As reported by Steve Conroy at the Boston Herald moments ago:

The NHL and NHLPA have agreed this morning to immediately implement the new ban on blindside headshots and it was welcome news to the Bruins, who lost top center Marc Savard to a textbook headshot from the Penguins’ Matt Cooke on March 7.
There will be no immediate implementation of the on-ice rule, but players who give blindside blows to the head are now subject to supplemental discipline.
“It’s going to make a change,” said Patrice Bergeron, an outspoken critic of such hits. “I don’t think it’s going to stop the physicality of the game. It’s still going to be a physical game and there are still going to be good hits. It’s just those kinds of hits that are right to the head and are careless and there’s no need for it, there’s a rule in place now and hopefully everyone’s going to think about it.”
Coach Claude Julien concurred.
“I don’t think there are too many people that will argue against it,” said Julien. “I think the players want a little bit of security when it comes to that. What I personally like about the rule is there’s responsibility for both sides. You can’t expect a player carrying the puck to be able to see what’s behind him, but at the same time it puts responsibility on the puck-carrier. If you’re going to have your head down and you get hit head on, it’s your responsibility. They’re not taking the hits out of the game. I think it’s an important part of our game. They’re putting the responsibility – and I think it’s the right responsibility – on both players.”….
Trent Whitfield is up from Providence and was slotted between Milan Lucic and Miroslav Satan. Vladimir Sobotka did not skate, though Julien said he was feeling better and has not been diagnosed with a concussion…
Tuukka Rask will be between the pipes again and Matt Hunwick and Brad Marchand are expected to be scratched again.

RIGHT ON TIME WITH THIS ONE NHL!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!

hopefully someone blindsides bettman and campbell before the rule goes into effect.

Well there goes the only good reason to watch hockey

if thats the only reason you watch hockey, i'm guessing you dont watch much hockey

In b4 retard fans arguing that needless debilitating injuries are the spirit of the game.

now your sarcasm meter is broken =P

Good. Any game should celebrate skill over shit like this.

I was pretty pumped when they decided to expand the size of the NHL rink to make it more skill based than brute force based.

However, it didn't result in me following the sport. So close, though.

only hitting fans with shoes at madison square garden is real. old tyme hockey!

Mike Milbury knows what's up

Hockey nds moar cock punches

Next sport to get more safety restrictions regarding head injuries is football. I'm on the inside, gentlemen.

Already happened:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/...nes-three-major-changes-for-safety/

Naw dude, not that. But thanks for the link anyway, didn't know about that. I don't follow sports whatsoever or watch TV, I just work in the field of injury prevention (oh the irony).

Injury prevention??!!! Fuck that! You can't get good drugs that way. All on RTTP need to get injured so we can all go to a show together and be jammed.

the best part of hockey is the locker room circle jerk after the match