The NHL needs to take a hard-line approach on head shots to protect its players.
The time has come for the NHL to adopt a zero tolerance policy for hits to the head.
Whether they come from the blind side, from the front, from the side, whether they are accidental or on purpose, all hits to the head should result in a penalty. The more serious hits to the head should lead to more game misconducts and longer suspensions.
This isn't just because Sidney Crosby -- the best player in the world -- is currently sidelined with a concussion that has caused him to miss six games and counting. No, it's because many players show very little regard for one another and if they aren't going to police themselves, then it's high time the league cracks down.
Frankly, I believe Crosby's head injury would fit into the accidental head shot category. If what people suspect, that he was originally injured when he was clipped by Washington's David Steckel, there is no way anybody could convince me the contact was done purposely. In fact, it looked more like Steckel hit Crosby while trying to avoid crashing into him in the outdoor game New Year's Day. Crosby sustained further damage when he was rammed into the boards by Tampa Bay Lighting defenceman Victor Hedman the following game and has not played since.
Regardless, too many players are being lost for long periods of time because of concussions and the time has come for the NHL to introduce stricter rules to discourage hits to the head.
Last season David Booth of the Florida Panthers missed most of the year after he was belted in the head by Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers. Ditto Boston Bruins centre Marc Savard who was cold-cocked by Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke. Savard returned for the playoffs, but was a shadow of his former self and missed the first part of this season with post-concussion syndrome. I am told neither Crosby, nor former teammate Bill Guerin, were impressed by their teammate's cheap shot on Savard.
While Booth appears to be finally finding his game, you could easily make the case neither he nor Savard is close to playing at the level they were at prior to their injuries.
David Perron of the St. Louis Blues was decked by Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks back in November, an infraction that cost the Sharks captain two games with a suspension, but the Blues player has not played since that night. What is scary is the fact Perron actually returned to the ice after being hit by Thornton and scored a goal, yet he has not been able to play since. Sources have told me the Blues believe Perron is done for the season. For a team desperately trying to make the playoffs, that is a real kick in the, uh, shin.
Nobody wants to take the physicality out of the game. Hockey is one of the fastest and toughest sports played on two feet. At the same time it would be foolhardy not to acknowledge the players are bigger, faster and stronger than ever and it is silly to sit by idly ignoring players missing long stretches of action because of head injuries that could easily be avoided.
The Ontario Hockey League, which is governed by hockey visionary David Branch, introduced a rule that made all contact to the head illegal a few years ago and in conversations I have had with the commissioner, he has assured me it has had a positive result. It will frustrate players, coaches, general managers and fans when calls are made on accidental contact to the head, but like most things when there is a major change, there will be a learning curve.
As it is, we have a generation of players who have been so well protected growing up with helmets, visors and full cages, they simply do not have respect for their opponents’ heads. Watch any minor hockey game and you are likely to see players targeting players on the other team's heads with body checks and punches.
The problem is, when you get to the National Hockey League level, the damage that is inflicted is much more severe.
I couldn't care less if Sidney Crosby plays in this year's All-Star Game. What I do care about, however, is something being done about a problem the NHL has that is threatening to become an epidemic. And, as we all know, if the NHL takes a stance on something, other leagues will follow.
It is often said the NHL is too wishy-washy in terms of handling supplemental discipline. Let's make this one black and white: A hit to the head is an automatic penalty. Let's make sure the next generation of players has engrained respect for their opponents' safety.
