The NHL general managers have agreed to a framework for a new rule that punishes hits to the head. The new rule would allow referees to assess a minor or major penalty for blindside hits targeting the head. The penalty must be approved by the competition committee and has not yet been given a specific name.

Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard suffered a concussion after taking a vicious hit to the head from the Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke this past Sunday. Cooke charged in from his right, blindsiding the Bruins playmaker. Cooke's shoulder made clear and hard contact with Savard's head, sending him down hard. But Cooke was not penalized on the play.

Apparently, this type of hit represents about five or six hits a year out of 60,000. For the general managers, the question of eliminating physical contact is not on the table. There is an economic reason for keeping the game aggressive; to them it's very clear that's one reason people pay to watch.

There are a number of suggestions about how to reduce the number of these hits, including harsher penalties (e.g. long-term suspensions, like eight or 10 games), softer equipment, changing the culture so that young players learn not to hit anyone whose back is turned to them, and eliminating the instigator rule.

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