Head Shots And Hard Heads in the NHL

Montreal Canadiens forward Tom Kostopoulos will spend the next three games dressed in a suit instead of suiting up for games against Ottawa, Boston and Philadelphia.

His unfortunate and ugly hit against Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Van Ryn over the weekend has resulted in a three-game suspension, handed down by the league on Monday.

It seems a fair suspension for a first offence, and in line with suspensions for other similar hits.  Kostopoulos has showed remorse for his run against Van Ryn and issued an apology. Review of the play also shows Van Ryn turned briefly to look behind as the two men barrelled towards the corner, yet still turned away from the hit.

Kostopoulos should have known better—however, and even Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau admitted the imposing forward probably could have stopped and avoided hitting Van Ryn.  The hit resulted in a broken nose, a broken finger, a nasty gash on the forehead, a few missing teeth—and most seriously of all, a concussion.

The Kostopoulos hit was not dirty, just reckless—and by extension, inexcusable. The Habs' forward is no headhunter, and it's obvious he had no intention of hurting Van Ryn.  Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. 

So, what to do?

It seems a simple question but there is no simple answer.  If you're hoping NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has the answer, think again.

In an interview, Bettman would not be nailed down on nailing players with a head shot, saying physicality is something the fans have wanted since the return from the work stoppage.  He believes, however, that eliminating any head contact will result in fewer checks and change the game.

It's a short-sighted assessment.  A skilled player can level another without ever having to raise an arm, elbow, or stick to someone's skull.

A head shot or from-behind hit merits a stiffer suspension. The three-game suspension for Kostopoulos is fair, if only because it's on par with other similar incidents and it wasn't a dirty hit.  There's plenty enough of those, however, and tougher suspensions will take nothing away from the game.

Bettman continued, saying while the league doesn't like head shots and the inevitable concussions that come with it, the consequences to the game have to be assessed first.

One would assume that's little comfort for Van Ryn, who is out for at least a month as doctors evaluate the extent of the concussion and allow broken bones to mend.

Again, what to do?  

Hockey legend Mark Messier has a short-term solution that may change the face of the game—or, at the very least, shield it.  He's advocating mandatory full-face masks.

It's a not a new suggestion by any means, but is a little more poignant in the wake of the Van Ryn hit. Messier believes face masks should be a league-wide rule, taking away the current, discretionary powers afforded to players as to whether or not they want to wear one. 

Messier isn't just blowing smoke.  A 2002 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed players wearing a full-face shield as opposed to a half-face shield "significantly reduced the playing time lost because of concussion, suggesting that concussion severity may be reduced by the use of a full-face shield."

Would it have made a difference in Saturday's match-up between the Habs and the Leafs? Messier can't say—but it could, conceivably, prevent another concussion in the future.

This is not an issue that will go away any time soon, nor will these kinds of hits.  For the time being, it's up to each individual player to decide how best to protect themselves on the ice and there are many players who believe they shouldn't be forced to wear a face masks. 

The alternative, however, could be far worse than a broken nose and busted finger.  It could be a career-ender.  Yet no one—not the players, the league, nor the commissioner—seems able to get that through their thick skull.