Rule changes for the 2024-2025 season

For the 2024-2025 Fonbet Kontinental Hockey League season, based on the analysis and a survey conducted among all clubs and in accordance with the League’s development strategy aimed at enhancing the entertainment value and offensive play, rule changes will be implemented.

One of the main goals of the Kontinental Hockey League is to increase the entertainment value and dynamism of the game, including through rule adjustments. These changes are aimed at promoting intensive offensive hockey, combating passive player actions, and reducing the overall duration of games by decreasing pauses and stoppages in play.

Starting from the 2024-2025 season, goalies will be allowed to throw the puck forward from their glove towards the opponent’s goal. Previously, such an action would result in a minor penalty according to Rule 67.3. This change will help reduce the number of pauses and speed up the transition of teams into attack.

Additionally, changes affect the procedure for executing a shootout (Rule 24.2). If the goalie plays the puck but it continues moving towards the goal line, the attempt is not considered finished, and the attacking player can continue to play the puck. Previously, the attempt was deemed complete as soon as the goalie touched the puck.

To the rule regarding substituting the goalie with a fourth skater in OT will change too: the goalie can now return to the game at any time in accordance with regular rules. Previously, the goalie was only allowed to return during a stoppage in play (Rule 74.5).

The interpretations of tripping have been adjusted – if the goalie first plays the puck and then trips an opponent, no penalty will be assessed (Rule 24.8). Similarly, if a skater first makes contact with the puck and then trips an opponent, no penalty will be imposed (Rule 57.1).

Referees will closely monitor the procedure for player shifts: the visiting team has five seconds, and the home team has eight seconds to change. For the first violation, the referees will issue a warning, and for the second and each subsequent violation, a minor penalty will be assessed.