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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
MANALAPAN, Fla. – The NHL’s general managers’ meetings entered their second day Tuesday, and discussions deepened around key agenda topics that could impact rule changes at the future.
Managers spent Monday morning in breakout sessions discussing fights after free kicks, the implications of expanded video review on coaching challenges and increased player protective equipment. The entire GM contingency came together on Tuesday to share more dialogue that, while productive, still has a way to go.
“I don’t know if we came away with real consensus on certain things,” said Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, speaking after the end of the day’s sessions at Eau Palm Beach Resort. “I think a lot of managers are in favor of doing things right with video review and things like that, but I think we have to be very, very aware of the unintended consequences of these kinds of things. There are I’m going to delve into a lot of the things we’ve discussed. Hockey operations are measuring the temperature of that and if there’s a good appetite (to talk more about it), then they continue to work on that. And I think that’s where we left off.”
One touchpoint that received attention ahead of the meetings was how to best ensure police retaliation after free kicks. New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba is just one example of a player who made appropriate – albeit painful – hits on the ice and was then forced to defend against the target’s teammate in an ensuing melee.
While it’s often hits against star players that draw the most fan ire and media coverage, the general managers’ broader conversation this week has moved beyond the question of protecting everyone on the ice, and not only high level skaters. The other implication of combat and hitting in general is how it is interpreted in a broader sense, something that GMs and players are sensitive to.
“It’s a really difficult question to discuss,” said Toronto Maple Leafs General manager Kyle Dubas. “Because if there is a free kick against a member of your team and your team does nothing, you are heavily criticized for that. If you do something, you take a penalty, and you are criticized for that. “I think people use your reaction to free kicks to judge whether your team is tough or not. And that’s the hardest part, is that we can talk about the rules and everything, but there’s also the noise that comes afterwards because people are looking for performance indicators. what your team is doing.
And it’s not like GMs are advocating less physics in the game. The main consideration is safety, and part of that is allowing the players themselves to be involved in when and how whose fights take place.
“Good free kicks are part of the game,” said Ottawa Senators General Director Pierre Dorion. “It’s been part of the game for over 100 years. I think the players control themselves pretty well. I think there’s a certain respect between the players. I think they understand that if it’s a good move frank, it’s part of the game. When hits are not clean, obviously player safety comes into play, or the in-game referee will call the penalty. The rules are excellent. Just apply them and let the game continues.
This same thought process could also be applied to the topic of the expanded coaching challenge video review. Dorion pointed out that one of hockey’s great strengths is being a fast game; too much emphasis on increasing reviews will hinder this. The onus is on making the call right the first time. But it’s not always that simple.
“It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, they should just do things right,’ and that’s what every general manager says, especially when things go wrong against your team,” Dubas said. “Mistakes happen. And it’s emotional. I think the scope has to be very narrow in terms of what can be challenged, what can’t be challenged. And I think everyone in the room wants to make it as fair as possible, but not by doing thousands of challenges a year, so it’s really about narrowing down the scope of things that are definitively good or bad versus more subjective games where it gets really difficult to judge.
One video that all general managers saw Monday was about increasing protective equipment. The debate intensified on this subject after Edmonton Oilers Before Evander Kane‘s wrist was cut by the blade of ‘s skate Tampa Bay Lightning Before Pat Maroon in November, when Maroon slammed Kane into the boards. Kane was rushed from the arena to hospital and remained sidelined for 10 weeks.
The severity of what happened – and its potential long-term implications – has sparked debate over whether or not players should protect themselves with more equipment. This is an ongoing conversation with the guys themselves, as many express concerns about adding layers impacting their game.
“The video they showed us yesterday was really eye-opening for me. I think it was eye-opening for a lot of general managers,” Dorion said. “When you look at Evander Kane’s injury (and others like it), you see the skates are sharper than they’ve ever been; they cut deeper. I know the players were talking about fact that they were maybe a little warmer (and more so), they weren’t comfortable. When you try something new, it’s always uncomfortable, but you get used to it. .I think it’s just an adjustment that players have to make, and I think when you think about people’s health and safety, I think that has to come before everything else.”
More general managers expect dialogue on all fronts to continue after their meetings end Wednesday morning. It remains to be determined where the bulk of their discussions will end.
“With about 300 games left (total in the regular season), it’s difficult to make changes,” Cheveldayoff said. “You don’t make changes right now. You (have) discussions, you make recommendations and see where it goes.”
