Players prevented from leaving their benches to enter into an altercation. Substitutions permitted providing substitutes do not enter into altercation.
    • Minor penalty for goaltender who covers the puck outside his crease
  • 1961-62
    • Penalty shots to be taken by the player against whom the foul was committed. In the event of a penalty shot called in a situation where a particular player hasn’t been fouled, the penalty shot to be taken by any player on the ice when the foul was committed.
  • 1962-63
    • Penalty shot starting point moved from the attacking blueline to the center ice faceoff dot
    • Goalies restricted from skating beyond their own blue line
  • 1963-64
    • Separate penalty benches required; previously, players from both teams sat on the same penalty bench
  • 1964-65
    • No body contact on faceoffs.
    • In playoff games, each team to have its substitute goaltender dressed in his regular uniform except for leg pads and body protector
    • All previous rules governing standby goaltenders terminated
  • 1965-66
    • Teams required to dress two goaltenders for each regular-season game
    • Maximum stick length increased to 55 inches
    • Player benches moved to be on the same side of the ice; previously, benches were on opposite sides
    • Arenas required to have separate penalty boxes, with separate entrances for each team, in the neutral zone
  • 1966-67
    • Substitution allowed on coincidental major penalties
    • Between-periods intermissions increased to 15 minutes
    • Linesmen empowered to call major penalties for intent-to-injure missed by the referee
    • Abuse of officials rule amended to require that any contact between a player and an official would result in a game misconduct and automatic suspension
  • 1967-68
    • If a penalty incurred by a goaltender is a co-incident major, the penalty to be served by a player of the goaltender’s team on the ice at the time the penalty was called
    • Limit of curvature of hockey stick blade set at 1.5″
  • 1969-70
    • Limit of curvature of hockey stick blade reduced to 1″
  • 1970-71
    • Limit of curvature of hockey stick blade reduced again, this time to 0.5″
    • Minor penalty added for deliberately shooting the puck out of the playing area
  • 1971-72
    • Third man to enter an altercation assessed an automatic game misconduct penalty
  • 1972-73
    • Minimum width of stick blade reduced to 2″ from 2.5″
  • 1974-75
    • Bench minor penalty imposed if a penalized player does not proceed directly and immediately to the penalty box.
    • Goaltenders required to be replaced for equipment repairs
  • 1976-77
    • Rule dealing with fighting amended to provide a major and game misconduct penalty for any player who is clearly the instigator of a fight.
  • 1977-78
    • Teams requesting a stick measurement to be assessed a minor penalty in the event that the measured stick does not violate the rules
    • Jerseys required to include player names; referee numbers replaced with officials’ last names
  • 1979-80
    • Wearing of helmets made mandatory for players entering the NHL; players under contract prior to June 1, 1979 exempted
  • 1980-81
    • Maximum stick length increased to 58″
  • 1981-82
    • If both of a team’s listed goaltenders are incapacitated, the team can dress and play any eligible goaltender who is available.
  • 1982-83
    • Linesmen permitted to stop play to award a goal if puck enters the net undetected by the referee
    • Additional rules regarding abuse of officials are added, resulting in automatic suspensions of up to 20 games
  • 1983-84
    • Overtime reintroduced. Five-minute sudden-death overtime to be played in regular-season games that are tied at the end of regulation.
    • Each team given one time-out per game, to be used during a stoppage in play.
  • 1984-85
    • League adopts magnetic net anchor system to hold goal frame in place on the ice
  • 1985-86
    • Substitutions allowed in the event of co-incidental minor penalties, allowed teams to remain at 5-on-5. Maximum stick length increased to 60″.
  • 1986-87
    • Goal crease expanded to a semicircle painted around the existing 4′ x 8′ rectangle
  • 1987-88
    • Rules added for game misconducts and mandatory suspensions to reduce bench-clearing brawls, including an automatic suspension for the coach of the team whose player first leaves the bench to join an altercation
  • 1988-89
    • Delayed off-side (also known as “touch-up” or “tag-up”) introduced, allowing players of the offending team to clear the opponents’ defensive zone without touching the puck and re-enter the zone
    • High stick that causes injury results in a major penalty and game misconduct, even if accidental
  • 1990-91
    • The goal lines, blue lines, defensive zone face-off circles and markings all moved one foot out from the end boards, creating 11′ of room behind the nets and shrinking the neutral zone from 60′ to 58′.
    • High sticking rule changed to allow minor, double-minor, or major based on severity of the contact
    • Intentional offside added; an attacking team who touches the puck on a delayed offside would have the resulting face-off in their defensive end
  • 1991-92
    • Video replays employed to assist referees in goal/no goal situations.
    • Size of goal crease increased. Crease changed to semi-circular configuration.
    • Time clock to record tenths of a second in last minute of each period and overtime.
    • Major and game misconduct penalty for checking from behind.
    • Penalties added for crease infringement and unnecessary contact with goaltender.
    • Goal disallowed if puck enters net while a player of the attacking team is standing on the goal crease line, is in the goal crease or places his stick in the goal crease.
    • Rectangular goal crease lines removed, leaving only the semicircle.
    • Stronger enforcement of goaltender interference rules
  • 1992-93
    • No substitutions allowed in the event of coincidental minor penalties called when both teams are at full strength, effectively repealing the 1985 rule.
    • Minor penalty for attempting to draw a penalty (“diving”).
    • Minor penalty added for holding an opponent’s stick
    • Major and game misconduct penalty for checking from behind into goal frame.
    • Game misconduct penalty for instigating a fight.
    • High sticking redefined to include any use of the stick above waist-height. Previous rule stipulated shoulder-height.
    • Goals can no longer be scored by a kicked puck that deflects off another player or the goaltender.
  • 1993-94
    • High sticking redefined to allow goals scored with a high stick below the height of the crossbar of the goal frame.
    • Marsh pegs system replaces magnets to hold goal frames in position on the ice
  • 1995-96
    • Officials’ names are removed; each referee and linesman assigned a unique number
  • 1996-97
    • Maximum stick length increased to 63″.
    • Elimination of delayed offside. All players must be clear of the attacking zone prior to the puck being shot into that zone. The opportunity to “tag-up” and return into the zone has been removed.
    • One game suspension required for any goaltender using illegal equipment.
  • 1998-99
    • The league instituted a two-referee system with each team to play 20 regular-season games with two referees and a pair of linesmen.
    • Goal line moved to 13′ from end boards.
    • Goal crease altered to extend one foot beyond each goal post (eight feet across in total. Sides of crease squared off, extending 4’6″. Only the top of the crease remains rounded.
  • 1999-2000
    • Each team to play 25 home and 25 road games using the two-referee system.
    • Crease rule revised to implement a “no harm, no foul, no video review” standard.
    • Teams to play with four skaters and a goaltender in regular-season overtime.
  • 2000-01
    • All games to be played using the two-referee, two-linesman system.
  • 2002-03
    • “Hurry-up” faceoff and line-change rules implemented.
  • 2003-04
    • Home teams to wear basic colored uniforms; visiting teams to wear basic white uniforms.
    • Maximum length of goaltender’s pads set at 38″.
  • 2005-06
    • Goal line moved to 11′ from end boards
    • Blue lines moved to 75′ from end boards, reducing neutral zone from 54′ to 50′.
    • Center red line eliminated for two-line passes.
    • “Tag-up” off-side rule reinstituted.
    • Goaltender not permitted to play the puck outside a designated trapezoid-shaped area behind the net.
    • A team that ices the puck is not permitted to make any player substitutions prior to the ensuing faceoff.
    • A player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of regulation time or at any time of overtime to receive a minor, a major, a misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension.
    • Size of goaltender equipment reduced.
    • If a game remains tied after five minutes of overtime, winner determined by shootout.
  • 2007-08
    • Penalty shots can be awarded when player is fouled in the neutral or attacking zone; prior rule required infract happened past center ice
    • Major penalty and game misconduct added to interference rule when injury results
    • All faceoffs required to be conducted at one of the nine faceoff dots painted on the rink
    • “Gross Misconduct” penalty removed from rulebook; all previous Gross Misconducts changed to Game Misconducts.
  • 2008-09
    • Power plays to start with faceoff in the defensive end of the penalized team (76.2)
    • Icing rule modified to prevent interference or contact by players in pursuit of the puck (81.1)
    • Faceoff location for pucks out of play after hitting crossbar, goal frame, or goal post to remain in attacking zone (85.5)
  • 2009-10
    • Increased focus on calling instigator penalties
    • Standardization of puck drops by officials.
  • 2010-11
  • 2011-12
    • Illegal check to the head rule changed to allow minor or match penalty; major penalty option has been removed. Rule no longer includes “lateral” or “blindside” in definition (48)
    • Boarding penalty expanded to allow “pushes”; previous wording included only “checks” (41)
  • 2012-13
    • Minor penalty introduced for batting the puck with the hand on a faceoff (76)
    • Handling puck rule modified for players using glove to catch or conceal the puck (67)
  • 2013-14
    • Visors required for all players with fewer than 25 games of NHL experience (9.7)
    • Hybrid icing introduced
    • Linesmen to no longer wave off icing on an attainable pass
    • Shallower nets introduced; while opening remains 4′ x 6′, nets are 4″ shallower and 4″ narrower on each side behind the goal line.
    • Players no longer receive additional penalty for instigating a fight while wearing a visor
    • Minor penalty assessed to any player who removes his helmet prior to a fight
    • Illegal check to the head rule modified; new wording no longer requires that the hit ‘targeted’ the head
  • 2015-16
    • Teams to play with three skaters and a goaltender in regular-season overtime (84.1)
    • Coach’s Challenge introduced: Coaches may request video review of off-sides or goaltender interference when a goal is scored; failed challenge results in loss of timeout (78.7, 78.8).
    • Final rulings on Coach’s Challenges made by on-ice officials (78.7, 78.8)
    • Video review expanded (38.4)
    • Defending player required to put his stick down first on faceoffs; previously, it was visiting team. Visiting team to put stick down first on center-ice faceoffs. (76.4)
  • 2016-17
    • Puck over glass penalty modified to make penalty based on the location of the puck and not the player’s skates for pucks shot out of play (63.2)
  • 2017-18
    • Penalty for failed Coach’s Challenge for offside changed to minor penalty for delay of game (78.7)
    • No timeout after an icing (87.1)
    • Stricter enforcement of slashing penalties (61) and faceoffs (76)
    • Visor rule amended to require visors are worn in a manner to ‘ensure eye protection’ (9.7)
  • 2019-20
    • Video Review expanded to allow referees to review major/match penalties and high-sticking double-minors
    • Coach’s Challenges expanded to allow teams to challenge for potential missed stoppage leading to a goal
    • Minor penalty for players who do not exit the playing surface after losing their helmet – or who do not retrieve and replace their helmet within a reasonable time period.
    • Minor penalty (roughing) for removing an opponent’s helmet
    • No timeout or line change for defending team if defender dislodges net or puck is stopped on a shot beyond red line.
    • Goal awarded if goaltender intentionally displaces net on penalty shot.
  • 2020-21
    • Player’s skate no longer required to remain in contact with the blue line in order to be considered on-side. [Video]
    • No timeout permitted after a faceoff violation.
    • Fighting hand signals added to rule book
  • 2022-23
  • 2023-24
    • No changes; minor clarifications made
      • Illegal stick rule centralizes existing requirements (10.8)
      • Delayed offside amended to spell out existing standard on line changes (83.1)
      • Puck in netting eligible for missed stoppage regardless of which team put puck out of play (38.2)
    • “Fouls” changed to “Infractions”
    • “Linesman” changed to “Linesperson”

 

List includes information from the National Hockey League as well as other sources, publications, and references.