Hits to head still not banned by GMs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — NHL general managers still have little interest in outlawing otherwise legal hits that result in contact to an opponent’s head.

The NHL Players’ Association, acting on behalf of its members, has been pushing for a rule that would ban blows to the head. So far, that request has been met with resistance from the 30 general managers — many of whom were longtime players in the league.

“There is no appetite for an automatic penalty,” Toronto general manager Brian Burke said Tuesday following a meeting at the Stanley Cup finals.

Burke has long been a proponent of the physical side of the sport and often builds his clubs with a significant amount of brawn in the lineup.

He isn’t concerned about negative public reaction that could come from Tuesday’s decision not to further protect players by adding a new rule governing hits.

“I’m not running for office here. I don’t care if people agree with what I say,” Burke said. “I’m telling you there were 30 GMs in that room and there’s no appetite for an automatic penalty. Hitting is a critical part of our game, it’s distinctive to North American hockey.

“If you go to an automatic penalty, the leagues where they’ve put it in I think it’s resulted in horrendous calls for clean checks. So there is no appetite for that.”

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell made a multi-pronged presentation Tuesday that included video of hits — both legal and illegal. He explained his decisions for imposing suspensions for some of the infractions, including one by Washington’s Donald Brashear on New York Rangers forward Blair Betts in the first round of the playoffs.

Brashear was suspended for six games, including five for the shot that broke a bone around Betts’ eye.

“The hits that caused an injury grabbed a lot of attention,” Campbell said. “They are no different than a legal shoulder hit that didn’t cause an injury.