I do not disagree with protecting players, but I think this is another one of those rules that will be instituted and be too subjective to a referee's opinion of the player making the hit and not the actual action. In addition, it will get overworked for the first few months of the season then disappear completely by the playoffs, similar to the Obstruction rule from a few years ago and others. Anyone remember the blue paint rule???
I thought Matt Cooke's hit was borderline in that I don't think he went for his head, it just worked out that Savard looked down as he hit him. That being said it was not fun staring at Savard getting worked on for several minutes and then watching him get carted off wondering if he will be OK. And the idiocy that followed out of Boston for the week following was understood, but just insane, with media members threatening that players should knock out 9 of Crosby's teeth and go after Malkin or Crosby. Then some whack job fan pulled his car in front of the Pens bus trying to fight the team when they went to play there last Thursday. I get your team spirit, but those actions were why parents don't want their kids watching hockey and why the NHL cannot get a National TV agreement.
My thought is the players need to police themselves more. If you see a guy in a vulnerable position ease up instead of taking 6 or 7 strides. That though is going to be hard to do, considering the rough nature of this game. It would be like asking football player basically to tag someone instead of tackle.
Players possibly to change head hit rules soon
Mar 23 2010, 04:46 PM
