NHL Will Look Into Widening Head Hit Rule

I've got no time to analyze, but saw this article:



BOSTON (AP)—The NHL’s competition committee agrees with a recommendation to broaden the league’s definition of illegal hits to the head.

The committee’s decision Monday is the next step in expanding the scope of Rule 48, enacted last year to outlaw blindside head shots.

The NHL Players’ Association also will consider the change, and the league’s board of governors must approve any formal rule change June 21.

The expected change will allow referees to call penalties for any hit to the head on a defenseless player. The current rule specifies penalties on hits coming from the blind side.

A panel of former players including Brendan Shanahan(notes) and Rob Blake(notes) recommended the change, but said they don’t support outlawing all hits to the head.



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Not enough if it doesn't clearly state what is defenseless or if it creates an atmosphere that takes away from the game flow.

Kinda like diving. Diving was common more before the diving rule. The first couple of seasons, diving penalties were called significantly more frequently than they are today. It's not a different interpretation of the rules by today's Referee's, but rather, the players have been conditioned to not embellish.

So if you create a rule that says a player with his head down will draw a "head hit 48" call, players may start playing with their heads down more often or lowering their head with an incoming hit.

I don't have time to look it up, but there is a rule that says a player cannot turn his back to draw a call more severe than if the player did not turn. (I think). If not, there should be and something similar should take place for any 48 change.

I stick by my opinion that suspensions should come as the result of major injury (regardless of intent) and not left to the opinion of the rules committee.

TTFN