2025-26 NHL Rulebook
Download the 2025-26 NHL Rulebook
Rule Changes for 2025-26:
- ‘Common sense’ added to rulebook
- Awarded empty net goals will go o fouled players (33.2)
- High-sticking definition changed (60.1, 60.3, 60.4)
- Hand pass clarification added for deflected pucks (79.1)
- ‘Skate blade’ defined as determining position for offside (83.1)
- Offside ‘control and possession’ now requires puck to be played with stick (83.1)
NHL Rules Articles
Objects Thrown On The Ice? Yeah, That’s a Penalty.
Throwing things on the ice is near the top of the list of things of which fans might be told, “You can’t do that.” It’s dangerous for fans, players, and officials, and could cost the home team a penalty.
KHL Ref Awards Goal for Thrown Stick on Empty Net Breakaway
KHL referee Ivan Fateyev awarded a goal to Barys Astana’s Nikita Mikhailis after Severstal’s Maxim Mineyev threw his stick to try to prevent an empty-net goal
Blues’ Tarasenko Picks Up Penalty for Parayko’s Stick
St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko was given a penalty for using an oversized stick from defenseman Colton Parayko
Canes’ Goal Waved Off After Puck Deflects Off Referee
Carolina’s Calvin de Haan had a goal waved off against the Boston Bruins after the puck deflected off referee Francois St. Laurent and entered the net.
Trapezoid Trouble: Pens’ Murray Penalized for Playing Puck
The ghost of Marty Brodeur strikes again. Pittsburgh goaltender Matt Murray picked up a two-minute minor for playing the puck behind the goal line outside of the trapezoid.
NHL Rule Changes for 2018-19
The NHL Rulebook has been updated for 2018-19 with minor changes, including new requirements for goalie gear and a clarification on empty net awarded goals
Rules Comparison: IIHF/Olympics vs. NHL
The 2018 Olympics Hockey Tournament in PyeongChang won’t have NHL players, and it doesn’t use the NHL rulebook. Here’s a look at the differences between the rule books of the NHL and the IIHF, who oversees Olympic hockey.
NHL Adopts Rule Changes for 2017-18 Season
The National Hockey League has made a few tweaks to the rulebook for the upcoming season. Download the 2017-18 NHL Rulebook Minor Penalty for Failed Offside Challenge The league has upped the stakes on an offside challenge. A failed challenge will now...
NHL Competition Committee Tweaks Icing, Faceoff Locations
The NHL’s Competition Committee has recommended only two minor rule changes for the 2017-18 NHL season
Tampa GM Yzerman Open to Changing Offside Rule
One NHL GM open to changing the offside rule was Tampa’s Steve Yzerman, who spoke with The Power Play’s Scott Laughlin and Greg Gilbert on SiriusXM’s NHL Network Radio
