NHL GM’s Approve New Head Shot Rule

30 general managers, 30 yes votes.

That was the result today as the league’s GM’s voted on a new proposal that would make some head shots punishable by an in-game minor or major penalty, which could be followed up by supplemental discipline at the league’s discretion.

NHL.com reported the exact text of the proposal put forth at the annual general manager’s meetings in Boca Raton, Florida on Wednesday.

“A lateral, back pressure or blind-side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or is the principal point of contact is not permitted. A violation of the above will result in a minor or major penalty and shall be reviewed for possible supplemental discipline.”

It’s not rule yet. After a proposal is made by the GM’s, it is presented to the competition committee, a panel of players who vote on these proposals and are free to make recommendations to the proposed rules. Following that step, the proposal is sent to the league’s Board of Governors for a vote. That group, in which Commissioner Gary Bettman serves as a moderator and only votes in the case of a tiebreaker, has the final say.

This rule does not eliminate all head shots from the game, however. Matt Cooke was not suspended for his hit on Marc Savard over the weekend because, by current rule, the hit was legal. This proposition changes that.

Still, while many believe that this proposed rule is a good first step, it doesn’t necessarily eliminate head shots from the sport. It means that head shots from the front are still legal, and a rule that would have made these types of hits illegal as well would not have received unanimous support from the general managers.

The debate is far from over, as traditionalists will argue that hits to the head from the front are a part of the game and that they are ‘hockey plays’ designed to separate a player from the puck. Others will argue that any type of hit to the head is a blemish on the sport and should be removed from the game completely