The NHL may make it a penalty for opening the bench door during play, a league source confirmed to PHT today.
On Tuesday, Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta was injured after being shoved into an open door by Wild forward Nino Niederreiter.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported last night that the NHL was considering the rule change, and that the topic could be broached during the general managers meetings in March.
Obviously, the new rule would require players to climb over the boards to enter and exit the ice while changing on the fly.
The league has to yet draft the new rule, but the source said it’s “something we are definitely exploring.”