NHL will test rule changes in AHL

Archived from 1997-98 season.

The NHL will test some of the rule changes in ten American Hockey League games between March 20 and April 5. These are the changes that were recommended by league general managers last month. Each of the five proposals will be tested twice, and only one will be tried in each game.

Rules to be tested are:

Players serving an entire two-minute penalty instead of the penalty expiring when a goal is scored.
Goaltenders not allowed to handle the puck behind the net.
Players not being allowed to stop behind their own nets.
Hurry-up face-offs and no line changes during neutral zone face-offs.
Moving the goal line out to 13 feet from the end boards, two feet more than now.

The NHL is testing these and possibly other changes in minor leagues. The NHL Board of Governors will meet in June and decide what changes, if any, will be implemented in the NHL games starting the 1998-99 season.

The proposal of removing the red line and thus virtually two-line pass offsides is not among the changes being tested at this point. Also the idea of converting the game into four 15-minute quarters which is being pushed by the TV networks appears to be buried.

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