With the preseason starting on Tuesday, the NHL released new rules clarifying hits to the head.
Several incidents during the 2009-10 season led the league to implement the rule for the remainder of the year on March 25. Most notably, Bruins forward Marc Savard was blindsided by the Penguins’ Matt Cooke on March 7 and was out until the second round of the playoffs.
The new rule now clarifies the penalties involved with a lateral or blindside hit to the head. A player who violates the rule will now be given a major penalty. If a player breaks the rule twice, it will result in an automatic one-game suspension.
The NHL also released a video to show teams what hits are now considered illegal.
