Head Shots in the NHL
I have a solution to minimize the amount of concussions in the NHL resulting from players heads getting hit, either by elbows or shoulders. Currently, shots to the head with shoulders are legal, with elbows are not. I know why this used to be the case--elbows used to cause more damage--but we are now coming to a day where both parts of the body and the equipment that covers them both cause loads of damage.
Here's a recent video of Weight, not a dirty player, hitting Sutter causing a concussion. You'll hear the announcers say it was a clean hit and that Weight had no intention of hurting him. Both are right. I don't think Weight meant to hurt Sutter. His hit is within the rules. What Weight did mean to do was level Sutter. Sometimes in hockey you can get leveled and you hardly feel it. Sometimes you can get leveled and wonder what your name is. When you are lining up a player, though, there is always that chance that you'll hit his head and knock him unconscious. My solution is to make each case when a player gets a concussion open to punishment, even if the hit is within the rules. Weight knew his hit was within the rules and tried to level Sutter. Unlucky for Sutter, his brain was literally rattled. Since that was the case, it should now be unfortunate for Weight. Weight's suspension is based on Sutter's injury. What this will do is make people think twice before "leveling" another player. You take a chance that your hit will result in your own loss of playing time. Weight could have made as effective a hit without trying to "level" Sutter and since he chose a riskier, if legal hit, he pays for it.
Here's a recent video of Weight, not a dirty player, hitting Sutter causing a concussion. You'll hear the announcers say it was a clean hit and that Weight had no intention of hurting him. Both are right. I don't think Weight meant to hurt Sutter. His hit is within the rules. What Weight did mean to do was level Sutter. Sometimes in hockey you can get leveled and you hardly feel it. Sometimes you can get leveled and wonder what your name is. When you are lining up a player, though, there is always that chance that you'll hit his head and knock him unconscious. My solution is to make each case when a player gets a concussion open to punishment, even if the hit is within the rules. Weight knew his hit was within the rules and tried to level Sutter. Unlucky for Sutter, his brain was literally rattled. Since that was the case, it should now be unfortunate for Weight. Weight's suspension is based on Sutter's injury. What this will do is make people think twice before "leveling" another player. You take a chance that your hit will result in your own loss of playing time. Weight could have made as effective a hit without trying to "level" Sutter and since he chose a riskier, if legal hit, he pays for it.
posted by Aaron Perry at
9:18 PM
4 Comments:
hey aaron. Without thinking about it TOO much, I'd have to say I think that is a good idea.
Of course, in that system, I feel bad for ANYONE that even skates near Tim Connolly
Agreed. This is why it has to be a case by case basis. There has to be discretion between what the league would deem "legal" and "legal but risky" hits and "legal but with intent to injure hits." (This group could be called the "Scott Stevens hit.") Perhaps a panel would need to judge the hit. Previous injuries and a player's susceptibility to concussions would need to be factored into a decision, as well. I don't think a player's previous injuries should increase the risk factor of a hit. In other words, the same kind of hit on Connolly is of same risk as it is on Joe "Concussion Free" Johnson.
Don Cherry and Glenn Sather are right to say that it is no accident that head injuries increased once mandatory helmets were introduced. There is no respect for the head. And with players always getting larger, faster, and armoured like tanks, it's only going to get worse.
I think you are right to say it's a respect issue. The recent ridiculousness between Adam Mair and Chris Neil--lack of respect for both players by both players--is an example. Some players simply don't recognize that it is a game they are playing and that it is people they are playing against. The people are more important than the game. I think that has been lost.
Hockey isn't the only sport this is an issue in, though. Ray Lewis' comments celebrating the injury to Rashard Mendenhall ("I wasn't shouting, 'He's hurt,' I was shouting, 'He's done!'") is disgraceful. Some of Steelers' wide-out Hines Ward's blocks make me wonder whether he wants to hurt people, too. It's very sad.
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