HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 Per @TSNBob McKenzie, the commissioner has outlined a 5 step plan for head injuries: 1. Brendan Shanahan working with NHLPA to expedite equipment modifications.2. Revised concussion protocol. If player is suspected to have had one, must be removed from the bench for assessement in quiet area. 3. Fines and/or suspensions for clubs and coaches of players/teams that rack up high number of suspensions. No details yet. 4. Safety engineers to make sure all NHL arenas conform to safe standards and to come up with ideas to "soften" environment. 5. Special committee of Shanahan, R Blake, Yzerman, Niuewendyk to continue investigating this issue. GMs weigh in tomorrow with their thoughts/recommendations. LGW, your thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WizardOfOz30 1,886 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I like #4 because anything to improve the players safety is good. They are out there playing at a fast pace and while they are most likely aware of some of those danger spots, sometimes it's impossible to prevent a run in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holliday 1,888 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) I half expected his plan to be: 1. Become commissioner. 2. ? 3. ? 4. ? 5. Profit! Edited March 14, 2011 by Doc Holliday 9 crotty99, Jasper84, zata40 and 6 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydangles 1,328 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 i like #1,#4 a lot. i don't know about #3 though, id have to see the details, but its not the club's fault if one of their players headshots someone. The equipment is one of those things that seems to be a big contributor to this issue. I'm glad its finally being addressed. 1 JoeBuddy reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I half expected his plan to be: 1. Become commissioner. 2. ? 3. ? 4. ? 5. Profit! More so his resume, but I see what you did here. 1 T-Ruff reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shady Ultima 40 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I was expecting 1. Become Commissioner 2. Move all teams out of Canada 3. Watch as they fail miserably in a desert 4. Argue that they are making more money 5. Claim that the fans don't know hockey like he does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydangles 1,328 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I was expecting 1. Become Commissioner 2. Move all teams out of Canada 3. Watch as they fail miserably in a desert 4. Argue that they are making more money 5. Claim that the fans don't know hockey like he does. you forgot a special committee of shanahan, yzerman, etc. that will be in charge of shutting their mouths and agreeing with everything he says. 3 sleepwalker, wings1110 and Gordie Howe hat trick reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 Something I agree with... I feel dirty for agreeing with anything Bettman is instituting... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 The "softer" boards are an absolute necessity. The others are a bit of "look, we're doing stuff" that won't accomplish much. Honestly, increased punishment and consistency for such hits is necessary. Smaller shoulder pads could go a long way toward helping as well. Also, allowing the players more leeway to fight could help, and I'm no enforcer junkie. 2 wings1110 and Gordie Howe hat trick reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 Maybe he feels guilt after the news of "Five More Years" surfaced; trying to show that he's earning his salary and all that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I'm glad to see they're addressing the issue. Its a shame it took up until Crosby's concussion for the league to make a move, though. 2 sleepwalker and wings1110 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeBuddy 10 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 i like #1,#4 a lot. i don't know about #3 though, id have to see the details, but its not the club's fault if one of their players headshots someone. The equipment is one of those things that seems to be a big contributor to this issue. I'm glad its finally being addressed. I actually really like #3. I was watching the NHL network as they announced this 5 step plan. They made a great point about why teams and coaches should hold some accountability to these injuries. There are many players who are on the borderline of playing in the NHL and not playing at all. A lot of these players who give hard hits are the 3rd and 4th liners. Coaches are constantly telling their players that they need to, "finish your check.. hit hard... wear the other team down." For some of these players, the only way that they can maintain to keep their job is to appease their coach. There are also a lot of coaches that will send their goons, fighters, enforcers, etc to send some retaliation for a previous fight or injury that occurred. There needs to be shared blame to all parties for these injuries. It isn't just players who are intentionally aiming to injure. Coaches are putting tons of pressure on their players to almost do anything in order to win. My point is that the players, teams, coaches, and the league are all to blame for the concussions. Aside from Brenden Shanahan working with the equipment and arena's to make the game safer, this is my next favorite point of this plan. I hate to admit it, but I agree with Bettman 1 Nev reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I was hopeful this was a plan to rid ourselves of Bettman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings1110 184 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 whatever he says.................. dont do it. personally i think this hysteria is stupid, just make the game how it was pre lockout. quit changing my game, injuries happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ogreslayer 1,069 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I half expected his plan to be: 1. Become commissioner. 2. ? 3. ? 4. ? 5. Profit! You forgot one step... 1. Become commissioner. 2. ? 3. Steal underpants 4. ? 5. Profit! You know, Bettman is just about the right height to be an underpants gnome. As for the actual #3 on fines/suspensions, who exactly is going to be in charge of that, Colin Campbell & Hockey Operations? Ah I can smell the controversy already. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaman 713 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 You forgot one step... 1. Become commissioner. 2. ? 3. Steal Crosby's underpants 4. ? 5. Profit! You know, Bettman is just about the right height to be an underpants gnome. As for the actual #3 on fines/suspensions, who exactly is going to be in charge of that, Colin Campbell & Hockey Operations? Ah I can smell the controversy already. fixed it for you But in seriousness, why not make the boards out of nerf and the glass out of saran wrap? That'll soften things up a lot. I think that this is just a way to do nothing in the guise of actually have done something. I won't hold my breath that any real improvements will be made until after I see what they decide and what the results are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smite 399 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 You forgot one step... 1. Become commissioner. 2. ? 3. Steal underpants 4. ? 5. Profit! You know, Bettman is just about the right height to be an underpants gnome. As for the actual #3 on fines/suspensions, who exactly is going to be in charge of that, Colin Campbell & Hockey Operations? Ah I can smell the controversy already. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 Surprisingly good. Nice to see him publicly commit to searching for a solution to these issues. #1 and #5 are exciting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooon 1,089 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 I always thought one of the important steps was first admitting that you have a problem and then apologizing to all of the people you have harmed over the years. Or wait... is that a different set of steps? 2 thegerkin and Electrophile reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 Player, who's doing the hitting, should be more responsible and more respectful to the other player. Gordie Howe had a good comment on that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 1. Bettman Retires 2. Don Cherry becomes commissioner 3. All euros banned from NHL 4. Instigator rule removed 5. Joke teams/markets go back to Hartford,Quebec, Winnipeg, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 1. Bettman Retires 2. Don Cherry becomes commissioner 3. All euros banned from NHL 4. Instigator rule removed 5. Joke teams/markets go back to Hartford,Quebec, Winnipeg, etc. 6. Detroit Red Wings Fold. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 6. Detroit Red Wings Fold. I actually lol'd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings1110 184 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) how about players keep their head up? in all seriousness if they start punishing north south hits to the head i will no longer watch the nhl. the only one to blame for a north south hit to the head is the player with the puck. Edited March 14, 2011 by wings1110 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hatcher#2 13 Report post Posted March 14, 2011 Removing the instigator rule should be number 1 on that list. 3 sleepwalker, wings1110 and Electrophile reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
