Suspensions targeting all blows to the head The physical nature of the NHL is changing.
Head injuries are always a risk in a sport in which strong, young men crash into each other at fearsome speeds. But last season so many players were knocked off the ice for long stretches with concussions that the NHL felt compelled to address the issue in a new way.
Former star Brendan Shanahan assumed a new position as the league’s vice president of player safety. From his office in Toronto, part of Shanahan’s job is to review video clips of controversial hits and determine whether a punishment is warranted. He has not been shy about wielding that new power.
Nine NHL players were issued suspensions during the preseason. Eight of those players will miss a combined 26 regular-season games for their actions. Also, eight of those nine suspensions were for hits to the head, which the league appears determined to limit. In all, Shanahan issued $684,115.01 worth of fines to show players he is serious. He even has begun the unprecedented step of issuing video explanations on NHL.com with clips demonstrating exactly what a player did wrong.
Not everyone agrees with the aggressive punishments.
“If this is the way they’re going to call it, it is going to turn into touch football,” said Mike Milbury, NBC/Versus analyst and former NHL player, coach and general manager.
Concussions were already a hot topic after Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby took a blow to the head after colliding with Capitals forward David Steckel during the NHL’s annual Winter Classic on Jan.?2. He missed the rest of the season and suffered from recurrent symptoms all summer. Crosby is back skating with the Penguins now but has yet to be cleared to return to the ice.
“Any shots to the head we’ve been warned,” said Caps defenseman Mike Green, who took a shoulder to the jaw Feb. 25 from New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan and suffered a concussion that knocked him out for the rest of the regular season. “Doesn’t matter the severity of it. It’ll be taken care of.”
