This is...ummm....different.
OHL is implementing a rule wherein a player with his 11th fighting major of the season receives an automatic 2-game suspension. They are cracking down on the one-dimensional goon type players who do little more than fight.
NHL is watching closely to see how well the whole thing works.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...hl-is-watching
That one was just announced recently.
The other interesting "test" was announced a few months ago, the AHL is doing some new icing rule at request of the NHL. Implementing it for first month to see how it goes at which time the decision whether or not to continue with the rule will be considered by the league.
The rule states that in event of potential icing violation, the defenseman wins the race if he reaches the end-zone face-off dots (line across) before attacking player AND provided the puck has already crossed the goal-line by that point.
I have seen so many great hustle plays where the forward got past the D-man to negate the icing. Not at all thrilled with this rule. Hope it is discontinued after a month. Maybe I'll change my mind once I see it in action though.