Ban of ‘spinorama’ in shootout is among NHL rule changes

The NHL has banned players from using a “spinorama” move in shootouts or while taking penalty shots, taking an entertaining element out of what’s supposed to be an entertainment experience for fans.

The new ban was announced by the league Thursday as one of several rule changes that will take effect this season. Here’s a link to the NHL’s full press release detailing the changes.

Probably the most significant change will be the expansion of video review “to allow broader discretion to Hockey Operations to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals (e.g., to ensure they are ‘good hockey goals’),” the NHL said in a statement.

“The revised Rule will allow Hockey Operations to correct a broader array of situations where video review clearly establishes that a “goal” or “no goal” call on the ice has been made in error. The new expanded rule will also allow Hockey Operations to provide guidance to referees on goal and potential goal plays where the referee has blown his whistle (or intended to blow his whistle) after having lost sight of the puck.”

The league also said that in reviewing goals that have been kicked into the net, “Hockey Operations will require more demonstrable video evidence of a ‘distinct kicking motion’ in order to overrule a ‘goal’ call on the ice, or to uphold a ‘no goal’ call on the ice.”

Also of note, in an effort to punish and eventually reduce instances of embellishment, a graduated scale of fines for players and coaches was established starting with a warning on the first offense up to $5,000 for both the player and the coach on the eighth offense. And teams will now switch ends before the start of overtime in the regular season and the ice will undergo a dry scrape before play begins. The league has removed the requirement that a coach submit a list of the first three shooters in the shootout.

In addition, the goaltenders’ restricted trapezoid area will be expanded by two feet from the goal post on both sides of the net.

The spinorama will be missed, taking away some of the individuality that makes the game fun and allows fans to identify players more easily. If you have to have a shootout—and the playoffs seem to get along just fine every year without that gimmick—you might as well promote distinctive moves, not ban them.