GM's recommendation on hitting

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN :

The National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association are continuing to negotiate on the details surrounding an implementation of a rule to prohibit blind-side hits to the head. It was thought at one point that an agreement and implementation might have taken place in time for Wednesday's games, but that is no longer the case.

There will be no decision on Wednesday night. The players have asked the NHL for time to get approval from their Executive Board. The league has given the NHLPA until Thursday to get that approval.

The NHLPA released a statement early Wednesday evening, saying; "We have deliberated and endorsed to the NHLPA Executive Board the League's proposal to implement supplemental discipline this season for blindside hits to the head. Our Executive Board will vote on this recommendation and we will respond back to the League with a decision in the next 24-48 hours."

...

[Finnish Wing 110]

I hope you're wrong...If that's the case - why not eliminate checking from the game altogether?

So you support head shots? Heat shots are violent, it kinda hurts. Yet you support removing the instigator, which would lead using violence as a punishment. It don't remember who said something about "rather sitting in the press box for suspension than getting punched in a face by Boogaard". If violence should be used as the punishment, how come headshots - which are obviously painful violence - should be allowed then?

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Next, after the League cleans this mess up: no-touch icing.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Next, after the League cleans this mess up: no-touch icing.

I'm definitely supporting that one.

[henrik40 76]

I don't know if this was mentioned earlier but the NHLPA agreed to the new rule and it goes into effect tonight.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=315422

Edited March 25, 2010 by henrik40

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Most guys that get their bells rung by getting hit "head on" are usually guilty of not keeping their heads up...Look at 90% of Scott Stevens hits; most were clean/legal - just caught his opponent with their heads down.

Now on the other hand of a player jumps into an opponent, or raises his elbow to make a connection to the face/neck/head - then yes it needs to be dealt with.

You really need to spend some time watching old game footage from the 70's/80's; hockey in those days is nothing like your vivid imagination is conjuring up.

Then maybe the size of the players and the PADDING is a problem...

Seriously what use is the plastic on the shoulder pads other than making a body check hurt a bit less?

[Finnish Wing 110]

Most guys that get their bells rung by getting hit "head on" are usually guilty of not keeping their heads up...Look at 90% of Scott Stevens hits; most were clean/legal - just caught his opponent with their heads down.

Now on the other hand of a player jumps into an opponent, or raises his elbow to make a connection to the face/neck/head - then yes it needs to be dealt with.

You really need to spend some time watching old game footage from the 70's/80's; hockey in those days is nothing like your vivid imagination is conjuring up.

I was just thinking. Maybe slavery would still work as well. It worked in the ancient Greek. Worked quite well to be honest.

[Guest micah]

Then maybe the size of the players and the PADDING is a problem...

Seriously what use is the plastic on the shoulder pads other than making a body check hurt a bit less?

Agreed. Plastic belongs on helmets, skates, chest plates and other areas that are not typically led with in a hit. Elbows (even though players aren't *supposed* to lead with them) and shoulders should be soft padding, if the player elects to pad them at all. While I want to get grievous injuries out of the game, I am not interested in moves to make the game hurt less. Getting hit should hurt. Throwing a hit should hurt. Nothing wrong with that.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

On this page alone, I count three different changes to the game that have been advocated by Mr. Donald S. Cherry for a long time. To quote Alexi Sayle: "It's a funny old world, innit?"