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After discussion, NHL’s offside rule won’t change

Nashville Predators v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 20: Linesman Steve Miller #89 sends a message to the Nashville Predators bench during the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 20, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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After discussing it in Florida, NHL general managers decided that the offside rule doesn’t need to be changed.

“We have a rule,” said Colorado GM Joe Sakic, per USA Today. “We’ve had it forever. In my mind, you don’t have to change anything. It is what it is: puck’s got to get over the blue line. Video review is there for a reason and it’s working. You grow up as a kid and you know the rule, and it is what it is.”

From USA Today:

One proposal discussed was changing the rule to allow the blue line to expand to the plane of the blue line. In other words, it would be similar to the NFL touchdown standard. If a player’s skate was above the blue line, he would be considered as touching the blue line.

But, again, that proposal was not accepted. So no need for anyone to learn a new rule. Offside is still the same offside.

The NHL said that only nine disallowed goals this season would’ve been allowed if the rule had been changed to allow skates in the air above the blue line.

Related: NHL GMs discuss evolution of the game