The Kontinental Hockey League will be making some changes to the rule book for the upcoming 2025-26 season. These changes – which have been tested in junior leagues and voted on by the KHL teams – are designed to speed up play and reduce stoppages.
The league will be sending out materials to the teams to ensure players are aware of the changes prior to training camp.
“Clubs will be able to get to know [the rules] in advance, introduce their players and coaching staff so that the players can prepare for these changes already during pre-season training camps and tournaments,” said KHL President Alexei Morozov.
Here’s what’s changing for 2025-26:
Rule 57 – Tripping: If the offending player contacts the puck prior to tripping an opponent, no penalty will be called, and no penalty shot will be awarded.
The NHL used to have a similar rule around penalty shots that was changed a few seasons back; currently in the National Hockey League, in situations where a penalty shot may be awarded, the call is downgraded to a minor penalty if the defender hits the puck prior to the skates. In no cases, though, does the NHL allow a player to get away with a trip if they hit the puck first.
Rule 63 – Delay of Game: The rule has been amended to include a minor penalty for a player who intentionally shoots or hits the puck out of bounds from anywhere on the ice during a game or after a stoppage in play.
This aligns with NHL rule 63.2 (ii).
Rule 75 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct: A player who, after a stoppage in play, directs the puck toward the opposing goal in any way will be assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty; the prior punishment was a two-minute minor.
The NHL does not have a specific rule addressing pucks directed toward the opposing net during a stoppage.
Rule 82 – Line Changes: Teams will no longer be permitted to make a line change if the goaltender covers the puck for a stoppage after it has been played by a teammate.
In the NHL, players are preventing from changing after an icing, after a delay of game penalty, or when the goaltender freezes the puck on a shot from beyond the center red line.
Rule 85 – Puck Out of Bounds: The curved sections of the glass at the ends of each bench are now in play. The game will continue without a whistle if the puck hits the curved glass located at the end of each bench and falls back onto the ice. Last season, the puck hitting the curved glass was an immediate whistle.
The NHL treats the curved glass as out of play; the puck is blown dead any time an official observes it hitting that portion of the glass.
Additionally, a change has been made to the faceoff location after a failed Coach’s Challenge.
Rule 38.8 – Coach’s Challenge: If a call initiated by a coach does not result in the original on-ice decision being overturned and the team making the call is assessed a minor penalty, the subsequent faceoff will take place in the defending zone of the team that made the call (Rule 38.8).
The NHL rule does not specifically address faceoff location for a failed challenge — however, given that a team losing the challenge is short-handed, the resulting faceoff would also take place in their defending zone.
Hit up our socials and let us know – should the NHL be considering any of these changes?
