What is the NHL hand pass rule? Get to know how it works in the game, influence & more 

The NHL has specific rules to maintain fair play and ensure the game flows smoothly. One such rule is the hand pass rule, which governs the use of hands by players to move the puck.

A hand pass occurs when a player uses their hand to direct the puck to a teammate. This can be done either by batting the puck or holding and passing it.

According to the NHL Rule Book, a player can use their hands to hit or bat the puck in the air or to throw or push it along the ice. Play continues unless the player passes the puck to a teammate outside of the defensive zone, per the judgment of the hockey officials:

“A player shall be permitted to do a hand pass to hit or ‘bat’ the puck in the air with his hands or throw or push it along the ice with the use of hands, and a play shall not be stopped unless in the opinion of hockey officials, either he has directed the puck to his teammate other than the defensive zone,” – states Rule 79 (The Hand Pass Rule) of the NHL Rule Book.

The rule further states that if a player does a hand pass in their team's defensive zone, the game will not be stopped. However, when a player touches the puck, whether receiving or making the hand pass, it must be clarified which zone the puck is in:

“A game shall not be stopped if a player does a hand pass in his team’s defensive zone. When a player touches the puck location, either receiving or making the hand-pass, it shall specify the zone it is in.”

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When is the hand pass allowed and when is it not

The most crucial exception to the hand pass rule is that players are allowed to use their hands to pass the puck when they are in their own defensive zone. Another exception is in faceoff situations.

After a faceoff, if a player uses their hand to win the puck and it directly results in a goal or passes to a teammate, this is allowed.

A hand pass is not allowed in the neutral zone (the area between the two blue lines) or the offensive zone (the area in front of the opponent’s goalie). If a player uses their hand to pass the puck to a teammate in these zones, the play is stopped, and a faceoff is conducted.

Any intentional hand pass, where a player deliberately uses their hand to direct the puck to a teammate, is disallowed outside the defensive zone. The referee will blow the whistle and stop the play.

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Similarity with puck handling rules

The NHL puck handling rule (Rule 67) is quite similar to the hand pass rule. It allows players to bat, catch, or stop the puck in the air with their hands, or push it along the ice.

Play continues unless the player intentionally directs the puck to a teammate or gains an advantage in neutral or offensive zones, in which case play stops and a face-off is conducted:

“A player shall be allowed to ‘bat, catch or stop’ the puck in the air with his hands or push it along the ice, and a play shall not be stopped unless, in the opinion of hockey officials, he has intentionally directed the puck towards his teammate or allowed his team to get an advantage in other zones, neutral and offensive, then, in this case, the play shall be stopped and again a face-off,” – states Rule 67 of the NHL Rule Book.

The rule further states that a player can catch or hit the puck 'out of the air’, but must drop it immediately:

“A player shall be allowed to catch or hit the puck out of the air, but the puck should be dropped as soon as the player can. In case a player catches the puck and either skate with it or pushes it towards his teammate to gain a territorial advantage over the opponent team, then he will be assessed with a penalty under Rule 67 of puck handling in the NHL Book.”

If a player catches the puck and skates with it or passes it to a teammate to gain an advantage, they will receive a penalty under NHL Rule 67 on puck handling, per the official league rule book.

Quite like other NHL rules, the hand pass rule is important in maintaining the proper flow of the game while keeping the right excitement during play.