Rule 28   Misconduct Penalties

  1. In the event of "MISCONDUCT" penalties to any players except the goalkeeper, the players shall be ruled off the ice for a period of ten (10) minutes each. A substitute player is permitted permitted to immediately replace a player serving a misconduct penalty. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired shall remain in the penalty box until the next stoppage of play.

    When a player receives a minor penalty and a misconduct penalty at the same time, the penalized Team shall immediately put a substitute player on the penalty bench and he shall serve the minor penalty without change.

    When a player receives a major penalty and a misconduct penalty at the same time, the penalized Team shall place a substitute player on the penalty bench before the major penalty expires and no replacement for the penalized player shall be permitted to enter the game except from the penalty bench. Any violation of this provision shall be treated as an illegal substitution under Rule 17 calling for a bench minor penalty.

  2. A misconduct penalty imposed on any player at any time shall be accompanied with an automatic fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
  3. A "GAME MISCONDUCT" penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game but a substitute is permitted to replace immediately the player so removed. A player incurring a game misconduct penalty shall incur an automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200) and the case shall be reported to the Commissioner who shall have full power to impose such further penalties by way of suspension or fine on the penalized player or any other player involved in the altercation.
  4. The Referee may impose a "GROSS MISCONDUCT" penalty on any player, Manager, Coach or Trainer who is guilty of gross misconduct of any kind. Any person incurring a "gross misconduct" penalty shall be suspended for the balance of the game and shall incur an automatic fine of two hundred dollars ($200) and the case shall be referred to the Commissioner of the League for further disciplinary action.

    (NOTE) For all game misconduct and gross misconduct penalties regardless of when imposed, a total of ten minutes shall be charged in the records against the offending player.

  5. In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of three (3) game misconduct penalties in the "General Category" and exclusive of other designated categories, shall be suspended for the next League game of his Team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. For each suspension of a player, his Club shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).

    (NOTE) The "General Category" shall include the following infractions:

    1. Charging - Rule 47(b)(c)
    2. Clipping - Rule 49(b)
    3. Elbowing - Rule 53(b)
    4. Fighting off the playing surface - Rule 56(c)
    5. Head-butting - Rule 60(b)
    6. Inciting an opponent into incurring a penalty - Rule 41(g)
    7. Intervening in an altercation - Rule 56(d)
    8. Kneeing - Rule 71
    9. Not properly tied down during altercation - Rule 56(a)
    10. Obscene Language or Gestures - Rule 73(a)
    11. Persists in continuing an altercation - Rule 56(f)
    12. Removing jersey prior to altercation - Rule 56(a)
    13. Resisting a Linesman in the discharge of his duties - Rule 41(f)
    14. Secondary Altercation - Rule 56(a)(f)
    15. Third major penalty in a game - Rule 27(b)
    16. Throwing stick outside the playing area - Rule 88(c)

    In Playoff games, any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties in the "General Category" shall be suspended automatically for the next Playoff game of his Team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty during the Playoffs, the automatic suspension shall be increased by onegame. For each suspension of a player during Playoffs, his club shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).

    Any request by a Club to have a game misconduct reviewed and rescinded by the League must submit their request in writing to the Hockey Operations Department within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game in which the game misconduct was assessed. Failure to submit the written request within this time frame will automatically result in the game misconduct being upheld and no further review of the incident will be considered or entertained. This does not apply to infractions addressed under Rule 33A -- Supplementary Discipline.

  6. In regular League or Playoff games, any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconduct penalties for Abuse of Officials related infractions penalized under Rule 41 (a), (b), or (c) - Abuse of Officials and other Misconduct, shall be suspended automatically for the next League or Playoff game of his Team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.
  7. In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconduct penalties for stick related infractions, Boarding - Rule 44(b), or Checking from Behind - Rule 48(a), shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his Team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty in this category, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

    (NOTE) Stick related infractions shall include the following infractions:

    1. Butt-ending - Rule 46(b)
    2. Cross-checking - Rule 50(a)
    3. Hooking - Rule 64(b)
    4. Slashing - Rule 85(b)
    5. Spearing - Rule 86(b)

In playoff games any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconduct penalties for stick related infractions, Boarding - Rule 44(b), or Checking from Behind - Rule 48(a), shall be suspended automatically for the next Playoff game of his Team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty in this category during the Playoffs the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

Prior to the commencement of each Stanley Cup Finals, a player will have his current stick-related, boarding and checking from behind game misconducts removed from his current playoff record. They will remain part of his historical record.

(NOTE 1) Any game misconduct penalty for which a player has been assessed an automatic suspension or supplementary discipline in the form of game suspension(s) by the Commissioner shall NOT be taken into account when calculating the total number of offenses under this subsection.

(NOTE 2) When a player has played in 41 consecutive regular League games without being assessed a stickrelated major and a game misconduct according to Rule 27(b) - Major Penalties or Rule 28(f) - Misconduct Penalties, he will have the previous game misconduct penalties removed from his current record. They will remain part of his historical record.

(NOTE 3) When a player has played in 41 consecutive regular League games without being assessed a boarding and/or a checking from behind major and a game misconduct according to Rule 44 - Boarding and Rule 48 - Checking from Behind, he will have the previous game misconduct penalties removed from his current record. They will remain part of his historical record.

(NOTE 4) A player's total games played will cover a two year time period from the date of the first game misconduct penalty for each category of foul.

(NOTE 5) The automatic suspensions incurred under this subsection in respect to League games shall have no effect with respect to violations during playoff games.

MAIN INDEX ALPHABETICAL INDEX
PREVIOUS   |  NEXT

NHL.TV™

NHL GameCenter LIVE™ is now NHL.TV™.
Watch out-of-market games and replays with an all new redesigned media player, mobile and connected device apps.

LEARN MORE

NHL Mobile App

Introducing the new official NHL App, available for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablets. A host of new features and improved functionality are available across all platforms, including a redesigned league-wide scoreboard, expanded news coverage, searchable video highlights, individual team experiences* and more. The new NHL App on your tablet also introduces new offerings such as 60fps video, Multitasking** and Picture-in-Picture.

*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads