Canes Now - NHL issues 'reminder' on hits to head

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NHL issues 'reminder' on hits to head

Submitted by chipalexander on 11/17/2008 - 16:04

Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said a memo issued late last week by the NHL about hits to the head was a "reminder" to the players that the league intends to take a sterner stance on such hits.

"This will continue to bring awareness to it," Rutherford said today. "Our hope is it will be addressed at the March GMs meeting and we can see where we go for the following season."

The Canes have had several players miss substantial time in the past two seasons after hits to the head -- Matt Cullen, Trevor Letowski, David Tanabe and Brandon Sutter. Rutherford was outspoken about the issue in late October after Sutter suffered a concussion on a blow to the head from the New York Islanders' Doug Weight -- an incident that garnered much media attention in the U.S. and Canada.

The memo from Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior vice president and director of hockey operations, noted the league has been trying "for a number of years" to eliminate elbow blows to the head and other hits to the head that were deliberate and avoidable. It said providing the "safest on-ice environment" was a top priority.

The memo said suspensions were be harsher and longer for hits to the head if such incidents continued.

"The league has sent out memos before and we've had discussions about protecting players," Rutherford said. "This is a reminder.

"We're in the middle of the season and changes can't be made until next season. But people have been calling me saying they want to pursue it at our next meeting."

Comments

Gagne

Tue, 11/18/2008 - 15:28 — jgrant641

I agree with what Gagne is getting at but I don't think thats the public approach that should be taken. The league has to put its foot down. You can't rely on the players to police themselves, no other league does.

and by "putting their foot down" i am referring to way more than a memo.

Johnnyg

http://www.studyofsports.com/?cat=200

Good on Rutherford

Tue, 11/18/2008 - 14:04 — Hockeydog

I am glad he's pursuing this issue. Bettman and company don't care. Do they think the TV ratings will decrease if people can't tune in and see someone knocked unconscious?
It is a simple concept, lead with shoulder. Not hard to enforce either, if they wanted to.

Memo Contents & Equipment

Tue, 11/18/2008 - 10:38 — JRs_Fault

In case you're interested in the actual memo:
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=256270&lid=sublink010&lpos=headlines_main

I agree with Gagne... it's up to the players to make a change, and the reality is, that they will need buy-in from the coaches as well. And the NHLPA's relative silence on the issue has been nothing short of irresponsible to it's membership.

One other key item that doesn't seem to get enough print is the impact (pun intended) of equipment over the years. Elbow & shoulder pads have moved from being 'pads' to 'shells' (compare what Chelios still wears on his shoulders from the early 80's to what is used today). While this is not a single solution, softening up the materials used for the shoulder & elbow pads would certainly reduce the frequency & severity of the injuries we're seeing.

Who is in charge ?

Tue, 11/18/2008 - 08:29 — esteban1949

of the union anyway ? is the union office in the same building as the NHL offices are in ? if they got paid based on preformace...would the ' lockout ' ever have happened ? They ( the union) still hasn't done anything significant for the older retirees...you remember them...the one one who gave the newer generation of players ( in the last 10-15 years) a better shot at playing...but we fans don't know much do we ?

Memo ?

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 21:20 — esteban1949

It seems someone was just suspended for a few games last week for " elbowing"...5 games i think it was...but and until the Players union loses money...they really can't say too much...or they can hurt the cause of the players...but seeing alot of the older long time players still get the raw end of High-stick...there isn't any real reason for the union to jump up and really say something to the press or on ESPN...Or the unions 35 lawyers told them to sit down and shut up as well...sigh...at least we are getting some news...

Thanks Chip ...

Memo?

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 22:29 — louis12580

The players union can't lose money. Each player pays dues to the union, regardless. The money that a player is fined goes to the league. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The union seems to not care about it's rank and file members, only the big money players. Until more players speak out and demand that the union do something, nothing will be done. Time for everyone involved, ownership, the players, and the fans to demand more accountability from league officials and the heads of the union.

Fines Desination

Tue, 11/18/2008 - 10:25 — JRs_Fault

Fines and lost salary due to suspension don't go to the league, they go to the player assistance fund which assists ex-NHL players in need.

hits to the head

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 18:05 — louis12580

Way to react. Issue a warning. Strong leadership once again from the league. I saw where Simon Gagne has come out and addressed the situation. That's a start from the players. Of course I'm sure he will revise his statement when the union tells him to shut up and be quiet. The union seems bent on not addressing the situation. They don't care about the rank and file player. Never have and never will. They will have a call to arms when a Sidney Crosby is given a forearm or elbow to the head. Both the league and the players association need to sit down and sit down now before there's another incident like the Bertuzzi one. What does it take to pick up the phone and make the call? A player ending up in a wheel chair or worse? Time to put the foot down and hard.

Oooooo

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 17:07 — V

Issue a memo. That'll fix everything. :|

Way to do nothing, again, NHL.

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