32 Thoughts: Player safety a hot topic at GMs meetings

• Why Euros have different take on Russia at the World Cup 
• Several teams checked in on availability of Matthew Knies
• Why there is buzz around Erik Karlsson

Eric Tulsky declined comment, but it was Carolina’s general manager who had an exchange with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about head contact during this week's GMs meetings. (Bettman wouldn’t comment, either.)

It happened Tuesday. According to several sources, Bettman raised the topic, saying there is an owner who feels strongly the league needs stronger enforcement on this issue. He asked the GMs if they agree with the current standard/interpretation of Rule 48: Illegal Check to the Head. There was a second or two of silence before Tulsky said he supported the owner's position, leading the commissioner to say something along the lines of, “Well, I guess we know which owner this was.”

Since he arrived in the NHL, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has made no secret: He wants more protection for the head and stricter punishment for violations. A few sources said his ire was re-ignited by a Tyler Pitlick hit on Jalen Chatfield in November. Pitlick was ejected, but not suspended.

Bettman followed up with, “Does anyone else agree?” Again, silence. End of discussion.

Was it contentious? People definitely tiptoe around the commissioner, but this was extremely low on the scale. They’ve seen much, much worse dressing-downs. But several sources said Tulsky had no reason to be embarrassed. He stood up for himself (and his franchise) politely, but firmly. They respected he stuck to his guns.

Maybe it’s fitting it happened this week, considering player safety dominated the conversation. We will see after the playoffs if players truly are motivated to force a deeper conversation about the process. There are NHLPA meetings every spring/summer. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly pointed out Wednesday the discipline process did not come up last season during collective bargaining. Any negotiation always includes, “If we do this, what’s the benefit for us?”

But Connor McDavid is a powerful voice. And, in addition to his dismay at the Auston Matthews injury, there’s zero doubt he’s forgotten he believes his three-game suspension for crosschecking Conor Garland was one too many.

Making sure players don’t pay too heavy a penalty is a longstanding union cornerstone. Before Bettman’s arrival, former NHL president Gil Stein suspended players for practices and not games, something then-NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow fought to stop. He felt teams should pay as much of a penalty as the player.

And, remember: when Brendan Shanahan became Doctor of Discipline in 2011, he came out hot: nine suspensions in 10 days during the pre-season, including eight regular-season games for James Wisniewski, and five each for Jody Shelley and Brendan Smith. Players — and teams — weren’t thrilled. Other than Shanahan suspending Raffi Torres for 25 games during the 2012 playoffs, things were dialled back.

I misspoke last Saturday when I said the NHLPA brought up kneeing-suspension history during Radko Gudas’s hearing. But there is no question both the league and the union are well aware of history and precedent in these cases; the players’ association is much more aggressive with appeals now than it ever was. Senior vice president of the NHL's Department of Player Safety George Parros made a point of saying Gudas’s suspension was the second-longest in recent memory for kneeing. (Matt Cooke’s seven playoff games in 2014 is first.) It still leaves an empty and unfulfilled feeling, but Parros believes he stretched it as far as he thought he could.

This is why anyone who’s done this job, from Brian Burke to Colin Campbell to Shanahan to Stephane Quintal, has burned out. There is no “team” backing you, except your staff, which Parros took pains to support this week. (I’m calling his 8 a.m. Tuesday media conference “Parros’s Revenge.”) Everyone hates your guts.

I didn’t get the sense Parros is at wits' end or ready to leave — unless a job opens he thinks is better. He did the toughest job as a player, too, and backs down from no one.

One of my suggestions over the years is there should be a term limit on this position, maybe five years. (Parros took the reins in 2017.) Fresh eyes, fresh thoughts. But, one of the challenges is, it’s not easy to find people willing to step into this inferno. The list of people who’ve turned it down over the years, apparently, is quite extensive.

The other obvious idea is a three-person panel. One NHL representative, one NHLPA representative, one “third party.” However, it would mean both the league and the players cede a powerful vote to someone (in theory) out of their influence.

League leadership likes control. Union leadership likes control. An unencumbered swing vote? I’ll believe it when I see it. But I’m always open to ideas.

32 THOUGHTS

1. If something from this meeting actually was contentious, I’d pick goaltender interference. A few GMs left unsatisfied with where we are and where we are going. That second goal from Anaheim-Ottawa last Saturday has everyone in knots. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek wasn’t convinced and Tulsky is among those who backed him. One of the league’s concerns is that disallowing goals too often takes us back to the horrible toe-in-the-crease days of 1999. It doesn’t need to be like that; you can go in the crease, but if you come into contact with the goalie, it’s on you. I recognize that the NHL's hockey operations feels a little bit under siege. I can only speak for myself, but I’m confident the opposition to that goal comes from a desire to avoid post-season chaos.

2. When the NHL and NHLPA agreed to their new CBA, one unfinished item of business was allowing one 19-year-old CHL draft pick to go to the AHL, which is not allowed under previous rules. NHL teams have pushed to eliminate restrictions, saying that if they have more than one who is capable, why shouldn’t all of them be able to go? I don’t think teams believe the AHL will be flooded with 50 of them. It’s too good a league and there aren’t anywhere near that many who could do it. But, it was pointed out that, in these days of teams having multiple first-round draft choices, teams should not be forced to choose between more than one who legitimately are ready to play at a higher level. You’re walking yourself into trouble, potentially alienating a prospect. I’m sensitive to the needs of the CHL because it is still a massive pipeline to the NHL. As the developmental landscape continues its seismic shift, a few GMs said we’re headed to it being the choice of the best 17- and 18-year-olds. That’s another reason these teams want more freedom when kids hit 19.

3. In considering Russia’s World Cup of Hockey participation, I’ve been told several times that North Americans don’t always understand or recognize the depth of European passion on this issue. There is at least one agent who brought up Russia’s return at January’s NHLPA meetings, and he was reminded of that. On behalf of our Slovak podcast producer, Dom Sramaty, I asked if there could be a joint Czechia-Slovakia entry, but was told that is premature.

4. We’ll see when it happens, but it sounds like surgery will be part of Auston Matthews’ recovery. There is still plenty of confidence he will start next season on time.

5. Not really interested in further discussion about that night. The horse is dead, and there’s no point in continuing the pummelling. What I did hear is that several other teams — if not every other team — had conversations about how such an incident can affect a dressing room and an organization. Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin joked about how going for beers together can build camaraderie, but another Buffalo player told Kyle Bukauskas, “You don’t have to be a guy’s best friend to be a great teammate.”

6. One more note about Leon Draisaitl: Oilers GM Stan Bowman said there’s no reason to compare his situation to Mattias Ekholm’s from one year ago, that only a long playoff run would be necessary for him to play in the post-season.

7. Nashville’s GM search has been pretty interesting. A lot of zoom calls, conversations and feelers. They’ve reached out to/asked for permission about a lot of people. Gathered information, listened to ideas, and it’s possible they’ve already spoken to some candidates two or three times. Some former managers (Marc Bergevin, I believe, among them), several assistant GMs on their way up (Florida’s Brett Peterson believed among them), maybe an agent or two. Sooner or later, the Predators will cut their list and really dig in. Could happen as soon as next week.

8. Columbus GM Don Waddell reiterated that he will talk about Rick Bowness’s future with the coach after the season. “We’re the only two people who aren’t worried about it,” the Blue Jackets GM said. Some of the players would like clarity, too, but there’s time.

9. I don’t know where it’s going to go with Sergei Bobrovsky in Florida. But there is word that the contract Brad Marchand signed (six years, $5.25 million AAV) was, at one point, used as some kind of a comparable. Marchand signed that at age 37. Bobrovsky is 37. Panthers were not willing to do it. Not sure where it stands now.

10. Mason McTavish was scratched again Wednesday as the Ducks lost 3-2 to Philadelphia in overtime. You can always rewrite your own narrative, and Anaheim has several big games to play yet this season. Jeremy Swayman signed on Oct. 6, 2024, after a lengthy, bitter contract dispute and it played a big part in Boston’s season going sideways. But, with a summer of peace, Swayman showed up ready to go, and has been excellent, a huge part of the Bruins’ resurgence. McTavish signed Sept. 27, 2025, after a lengthy, bitter contract dispute and hasn’t been the same. The good news for the Ducks is they are in the race, allowing McTavish the chance to save this season. But I can’t help but wonder if he’s next year’s Swayman.

11. With the cap going up and the free-agent class shrinking, teams believe term will become even more valuable for trade targets. That’s one of the reasons the Rangers didn’t move Vincent Trocheck. Maybe someone would’t pay the price this month, but how about this summer? That’s their bet.

12. Teams that showed serious interest in Matthew Knies included Anaheim, Chicago, Montreal, New Jersey and Utah. Everyone has denied that the Canadiens went far down the road, but … we’ll see. There were some teams who didn’t believe the Maple Leafs were serious about it, but now recognize the possibility.

13. The Canadiens have done a nice job of shielding their true intentions. There were rumours of a defenceman, of Knies, and even something else they might wish to revisit. They definitely explored moving money. There were discussions about Patrik Laine ending up either in Philadelphia or Toronto, but it obviously didn’t work out.

14. Minnesota was more judicious about dealing Charlie Stramel than we thought. That isn’t to say they didn’t offer to include him in something big, but the Wild were very particular about what they’d consider. It wasn’t an automatic.

15. Same with Carolina and Alexander Nikishin. The return had to be elite for the Hurricanes to consider it.

16. Buffalo’s new regime’s budged a bit with Alex Tuch, but obviously not enough yet that we’ve got a deal. It’s always hardest on the player, but there’s a lot of experience in the negotiations (Jarmo Kekalainen and Josh Flynn on one side, the Bartlett family on the other). No one’s going to panic. Maybe it gets solved before the post-season, but I could see this coming down to playoff performance. If Tuch has a big April, May and/or June, it forces the Sabres’ hand.

17. I think there are a lot of people around the league who are happy to see Buffalo rising. It’s been too long and their fans deserve it. If there’s any question, it is: Can their style work during grind-time? “It’s river hockey,” one opposing player said, “although they are very good at it.” Another challenge: can you make life hard for Rasmus Dahlin, who clearly enjoys making life hard on others? It will be strategy to punish the Dahlin-Mattias Samuelsson pair.

18. Bobby McMann has six points in three Seattle games. It’s early, but the Kraken crave scoring. A few years ago, the NHLPA successfully fought to erase trade compensation based on a player re-signing. This was the kind of trade a few years ago where you could have seen Toronto getting a first-rounder if McMann extended, but that’s no longer an option. You can see this marriage continuing, though. Coach Lane Lambert even smiled in a post-game media conference.

19. It’s the time of year for trophy debate. Norris is going to be nuts. You know who’s not getting enough shine? Erik Karlsson. Don’t think he wins it, but he deserves to be on ballots. He’s played some of his best hockey in years.

20. Karlsson is one of two Norris winners to be traded right after being honoured. He went from San Jose to Pittsburgh in 2023, two months after winning. Doug Harvey moved from Montreal to the Rangers in 1961. The next season, he would be named the NHL’s best blue-liner for the seventh and final time. Quinn Hughes has 44 points in 37 games for Minnesota and could finish third in team scoring. Could he become the first to win it after an in-season transaction? Joe Thornton won the 2006 Hart playing for both Boston and San Jose.

21. At the Olympics, I met an Oilers fan from Fort McMurray who was wearing an Evan Bouchard Team Canada jersey. “They didn’t bring Evan Bouchard to Milan,” he said, “so I did.”

22. Most of the free-agent blue-liner talk is about Darren Raddysh, for very good reason. Excellent timing — 17 goals and 58 points as he needs a new contract. His numbers aren’t as sexy, but I’m very curious to see how the market reacts to another potential free agent, Pittsburgh’s Ryan Shea. Just turned 29, having a strong season, featuring a career-high 28 points and more responsibility than ever. Tampa is very disciplined from a contract perspective. The Penguins played last summer very intelligently. You know one of my sayings: Don’t fool around with happy. But will their best offers be where they are?

23. You have to think that, after he retires, Hockey Canada is going to ask Sidney Crosby if he wants to follow Wayne Gretzky’s footsteps and run the Olympic team.

24. At last June’s Board of Governors meeting in Los Angeles, a firm hired by the NHL to formulate an improved international strategy targeted Germany. It wasn’t about going there once, it was about a sustained series of games in that country. Real opportunity was seen there. We know Ottawa and Chicago are playing there next season, but the NHL and NHLPA committed to three years of games in that country. There was also a “Hockey Day in Germany” last weekend. This is going to be a serious run at boosting hockey in a country with some tremendous young players.

25. Speaking of European audiences, the Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope reported there could be a few more weekday afternoon games in North America, which puts them in primetime overseas. Will it work? Who knows, but I like that the NHL is thinking of trying it. Never be afraid to try stuff. I’d take it a step further, and make sure the rinks are full of screaming kids. Work with the schools to get new, young fans into the buildings.

26. I made the mistake of asking Patrick Roy if Connor Hellebuyck’s gold-medal excellence was the best single-game performance ever. Roy was hugely complimentary, but he hilariously reminded me how much he believes in himself. Oooooooooops.

27. Reading an entertaining book called The Why is Everything, by Michael Silver. When Raheem Morris was hired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, good friend Mike Tomlin told him, “Dude, there’s a tube over your desk, and (bleep’s) just going to fall out of it, and you’ve got to handle it. That’s basically what (the job) is.” The more I thought about it, the more I thought how true it is.

28. One year ago, around 500 people bought tickets to watch B.C.-born Logan Stankoven play in Vancouver. But he was traded to Carolina in the Mikko Rantanen deadline deal days beforehand, a tough reminder that this is a business. This year, the Hurricanes were in Vancouver two days before the deadline. No big get-together this time, but Stankoven got his homecoming without interruption.

29. People of my vintage loved Youngblood, the 1986 hockey movie starring Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and Cynthia Gibb. An absolute classic, Swayze’s third-best movie after Road House (I accept no debate on this) and Point Break. The new version, which opened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, moved into theatres on March 6. A week earlier, I saw director Hubert Davis give a quick talk prior to a private screening for the Seaside Hockey Association at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Looking forward to a full watch.

30. Excellent ceremony on Feb. 27 by the Brantford Bulldogs, honouring Michael Andlauer, who sold the team to the Hyman family in 2025. In addition to the banner, Andlauer was given a custom goalie mask featuring the current logo, the previous logo (when the franchise was in Hamilton) and championship rings from their 2016 and 2022 OHL championships.

31. Very, very sad to hear agent Jay Grossman passed away on Wednesday. He represented Ilya Kovalchuk when Kovalchuk signed that massive contract with New Jersey, and I remember a lengthy, multiple-coffee conversation months where we broke down what happened. One painful lesson: Jay had been battling cancer for some time, but found the strength to go to last year’s draft in Los Angeles. He texted during the first round to me let know he was there. I got caught up in work, and by time I was finished, he’d left the site. We never got a chance to catch-up in-person again. That’s a regret. Always make time. All the best to his family and friends.

32. Tampa at Vancouver, Thursday night. The annual Canucks For Kids Fund telethon, co-hosting with Olivia McDonald. Missed it last year, honoured to be invited back. (I might be wearing one of Dan Murphy’s suits. Mine didn’t get to Vancouver and we are similarly muscular.) Every year, I meet families who benefit. They cannot accurately convey how thankful they are for your help. It’s too hard to find the words, but you should know every cent makes a difference. Please donate to Canucks.com/telethon.