TORONTO -- He hasn't played a hockey game since late February, and so Niklas Hagman has had a lot of time to think.

Conclusions upon reflection: yet another NHLer voicing his anger and, to a man, disgust with how players handle their business on the ice.

"This is not good for hockey," Hagman said. "Nowadays we are talking more about headshots and fighting than hockey and goals and the (playoff) race in the Western Conference."

Nearly a month after Brendan Witt's elbow knocked Hagman out of the line-up with a concussion, the 29-year-old spoke out loudly in his first comments to the media since the incident on Long Island Feb. 26.

"Headshots - it's the players' fault. We're on the ice," he said. "All the players talk that there should be less (of them). But we as players continue to do those things. We are the ones saying (headshots) shouldn't be happening, but it is happening. Nobody seems to be doing anything about it. It's happening now almost every week."

Witt was suspended five games for the elbow and returned March 10. Hagman finally returned to practice on Monday, taking part in non-contact drills and some individual work with assistant coach Keith Acton. He has yet to pass a neuropsychological test for clearance and said simply riding a stationary bike initially gave him headaches.

There is no timetable for his return, although it is not expected to happen before the beginning of April. He hopes to play before Toronto's regular season schedule concludes on April 11.

While Hagman says his approach to the game will not change when he finally plays - "you can't play scared, you can't change anything" - his bigger issue is with the lack of respect on the ice.

"The players either put their elbow out there or they (don't)," Hagman said. It's that simple.

Witt told reporters upon reinstatement that the elbow was an accident and he offered Hagman an apology through Jason Blake, a one-time Islanders teammate. The message was delivered.

"It's nice he said that. Actions probably talk louder than words. It's easy to say sorry afterwards," Hagman said matter-of-factly. "He didn't want me to get away easily with the puck. He probably didn't want to hit me in the head with the elbow, but it happened. But that's in the past. I haven't thought about it too much."

Clearly, there is a topic he still has.

"We're getting close calls and you talk about bigger name players giving elbows and not getting penalties," Hagman said. "It's not good for hockey."