BOCA RATON, Fla. — NHL general managers will recommend a rule change on blindside hits to the head, looking to protect players and punish those responsible in a game that has become faster and rougher.
Yet, just prior to the GMs making their announcement, NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell ruled that Penguins forward Matt Cooke will not be suspended for his hit to the head Sunday on Bruins center Marc Savard, who may miss the rest of the season with a Grade 2 concussion.
Bruins management and players, who hoped the league would settle the matter with some kind of suspension since no on-ice justice was carried out immediately after Cooke's hit, felt blindsided themselves by Campbell's decision.
"I'm surprised and angered," Boston GM Peter Chiarelli said in a conference call, according to Comcast Sports New England. "The last few days I've been lobbying the hockey ops staff with respect to the Cooke hit on Savard, and I really felt strongly. The issue here is that they felt there was no infraction. He didn't leave his feet, he didn't charge, he didn't use an elbow. They ruled it was a shoulder hit to the head. It was a very surgical hit to the head."
Campbell told reporters at the GM meetings that he needed to remain consistent in his discipline because he did not suspend Philadelphia center Mike Richards for a similar hit Oct. 24 on Florida forward David Booth. Booth suffered a Grade 3 concussion and missed 45 games.
"I don't know what to say. Of course we thought he would be suspended," Bruins forward Steve Begin told the Boston Herald. "We thought the league would take care of it. They've been talking about shots to the head for a while and now they have a perfect example and they don't do anything about it."
Doctors will continue to evaluate Savard over the next several days before determining how long the star center will be sidelined.
The GMs' unanimous decision yesterday came at the end of three days of meetings in which player head injuries was the predominant issue.
The GMs will recommend to the competition committee that referees call a minor or major penalty for any hit where the primary point of contact is the head. Such a violation would be reviewed for possibly further discipline.
"This is a great next step to take these types of hits out of our game and to deal with the perpetrators appropriately," Florida Panthers general manager Randy Sexton said.
The competition committee will make its review during the NHL finals. The committee is made up of five players, five GMs and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider.
If approved, the proposal would go to the board of governors for ratification. The players already have signaled support and the new rule — yet to be given a specific name — could take effect next season.
The general managers also agreed to send to the competition committee a proposal suggesting a tiebreaking format for the playoffs, favoring regulation and overtime wins and removing shootout wins from the total.
Campbell said it would be too difficult to adopt the rule on hits to the head this season because players and officials need to be educated about it.
"We're we are going is taking a completely legal hit now, with the shoulder, and saying from a certain aspect in the future, next year, that's going to be an illegal hit if delivered to the head," Campbell said. "Part two of that, which is a huge statement in the game, we're shifting some of the responsibility from the player getting hit to the player delivering the hit, which was never part of the game.
"You grew up you always had to have your head up, you'd get crap from your dad if you got hit when you were watching your pass. But now there's some responsibility on the guy delivering the hit."
The general managers contend the players would support the proposal as a step to make the game safer.
"This will never alleviate the problem because whenever you have a contact sport injuries can take place," said Lou Lamoriello, the general manager of the New Jersey Devils. " It's the same thing like quarterbacks in football — they're still going to get hit, but it's when they're getting hit and how they're getting hit and that's exactly what my analogy is with this.
"We're putting in preventative medicine, and in my opinion it will go through and the players won't have a problem with this at all."
The heroic story of Adam Taliaferro
Jason Babin tackles a different job for the day
Jason Babin believes in a Randy Moss comeback
Are there better WR options for the Eagles on the free-agent market?
The Sixers are able to hold off the lowly Bobcats
The Sixers showed maturity in closing out the Bobcats
Collins on not overlooking the Bobcats
Michael Eric's presence is undeniable for Temple
The Sixers are not taking anyone lightly
Spring training is right around the corner
Moving day: Phils' gear en route to Clearwater
Will the Flyers make a move at the trade deadline?
Timonen "disappointed" in teammates' effort
Morganti: 'Rangers' power play demolished the Flyers'
Timonen: 'I think we got half the guys going and half the guys not'
More shootout woes in store for the Flyers when they face the Red Wings?
The Rangers have the Flyers' number
St. Joseph's vs. Massachusetts Highlights - 2/11
Penn vs. Dartmouth Highlights - 2/11
Drexel vs. Hofstra Highlights - 2/11
Globe 10.0: Should the Patriots go all in this offseason?
Red Sox early arrivals in Fort Myers
Curran: Patriots had 'tepid' interest in Moss in '11
Ortiz, Red Sox meet in the middle
Merloni: Red Sox need another arm
Julien: In a 'must good-game' situation
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
