MTV: A surprising rule change in the league at the last minute

In the upcoming season of the league, a coach’s unsuccessful challenge will no longer result in an immediate two-minute penalty on the first attempt, reports MTV Sports.

The first failed challenge will cost the team an unused timeout. If the timeout has already been used, the consequence will be a penalty. A second unsuccessful challenge will result in a two-minute penalty, and a third will lead to a 2+2-minute penalty.

Last season, the first failed challenge resulted in an immediate two-minute penalty and the second in a 2+2-minute penalty.

The league’s sports director Jussi Markkanen states that the change is based on the camera angles available in the situation room.

– The main reason for the change is that a larger update for the situation room will not come until the 2027–28 season, so the clubs do not have access to all the same camera angles as the situation room at this stage. We want to allow challenges, if not for free, then with a lighter sanction. We will return to normal when the camera angles are in order, Markkanen explains to MTV.

The rule change was a proposal from the clubs, which was approved by the league’s board.

– This is clearly a proposal from the clubs for this upcoming season. The league board was well convinced of the matter, and it passed, Markkanen says.