While NHL general managers believe the game is in a very good place, there are still some tiny changes they’d like to see made.
Tuesday, during a meeting between general managers in Florida, George Parros got support from GMs after recommending a language change in the NHL rulebook so the Department of Player Safety would have more leeway in combatting sucker punches. Parros reportedly had Tom Wilson’s one-sided beatdown of Ian Cole in mind when making the proposal.
But that wasn’t the only possible change that gained momentum. Proposals mandating more helmet use by players got broad support.
TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported that general managers are interested in mandating a rule that’s already law in the AHL: if a player loses his helmet, he must leave the playing surface.
One item that gained significant traction in GM Meetings today is if a skater loses his helmet, he must come off the ice immediately. Similar to what AHL and other leagues have already instituted.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 5, 2019
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the league would like to see helmet use during warmups mandatory.
The league also hopes to get to a point where helmets are mandatory in pre game warmup. Which is long overdue. But that would also need to go through proper channels to become a rule. Meaning NHLPA consent.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 5, 2019
There have been a surprising amount of minor and major injuries that have occurred during warmups due to errant or deflected pucks, which could be curbed due to a change.
Patric Hornqvist rings a shot off the crossbar in warmups and it hits him in the head pic.twitter.com/FcHLI0DHQy
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) November 18, 2018
In 2012, Taylor Hall needed 30 stitches to close a cut on his face after being stepped on with a skate blade during warmups.
In February, Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny was hit in the face with a puck while wearing a camo hat to promote Military Appreciation Night.
“It’s like wearing no helmet on a motorcycle,” Brooks Orpik said to Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt in 2017. “You could be the best motorcycle driver in the world and you just need one bad driver to hit you. If you could minimize the risk, I don’t know why you wouldn’t.”
On October 13, 2017, Nicklas Backstrom got hit in the head with a puck during warmups and needed stitches. He has worn helmets ever since.
Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson are the only Caps players who consistently warm up without a helmet as of now.
While helmets being mandatory pregame should reduce injuries, it will not stop them all. Just ask Patrick Kane.
NHL general managers also were receptive of a rule change to allow head coaches to pick on what side of the ice the first faceoff will be in the offensive zone.
#NHL GMs in support of a rule change which would allow coach on power play to pick which side of the ice first face-off is on after a penalty is called. Think WSH trying to set up for Ovechkin in his office.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 5, 2019
Other changes discussed included a proposal to add a countdown clock into all the corner boards in arenas, showing time left in a penalty and time left in a game. This feature was tested in the two outdoor games this season.
