NHLPA Signs On To New Blindside Head Shots Rule, Effective Immediately

Beginning Thursday night, blindside hits to the head will no longer be allowed in the NHL.

The final shoe fell this afternoon when NHL Players Association agreed to the proposed in-season rule change already ratified by the NHL Board of Governors earlier this week. The rule bans ‘lateral, back-pressure, or blindside’ hits to an opponent ‘where the head is targeted and/or is the principal point of contact.’

Many had wondered whether of not the league would ban these hits immediately or if they would wait til next season. The league fell under criticism by many who said that without banning these types of hits immediately, it essentially gives players permission to commit them. On the other hand, many on-ice officials argued that implementing such a rule change mid-season is essentially hanging the people who have to implement it out to dry.