Rule48: New words - Same problem

[hf101]

Apparently the NHL has reworded Rule 48 for 2013-14 season.  Did it clarify anything?

 

Old rule:   “A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted.”

 

New rule:  “A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable.”

 

The re-wording seems to make it easier for the league to suspend a player, for stating that a player didn’t intentionally “target” the head.  Yet it still says that contact with the head is still unavoidable in some hits.....

 

According to Elliot Friedman:
 

You’re going to ask the obvious follow-up. How do you determine if the hit is avoidable? There are three circumstances to be considered:

First, whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponent’s body and the head was not “picked” as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward.

Second, whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable.

Third, whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact.

 

 

 

I'm guessing that this is the response to clarifying the Gryba suspension.

 

[Habsterix]

No matter how that rule is written, it will always remain a grey area. You won't find two people interpreting some hits the same way.

[DaGreatGazoo]

No matter how that rule is written, it will always remain a grey area. You won't find two people interpreting some hits the same way.

 

I've yet to meet one person who interprets a hit the same way as the Grand Poobah in charge of suspensions.  

[J0e Th0rnton]

No matter how that rule is written, it will always remain a grey area. You won't find two people interpreting some hits the same way.

Agreed.

Usually it becomes a battle between fanbases.

 

Thornton's suspension over his hit on perron a few years ago made me wonder why this is even a contact sport anymore. He never really laid into him or put his weight behind the hit, but he was tall so boom, headshot. Perron was skating right at him, but looking for that suicide pass.

[hf101]

The purpose of the word change in my opinion is that head shots that cause injury will all be suspended for "Shanny and Co" will find an angle where a hit to the head could have been avoided.