NHL General Managers Looking To Make The Game Safer, Propose A New Helmet Rule

By Jordan Long

The NHL general managers’ meetings ended today.  This is where all the NHL general managers discuss the NHL game and propose rule changes for the 2020 season.  There was one major change  discussed involving helmets.

                Helmets have been mandatory to wear in the NHL since 1979 for players entering the league.  Skaters who had been playing before that were grandfathered in and were allowed not to wear one if they chose not to.  The last NHL player not to wear one was Craig MacTavish.  His career ended in 1997 with the Blues.  Now everyone must wear a helmet in games including the referees and the linesmen.

                With that, the NHL general managers are suggesting a rule modification.  They would like to see any player whose helmet falls off during live play, skate right to the bench.  If they decide not to, then a 2-minute minor penalty will be enforced to that skater.  This is all for player safety. 

                It makes sense.  When an athlete has their helmet fall off by a hit, that becomes a safety issue.  They can’t protect themselves from being hit by a puck or from a head injury if they fall to the ice or are checked hard.     

                Some players may be against this.  If they have a scoring opportunity or can join a rush into the offensive zone when their helmet falls off, they won’t want to skate to the bench.  They are going to try to score to help their team win.  What is going to happen then when a player does this and ends in a goal?  The refs will have to take away the goal and put the skater who doesn’t have a helmet on in the penalty box.

                This all makes sense for player protection.  The problem is helmets don’t come off that much during play.  They are usually secured on the head even with hard hits.   Even if it comes off, there should be a rule that says if the participant can put the helmet on after it is knocked off, they don’t have to skate to the bench nor will there be a penalty.

                Once the general managers write a proposal, it goes to the NHL Players Association for them to take a look.  If they support the suggestion, it will go to the Board of Governors for final approval.  Then it will be come the law in the NHL.