GMs trying to crack down on head checks
The NHL is holding their general
managers meetings in Florida
this week, and the hot topic item is
concussions and head checks.
The National Hockey League Players' Association wants to implement a new rule that further cracks down on the way the disciplinary committee handles these occurrences. Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, has now proposed a five-step concussion analysis plan which will be put in place by the end of the month. The plan calls for players who think they may have a concussion to see a doctor and go through tests before returning to play in the game.
The GMs and NHLPA are also trying to decrease the size of equipment for player safety reasons.
There is also some pretty good hockey going on at the moment. With playoff races in the East and West heating up, it's an exciting time to be a hockey fan. The Western Conference is so tight that you can begin the night in fourth place and by the end of the night be in 11th, and you don't even have to play a game. In the Eastern Conference, it's coming down to a five-team race for two playoff spots. Currently the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers are holding down seventh and eighth place respectively, but Carolina, Florida and Toronto are knocking on the door, trying to get in.
The Ottawa Senators are one of the hottest teams right now in the NHL. It would appear that GM Bryan Murray's acquisition of Craig Anderson has been the turning point in the season. The Senators, who look like they will miss the playoffs, are playing the role of spoiler and doing a good job.
The bottom feeder in the West the Edmonton Oilers, who just keep on losing games and players. Having already lost Taylor Hall for the season, Sam Gagner is now also gone for the year.
It's time for my three stars of the week. The third star goes to Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry, with five goals and two assists in three games. The second star is Daniel Sedin from the Vancouver Canucks, who had three goals and five assists in three games. The first star of the week is from the Washington Capitals, and that is goaltender Braydon Holtby, who helped lead the Capitals to four straight wins.
Usually I would do the three big games of the week, but at this time of the season every game is important. Look for lots of close overtime and shootout games as we head into crunch time.
The National Hockey League Players' Association wants to implement a new rule that further cracks down on the way the disciplinary committee handles these occurrences. Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, has now proposed a five-step concussion analysis plan which will be put in place by the end of the month. The plan calls for players who think they may have a concussion to see a doctor and go through tests before returning to play in the game.
The GMs and NHLPA are also trying to decrease the size of equipment for player safety reasons.
There is also some pretty good hockey going on at the moment. With playoff races in the East and West heating up, it's an exciting time to be a hockey fan. The Western Conference is so tight that you can begin the night in fourth place and by the end of the night be in 11th, and you don't even have to play a game. In the Eastern Conference, it's coming down to a five-team race for two playoff spots. Currently the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers are holding down seventh and eighth place respectively, but Carolina, Florida and Toronto are knocking on the door, trying to get in.
The Ottawa Senators are one of the hottest teams right now in the NHL. It would appear that GM Bryan Murray's acquisition of Craig Anderson has been the turning point in the season. The Senators, who look like they will miss the playoffs, are playing the role of spoiler and doing a good job.
The bottom feeder in the West the Edmonton Oilers, who just keep on losing games and players. Having already lost Taylor Hall for the season, Sam Gagner is now also gone for the year.
It's time for my three stars of the week. The third star goes to Anaheim Ducks' Corey Perry, with five goals and two assists in three games. The second star is Daniel Sedin from the Vancouver Canucks, who had three goals and five assists in three games. The first star of the week is from the Washington Capitals, and that is goaltender Braydon Holtby, who helped lead the Capitals to four straight wins.
Usually I would do the three big games of the week, but at this time of the season every game is important. Look for lots of close overtime and shootout games as we head into crunch time.
