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Pittsburgh, PA • United States • 48 Years Old • Male

Blindsided

Posted 9:59 AM ET | Comments 7
I have been saying to anyone that will listen (not many)...for some time now...that it's not hits to the head that are the problem in the NHL, it's the blindside hits that create the most potential for injury.

I'll get to that more in a second...

When it comes to hits to the head, the NHL is in a very difficult spot in terms of making rules that apply specifically to that case.

Why?

Because as long as you allow 2 players to drop their gloves and pummel eachother in the face with punches, any rules you make about hits to the head are going to carry a certain irony with them.

"Listen, it's illegal for you to make contact with a guys head during a check...but feel free to throw off your gloves and bash his face in with your fist...you'll just sit in the box for 5 minutes."

Granted, I am over simplifying this to a pretty good extreme, but I think you get my drift. The NHL does not want to eliminate fighting in the sport, so whatever rules they make about hits to the head have to be very well thought out.


Back to my main point...blindside hits.

The Matt Cooke hit resulted in contact being made with Marc Savard's head. Savard is injured and the uproar insues.

What if Cooke had caught Savard's shoulder or arm instead?

Obviously, the likelyhood of a concussion is less, but it's still present because there would almost certainly have been some type of whiplash affect.

My argument here is that the hit the the head is actually a secondary concern in this case. The fact that Cooke hit an essentially defenseless player who had just taken a shot, is really what the issue is to me.

It's a tougher situation to make a rule for, but not impossible.

The problem arises in the definition of "defenseless".

I think in the grand scheme of things, players know when another player is defenseless...and most of the time it is when the hitter is approaching from the side or from behind.

In Matt Cooke's case, it's pretty clear that he knew Savard "never saw it coming".

I think these situations, with the proper instruction from the league about what is allowed and what is not, can be managed and penalized by the rules (assuming new ones are written).

If the NFL, where the main objective IS to knock guys down on every play, can create rules to protect the quarterback after he throws, and protect unsuspecting players that suddenly become free targets (the Hines Ward Rule) then surely the NHL can construct similar rules with applicable penalties.

Despite what some believe...that it's too tough to enforce or that it will take hitting out of the game...I think it's possible and has become necessary.

If NHL players can learn not to hook and hold (because the league took the time to clearly define what was legal and what was not), something that used to take place during every shift, then surely they can learn to pull up and not make a blindside hit. Most players already do this anyway.

It's time for the NHL and NHLPA to get on the same page with this one...

Define the situations.

Make the rules.

Punish those who break them.
Filed Under:   rules   nhl   blindside   headshot   savard   cooke   nhlpa   suspension  
March 10, 2010 10:45 AM ET | Delete
yes Ice as we continue to talk about it there is more clarity to the topic. I knew "blindside" is the key and also with what I wrote "Intent". The Versus People talked about "blindside" last night. As much as I can't stant Eddie O...he made sense for once...
March 10, 2010 1:27 PM ET | Delete
Ha...I have Direct TV...is it Ok to say that I actually MISS Versus and Eddie O?
March 10, 2010 1:28 PM ET | Delete
now that's funny...I just can't stand seeing the same annoucers all the time. It's like politcians...they do nothing for me...bring in new blood...LOL
March 11, 2010 7:43 AM ET | Delete
The World Juniors and the Olympics were played under IIHF rules that have a possible 10-minute misconduct penalty for ANY head contact. There were still plenty of good hits in both tournaments, and there weren't any concussions reported.
March 11, 2010 9:08 AM ET | Delete
It looks like hits to the head and blindside hits will be addressed before next season with rule changes...
March 11, 2010 1:33 PM ET | Delete
It's up to the competition committee now. So, how badly do these players want to be taken care of?
March 12, 2010 9:57 PM ET | Delete
Great blog - especially for a Pens fan! Haha just kidding. I agree 100%. As someone that played sports through the NCAA Division 1 level, you know when you have the person defenseless. The other point is that should be addressed is a really simple change. Either put face shields like the NCAA or remove the armor from the players shoulder pads and upper arms. Keep up the great blogs!
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