Headshot issue has GMs thinking

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This article was published 09/03/2010 (5717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — As more ugly headshots make news, the NHL’s 30 general managers are still wrestling with how to handle the issue.

The GMs were presented with an avalanche of information about concussions and various types of checks on the opening day of their annual meeting Monday, but they seemed no closer to a recommendation that could lead to fewer hits to the head.

And the pressure is mounting.

After watching Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard carried from the ice on a stretcher and hearing players start to voice concern, many are looking to the GMs to make some kind of recommendation by the time their meetings wrap up Wednesday.

It won’t be easy.

“I hope that we can do something that can help fix part of the problem, but it’s not really as cut and dried as a lot of people think,” said Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford.

The managers have discussed the issue several times in the past, including at these meetings a year ago after former NHL Players’ Association executives Paul Kelly and Glenn Healy raised it.

They’ve yet to find an acceptable way to reduce the head hits while still maintaining the sport’s physical nature.

The GMs will break into smaller groups today to discuss a variety of topics — including head shots — and could come up with a recommendation before going home. Any rule change is subject to the approval of the competition committee and board of governors.

After watching video and hearing from Calgary-based concussion expert Winne Meeuwisse on Monday, the GMs should be armed with enough information.

“We tried to educate them as much as we can on the issues at stake here,” said league disciplinarian Colin Campbell. “I am confident they’ll certainly be informed of everything. This is a real difficult task … that we face here. The hits are great until someone gets hurt.

“There’s such a fine line to determine whether it’s legal or illegal.”

The issue was back in the spotlight Sunday when Savard left the ice on a stretcher after a taking hard blindsided check to the head from Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli attended the game before flying to Florida and was understandably concerned. He believes hits like that one need to be removed from the game.

“Based on what I saw, it looked like this was the prime example of what we’re talking about,” said Chiarelli.

“We may lose the guy for the rest of the year,” he added. “I don’t know.”

Savard travelled back to Boston on Monday and was slated to meet with a concussion specialist. He complained of a headache and felt tired, according to Chiarelli.

— The Canadian Press