The NHL has announced that they want to implement their head-shots rule as soon as possible. There’s just some of the usual red tape to be taken care of first. Two years ago, the league adopted the affectionately-named “Sean Avery” rule the day after Avery was seen blatantly obstructing Devils goalie Martin Brodeur without any other concern for on-ice action. However, the league called it an “interpretation” of an existing rule. That in itself is the NHL’s biggest problem. Many rules are open to interpretation.

If you hook a guy, you’re going to get a penalty. If you hit him in the face with your stick, you’re going to the box for two minutes. If he’s bleeding, you get two more. The minor infractions like that are pretty clear cut. The NHL’s recently proposed idea to punish “blindside hits to the head” with maybe two minutes, maybe five, maybe a suspension, or maybe nothing at all is too open; too gray when the rule clearly needs to be in black and white.

The NHL is now claiming that in order to implement the rule before the end of the regular season, they just need approval from the players, coaches, management and officials. This begs the question: who’s in charge here? When your bosses want to implement a change in policy that is most definitely for your own safety, they doesn’t ask for your permission to change the policy first, do they? And it doesn’t take a quarter of a year to change, does it?

They’ve said that they are working on a “responsible” timetable. In the meantime, players are suffering concussions, broken bones, etc. while there is still no threat of any real punishment other than a few penalty minutes to the offenders. It’s been said many times before, but it should never stop being said until it’s taken seriously. The NHL needs to act quickly and decisively when it comes to matters of safety. Discussing what to do about injuries for days on end and taking months to “approve” the safety of players is ridiculous. Their attempt to expedite the process is admirable, but it’s still a long way from what’s right.