The new rule went into effect Thursday night.
"We believe this is the right thing to do for the game and for the safety of our players," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "The elimination of these types of hits should significantly reduce the number of injuries, including concussions, without adversely affecting the level of physicality in the game."
In an interview with Leafs Lunch on AM 640 in Toronto, Bettman referenced the Matt Cooke hit on Marc Savard that left the Bruins' star center with a Grade 2 concussion and out for the season. Cooke, of course, was not penalized or disciplined. Bettman expressed anguish and remorse over the fact Cooke wasn't punished.
"I was very unhappy and upset with that hit," Bettman told hosts Bill Watters and Darren Dreger. "I was more upset there was nothing [in the league's rules] to do to punish it."
Well, now that hit can be punished, it appears that the players are adjusting and taking the new rule seriously. On Thursday morning, every NHL team had to watch a DVD of what is and isn't a legal hit now, and at least in the case of Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart, one of the fiercest hitters on the Bruins, the message got through.
Late in the Bruins' 5-3 loss to the Lightning on Thursday night, Stuart had a chance to level Lightning forward Mark Parrish with an open-ice hit but instead pulled up at the last second. As a result, he ended up getting his legs tangled up with those of Parrish. Stuart was called for tripping on the play, but he admitted after the game that he let up because he knew that he could have seriously injured Parrish and subsequently been suspended.
"Well, I actually let up," Stuart explained. "I tried to get out of the way of him. I was a little scared watching that [head shot] video this morning. I don't know, but I could have finished my check, but I tried to get out of the way and the skate just caught him, so [the referee has] got to call that. But [Parrish] was just in front of me. I was trying to get out the way and tried not to take him out."
Stuart later confirmed that the video did indeed include the Cooke's hit on Savard, and while that's little solace to the Bruins and the concussed Savard, both Bruins and Lightning players said they believe the rule change is a giant step in the right direction.
"I mean, we all saw what happened to Savard, and while we're glad we don't have to deal with him because he's so talented, no one wants to see that happen and I wouldn't wish that on anyone," Lightning sniper Steve Stamkos said prior to scoring two goals against the Bruins. "This has become a problem for many reasons. The game is faster, the equipment is bigger and more dangerous, and I think honestly, there's a culture created with my generation and kids coming in from college or juniors that we're invincible because of the protection we have.
"But ironically, I think it's that protection that's hurting us," Stamkos added. "No one can survive those elbow pads hitting their heads at 30 miles per hour in an open-ice hit. This is a step in the right direction, and I think it will help."
Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has been an advocate against head shots since he suffered a Grade 3 concussion on Oct. 27, 2007, and missed the rest of that season. Bergeron recently visited Norwood High School hockey player Matt Brown, who was paralyzed from the neck down after a hit from behind. The Bruins' classy center is happy the rule was implemented before a similar injury occurred in the NHL.
"For sure, I mean that's where we were headed, and I've been saying that for a while now," Bergeron said. "I'm happy this is happening, but it should've just been common sense for players, and they should know not to do that anyway. But this is at least a good step, and hopefully, we can correct this."
