NHL puts headshot rule into effect

The NHL on Thursday implemented and immediately put into effect a rule that empowers its hockey operations department to review and possibly suspend any player who delivers a blow judged to be “a lateral, back-pressure or blind-side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact.”

The rule, which will be enforced starting with the 11 games on Thursday’s schedule, was unanimously approved by the league’s Board of Governors on Tuesday. It does not include language about penalties being imposed for such hits, though that’s likely to be discussed this summer and could be added before next season.

The NHL’s hockey operations department now can review such hits for the purpose of imposing supplementary discipline -- a fine or suspension. However, it will not announce which hits are being reviewed.

Focusing on blind-side hits was key, Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said.

“Even though the game has changed and kids come up under different development I think intuitively players know when a player is vulnerable,” he said. “And that’s all they’re saying: Get your hit in but don’t cripple the guy. That was never the intent.”

The NHL Players’ Assn.’s executive board and the NHL/NHLPA competition committee endorsed prohibiting the kinds of blows to the head that have brought the league considerable and unwelcome attention this season. But even while agreeing to make this change with only 2 1/2 weeks left in the season -- and agreeing that players’ welfare is paramount -- the league and the union continued to disagree about the speed, timing and scope of the move.

It’s significant that the NHLPA, in a statement issued via e-mail, called the league’s action a “temporary implementation” of a “proposal” and did not acknowledge it as a rule. A league official said the NHL has adopted a rule that might later be amended or otherwise tweaked, but that this is not a temporary implementation.

NHL general managers had long discussed punishing blows to the head but did not reach a consensus on what’s legal and what’s not until earlier this month. Their recommendation to punish blindside hits followed well-publicized incidents in which Florida’s David Booth suffered a concussion as the result of a hit from Philadelphia’s Mike Richards, and, more recently, Boston’s Marc Savard suffered a concussion after he was hit in the head by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke.

The union had asked for time to allow members to discuss the implications of such a rule, but the league said it would go ahead regardless and gave the union until Thursday morning to decide.

“We believe this is the right thing to do for the game and for the safety of our players,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said in the league’s 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.”

However, the NHLPA said its agreement applies only to the rest of this season and the playoffs.

“This temporary implementation will ensure that the joint NHLPA/NHL Competition Committee will have time to develop and consider a proper and full-time rule, one that includes an on-ice penalty component, this summer,” it said in a statement.

“We are encouraged by the league’s recent willingness to explore on-ice rule changes as a means of reducing player injuries and have no doubt that by working together, a safer working environment can be established for all NHLPA members.”

Bob Murray, general manager of the Ducks, said via e-mail he believes it’s “great” that the NHL is adopting the rule. “It’s never too late to implement a rule that’s for the good of the game,” he said. “We fully support it.”

Lombardi said he’s concerned whether players will know the limits and if on-ice officials will understand the rule and enforce it consistently. The league compiled a video of what’s allowed and what isn’t and distributed it to players. It’s also posted at www.nhl.com.

“I think it’s pretty straightforward the way they’ve done it with the blind-side hits. It shouldn’t be that hard,” Lombardi said. “It has some risks but you’re balancing that against a kid like Booth [who missed 45 games]. It’s probably a fair compromise.”

helene.elliott@latimes.com

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