NHL general managers have developed the framework for a new rule that punishes hits to the head.
The action comes as the league's 30 GMs wrap up three days of meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. The new rule would allow referees to assess a minor or major penalty for blindside hits targeting the head.
The penalty must be approved by the competition committee and has not yet been given a specific name.
The GMs agreed unanimously on the new penalty in light of several recent instances of players injured on checks to the head.