The Kontinental Hockey league otherwise known as the KHL; is the second best league in the world behind the National Hockey League (NHL) and they have just added a new rul;e to their junior leagues. The new rule will only be enforced in the overtime period of the game however, it is a strange rule.
The new rule implemented by the KHL in their junior based leagues will see teams be restricted to keep the puck in the attacking half of the ice in overtime once they gain possession. Like in basketball you can’t dribble the ball back behind the half way line after you have entered the attacking half and this will now be the case in overtime for the junior KHL leagues.
Like most bench minors, you get one warning and upon the second violation a penalty will be called and this is exactly the case with this penalty. The rule is in place to prevent teams from disturbing the game flow and consistently backing away from attacking to time waste. The overtime period is only five minutes long which some teams might like to time waste especially if they are struggling to keep up with their opposition and with this rule they can no longer do this.
According to Adam Proteau (A writer for The Hockey News) believes that the NHL should adopt this rule as it restores game flow which the NHL constantly want to improve but could we see leagues like the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), SM-Liiga, Deutsche Eishockey Liga (1 & 2) and the Metal Ligaen adopt this rule too. All these leagues are already top flight leagues in the world and they all offer a fast paced game, so adopting this rule will add more opportunity for more competitive games. If these leagues adopt this rule then that could inspire the IIHF to fully adopt the rule and add it to their rulebook meaning the EIHL will use the rule as they follow the IIHF rulebook with small changes.
As the EIHL skill level improves constantly a rule like this could offer more competitive games and reduce the amount of overtime games we see. Many times we have witnessed teams struggle against some of the higher end clubs but still push the game to a shootout by time wasting in overtime which many fans would rather not happen and with this rule we will see more turnovers in overtime with more odd man breaks.
In conclusion, the KHL's new rule for junior leagues, which restricts teams to keep the puck in the attacking half during overtime, could significantly alter game dynamics and reduce time-wasting strategies. This innovative approach has the potential to enhance game flow and competitiveness, aligning with the NHL's goals and possibly inspiring other top leagues like the SHL, SM-Liiga, Deutsche Eishockey Liga, and Metal Ligaen to adopt similar measures. If successful, this rule could even influence the IIHF to integrate it into their rulebook, thereby impacting leagues that follow IIHF guidelines, such as the EIHL. As the EIHL continues to grow in skill and popularity, this rule could contribute to more exciting and competitive overtime periods, ultimately benefiting players and fans alike.
Author: Calan Yule
Last Edited: 23/7/2024 - 06:13
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