March 30, 2010 :: 9:31pm ET Will rule changes lead to a safer game? By Melanie Cammalleri, TheFourthPeriod.com

[TORONTO, ON] -- We've heard about shots to the head time and again, but will a rule change effectively make the game safer?

A shift in the mentality of the players in the NHL has to coincide. After all 30 NHL General Managers met in Boca Raton for their annual meetings, an amendment long overdue has been made regarding hits to the head - stating that referees in play will assess whether a minor or major penalty will be assigned to any lateral, back-pressure or blindside hits to the head.

The game has evolved; it is faster and the players are bigger and stronger, so this rule change is a natural progression needed to match the evolution of the game.

This rule creates somewhat of a shift in responsibility from the puck carrier receiving the hit to the player hitting. However, the stipulations of this rule specifying a ‘blindside’ hit does not allow for a total responsibility shift. The puck carrier still has the onus on himself to be aware of an oncoming hit, and this will allow the game to sustain its physicality, and not allow players to skate around with their heads down in order to be ‘safe’.

The element of respect often comes into play when discussing shots to the head, and it is seemingly more important now than ever. The league and its GMs have acknowledged how the evolution of the game allowed for these types of hits, but the danger involved in a hit to the head goes beyond the boundaries of the three periods of a hockey game or the span of an NHL career.

The danger in headshots is increased when they are blind side hits, because players do not have time to brace themselves to absorb or escape the hit, making the impact that much worse. The fact that concussions are known to be a root cause of brain damage and memory loss is why respect plays a critical factor.

Although this rule change is a step in the right direction, it does not remove all hits to the head, and the fact that these hits will result in a minor or major penalty does not mean they will no longer occur. It is up to the players to welcome the rule change and respect their opponents in order to see a decrease in head injuries in the NHL.

Undoubtedly, this season has seen some of the worst concussions resulting from headshots in a long time.

The beginning of the season saw Mike Richards’ hit on David Booth awaken the issue, and most recently Matt Cooke’s hit on Marc Savard came right before the scheduled GM meetings, forcing the issue to be dealt with.

According to NHL.com, “there was an average of 22 ‘contacts’ to the head and just one of those 22 contacts per game was deemed a penalty by the on-ice officials.” These stats speak for themselves, evidently not all of these hits lead to serious concussions, but minor brain trauma at the least, and these hits are not adding value to the game.

Washington Capitals GM George McPhee has the confidence that players will adapt.

"Once we explain [the rule] to them, they will adjust, they always do," he said, during an interview on the NHL Network. "They’re smart and we just need some time now, and we have new terms – back pressure and lateral-side hit, blind-side hit – you need time to define those to the players, explain the rule to the players and explain it to the referees. It can’t be done overnight, but it will be done for next year."

Change is not expected to occur rapidly, but a change in the player’s mentality can, and this is what will ultimately create a safer game.

The new rule on hits to the head will not decrease the physical nature of the game; the physical presence comes from body-to-body hits.

The value of the game is in its skill and clean physical play, not in losing valuable players to cheap headshots. The league has implemented the rule change to create a safer game for the players; however, assessing a minor or major penalty to a lateral, back-pressure or blindside hit to the head may not refrain it from happening in its entirety.

The safety lies in the mentality of the players and the mutual respect they have for each other and -- ultimately -- the integrity of the game.

Melanie Cammalleri is an NHL Columnist for The Fourth Period Magazine and TheFourthPeriod.com.