June 21, 2011, NHL Board of Governors news story for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Board of Governors tweaks Rule 48

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Written by Denis Gorman

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 20:18

The rulebook will be expanded to protect "defenseless" players from hits to the head – from anywhere, not just a player's blind side. The NHL took “a step forward” in eliminating head shots from the game Tuesday during its Board of Governors meeting in New York. Among the principal topics addressed Tuesday were the modification of language and creation of penalties for Rules 41 and 48, the vote to authorize the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers and relocation of the franchise to Winnipeg, and an expected raise of the salary cap. The adaption of Rule 41 now calls for a boarding penalty on any player who “checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously.” Referees will have the option to consider whether the checked player “put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the check, or whether the check was unavoidable.” Rule 48 was established toward the end of the 2009-10 season, and was first employed during that spring’s playoffs, following a number of devastating hits to defenseless players. The initial wording of Rule 48 stated that “a lateral or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principle point of contact is not permitted.” The rule now states that “A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was unavoidable, can be considered.” Moreover, there is now a two-minute minor that can be assessed for those hits. The league’s disciplinary measures for players who commit head shots have been publicly condemned. Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty expressed disappointment in the NHL’s liquid guidelines regarding head shots in a recent conference call with Montreal reporters. Pacioretty was limited to 37 games following a violent check by Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara in a 4-1 win at the Bell Centre in March. Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and a fractured vertebrae on the play and missed the remainder of the season. Shanahan was adamant that the Chara and Aaron Rome hits were not examples of Rule 48, and as such were not considered with the language changes and the establishment of the two-minute minor. “I wouldn’t say those two hits fell under Rule 48. This is really something that we’ve been looking at,” Shanahan said. “We took a step to put in Rule 48 this year. As the season was going along we felt the players were responding well to it, and that the game could handle another step forward. With the union, we’re going to take that step.” The governors expressed their agreement with the changes. “I think it’s the right thing to do,” Leafs GM Brian Burke said. “We’re stuck with the instigator rule [46.11]. We take the instigator rule out and we’re back to three-hour games. Nobody wants that. I don’t think it’s a realistic option toward addressing it. There’s no question that if players could self-police, there might be fewer of these incidents but I’m not sure that’s a sensible way to get there.” Also: • The sale of the Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment and the franchise’s move to Winnipeg was unanimously passed. • It’s believed that the cap ceiling will be $64 million and $48 million will be the floor. •NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was seconded by Colin Campbell and Brendan Shanahan. The 30 franchises were represented by owners and executives.

Last Updated on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 20:49

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