Hard hits have always been part of The NHL. Going back to the days before Maurice Richard, through Gordie “elbows” Howe, The Broad Street Bullies, Dale Hunter and beyond, it has always excited fans. The difference between the afore-mentioned players and the players today is respect. The player of the past never played just to hurt people. They did not play to intimidate. They hit to gain position or to prevent a goal. For years players went without helmets and there was a lack of head injuries. Yet today, these types of injury are coming up in record numbers. How many times in the last year have we seen players stretchered off the ice or concussed severely? Too many is the answer. Why is this?
I have come to my own conclusions on this. First lack of respect amongst players, guys like Chris Neil and Sean Avery have made no bones about their intent to go out and injure players if given the chance. These so called antagonists are a second generation of NHL players such as Matt Barnaby and Darius Kasparitis. Their main goal is to rattle the other team by any means necessary, if that means injuring a star player or even a third liner, they will take that chance. This is what should be outlawed people want to talk about the instigator rule. I don’t think there is a better way to instigate a fight then to take out the opposition’s player. Open ice checks are fine elbows down, feet planted and delivery that shoulder into someone’s body. When a player changes his natural direction to hit a vulnerable player, which is when I see intent, which should result in a match penalty right away. These repeat offenders need to have the smack laid down upon them. No more 2 minute minor, no more 1 game suspension if you injure a player as a result of an illegal play then you should automatically get ten games.
This leads me to officiating, I know to error is human and the Refs can’t see everything. It’s time to let us use technology to our advantage, anytime a player is injured during that time the player is being attended to go up to the replay both to determine how said player got hurt. If it was done in an illegal manner, call it. You can tell by the replay if it is a charge. “Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A “Charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice.” (Directly from the NHL rulebook for those who don’t know). I am not saying that every hook or trip should be reviewed. If it is a serious injury us the idol time to review it.
Finally my biggest concern might be equipment. In looking at today’s equipment we see hard solid plastic shells that on the wrong players are used as weapons. It seems in recent years the NHL has become more concerned with protecting players’ elbows and shoulders. When that hard plastic shell comes in contact with a temple it’s an instant concussion. With all the synthetic material out there, does the NHL want me to believe that there is nothing else out there to soften these blows? I also look at helmets. I think that it’s time to make shields a requirement. It offers a bit more of protection from errant elbows or sticks that might be coming at you. The NHL might want to look at giving a 2 minute penalty if someone’s helmet is lose or not buckled properly. This will make a player/coach look out not only for their own safety but the safety of their teammate.
I know that hits to the head cannot be completely outlawed. When a guy like Zdeno Chara hits Derek Roy it will always be to the head. The difference in size will make sure of that. With the changes I suggest, instilling respect amongst players, using technology to impose stiffer penalties and changing the equipment to lessen the impact. We can still have the hard hits we grown to love along with a decrease in serious head trauma.
