NHL To Study Headshots, Blind-Side Bodychecks

TORONTO — The NHL is getting closer to making a recommendation about how to reduce hits to the head.

The league's 30 GMs and their assistants wrapped up meetings with a discussion of the issue Wednesday and decided to formulate a small committee to take a closer look at it before they get together again in March.

At that time, the group could make a recommendation to the competition committee about a possible rule change. The GMs have discussed headshots in the past, but there was a change in the tone of conversation this time.

"It was quite a bit different, some of the guys who have taken a strong position that it may take hitting out of the game have adjusted their views a little bit," Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said. "If we continue down what was talked about today then we will see a change.

"It will be on the agenda of the next meeting and I think if we got the direction that it appeared we were going, you will see a change for next year."

The issue has been pushed to the forefront because of a few notable checks this season – Mike Richards on David Booth and Willie Mitchell on Jonathan Toews, to name two. Neither of those hits resulted in a suspension because there's nothing currently in the rulebook to prevent them.

The main thing the general managers want to see eliminated is bodychecks to unsuspecting players.

"A player should have an ability to anticipate a hit, prepare for a hit or avoid a hit," Toronto GM Brian Burke said. "If he doesn't have those, then I think the onus has to shift to the hitter. He's got to deliver a safe hit."

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Burke is one of the former hardliners who has softened a little on the issue. A big concern for the group has traditionally been that a rule banning headshots might inadvertently lead to the elimination of all bodychecks.

The high-profile hits have clearly made an impact on the group, which wants to bring safety to the sport.

"The Booth hit in particular, I personally feel that if that was my son I wouldn't want for that to be the way he was hit," Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero said. "What Mike Richards did was within the rules we have currently. That's not the issue. The issue is making the game as safe as can be. I don't think we're looking for a big rule change, but maybe we can tweak something."

One thing that stands out for NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell is just how much the sport has changed and evolved. He sat down and watched a game from the 1970s recently and noticed how much less physical play there was.

"The hitting today is so much more evident," Campbell said.

Player safety was a key theme from Wednesday's meeting as the GMs also looked at some new equipment.

Mark Messier made a presentation on behalf of manufacturer Cascade Sports, which has designed a helmet aimed at limiting concussions. Messier made a few sales as Burke indicated he wanted to get some for the Toronto Marlies AHL team.

Some of his colleagues were impressed by it as well.

"I like the look of it and think it's an advancement in technology that any player should be open to," Vancouver GM Mike Gillis said.

Among the other agenda items discussed Wednesday:

_ Deputy commissioner Bill Daly scolded the GMs for long-term contracts designed to circumvent the cap and provided an update on the three deals (Chris Pronger, Marian Hossa, Roberto Luongo) currently being investigated by the league.

_ A financial update on next year's salary cap, which isn't expected to change drastically.

Comments

[GolfingDevil05]

I think requiring a mouth piece would be an excellent place to start. I did a piece on concussions in the NHL while I was studying journalism, and I interviewed one player whose career ended prematurely because of the affects from eight concussions. He said doctors told him after the fact that a mouth piece would have prevented at least two of them, and maybe as many as five. Hits to the jaw are devastating, and a mouth piece goes a long way toward absorbing some of that shock.

Look at some of the guys who had to retire early, like Pat LaFontaine or Eric Lindros. They'd probably have been first-ballot Hall of Famers if they'd been able to play 20 years. They may still get in, but neither of them is a lock, and concussions are the reason for that.

[JFH 75]

I concur. It's relatively common knowledge that mouth pieces prevent a lot of injuries from being far worse.

The players also need to be on high alert at all times. I recall the Torres hit to Michalek a couple years ago...it wasn't necessarily clean, but it would not have taken Milan out of the game if he'd been aware of his surroundings and braced himself for it.

I'll be interested to see what kind of wording goes into play on any rule changes.

[loosecangan]

Well said by both MCJ and Frank-

Onus has to be on the individual to protect themselves for the time being- the risk of taking a legal hit that causes permanent injury is one that each player takes when stepping on the ice.

Either champion some accountability or BRING BACK OBSTRUCTION and let us slow footed defencemen get a shot at our contract again!

[PepeLepew]

The first thing they have to do is wear real helmets, require real chinstraps and require visors.

[Frank Smith]

Full face and jaw protection is what is needed. I'd much rather see that.

Tough break for Booth but he was admiring his pass through the mid ice lane and wasn't watching where he was going or what was coming. You do have to protect yourself out there. Adding a penalty for a head hit won't stop them, it might even create more as puck carriers get even more careless.

[MCJanes]

The Booth hit in particular was a nasty one...but unfortunately, it WAS a clean hit, as per the current rule book. Fixing it could be a bit tricky, though, as we obviously don't want to go overboard in terms of limiting physical play.

You can't "blame" the NHL, though. The NHL is relatively tame compared to some of the crap that goes on at the younger levels...t­he level that physical play is emphasized in Minor hockey, especially at the Midget level, is atrocious. The real fix needs to start there, IMO.