National Hockey new rules : Blindside hits to the head will now be illegal in NHL
The National Hockey League Board of Governors met on Thursday to discuss the implementation of new rules and policies in the League.
The Board’s main action was finally passing a rule regarding the much debated topic of hits to the head. The Board approved the adoption of a new penalty for lateral, blindside hits to the head which will be known as "illegal check to the head.” The penalty will be a five-minute major, as well as an automatic game misconduct. In the NHL, any player to amass three game misconducts results will receive a one game suspension. Additionally, illegal check to the head penalties will be subject to further review for supplemental disciplinary purposes.
This was the first meeting for the NHL Board of Governors since last December and was deemed necessary after the rule was initially proposed during the General Managers’ Meeting held in Florida during the spring. The official adoption of the rule went seamlessly, and all members of the Board unanimously voted in favour of the measure.
Representatives of teams all voiced their support for the newly adopted penalty. "I think we are really pleased with where it is," Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson told NHL.com. "But I also think it is something really fluid and we will have to continue to work at it if we see the need."
Legendary physical player Cam Neely, who was recently appointed as the president of the Boston Bruins, also voiced his support on the matter. I think it was important for the League to try to address this as quick as possible," Neely, who was referred to as ‘Bam Bam Cam’ in his playing days, told NHL.com. "The GMs got on board, the Competition Committee got on board. Obviously, for the health of the players, it is good to get a rule like this in place and try to get it out of the game and get to a situation where you are going to have fewer concussions because of it."
The adoption of head-check penalty was the focal point of the meeting, but the Board addressed several other NHL policy issues.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman presented to the Governors an economic overview of NHL operations. Bettman also discussed the League’s budget options and the newly announced salary-cap figures that should play a major role in this off-season’s free agency market.
In accordance with the League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NHL announced on Thursday new figures for the Team Payroll Range that are to followed for the 2010-11 season. This range is from $43.4 to $59.4 million, with an adjusted midpoint of $51.4 million.
Bettman also tried to discuss the NHL’s possible technological progress with the adoption of 3-D game broadcasts. The presentation included 3-D filmed footage from 2010 Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers. Although at this point, 3-D broadcasting is merely a future consideration, Bettman seems intrigued by the possibility. He said: "It needs some work and we have to figure out how the economics work, but we do think it has exciting possibilities for game on television”
The Board of Governors also voted to expand the NHL’s possible recruiting and international popularity by approving transfer agreements with the strong hockey federations of Germany, Slovakia and Denmark. Slovakia has produced extremely talented players, including Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa, and such an agreement will allow NHL teams to even better develop the raw talent present in the Slovakian leagues.
Lastly, the NHL dealt with business that would benefit entities other than the League. The Board agreed to join Rock and Wrap it Up, a non-profit program that recovers leftover food from arena concessions and uses it to feed the hungry. The initiative is both environmentally-friendly and charitable.
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