Rule changes for the 2025-2026 season

In the 2025-2026 Fonbet KHL Championship, rule changes will be introduced aimed at increasing the entertainment value and pace of the game.

Each year, the League makes rule changes designed to promote offensive hockey and reduce the number of stoppages during matches. All changes are adopted based on a survey of the clubs.

Starting from the 2025-2026 season, play will not be stopped if the puck hits the curved glass located at the end of each bench and falls back onto the ice. Previously, according to Rule 85, play was stopped in such situations. Before being implemented in the KHL, this change was successfully tested in the Junior Hockey League during the 2024-2025 season. It will help reduce the number of stoppages in play.

Teams will not be allowed to make shifts on the ice before a faceoff if the goaltender freezes the puck after it was directed toward him by his own teammate, causing a stoppage in play (Rule 82.1).

Rule 57 “Tripping” has been amended regarding the awarding of a penalty shot—if a player initially plays the puck and then trips the opponent, neither a penalty shot nor a minor penalty will be assessed in such a case.

If a player, after a stoppage in play, intentionally shoots or directs the puck toward the opponent’s net in any way, instead of a minor penalty, a 10-minute misconduct penalty will be imposed (Rule 75). An amendment has also been made to Rule 63 “Delaying the Game”: a player who intentionally throws or bats the puck out of the playing area from anywhere on the ice surface during the match or after a stoppage will receive a minor penalty.

If a coach’s challenge does not lead to an overturning of the original on-ice decision and the team that issued the challenge is assessed a minor penalty, the ensuing face-off will take place in the defensive zone of the team that requested the coach’s challenge (Rule 38.8).