Protecting the player is not about reducing shoulder or elbow pads, as Bettman has directed Shanahan to look into. It should be protecting the players head better.

The first thing that needs to happen, starts with the players themselves. The players need to wear their helmets more snugly under the chin. They come off way too easily. The helmets also need to provide more protection than what is currently provided. Maybe even have some form of a chin protective bar, similar to what punters use in the NFL. Concussions come more from hits to the jaw than to the head. Also make it mandatory that every player wear a mouth guard. HockeyUSA requires all kids play with a mouth guard. The kids also wear full cages to protect their faces, so the mouth guards are only for concussion purposes only. So why not the NHL?

Then there is the enforcement of the rules. There are lots of rules currently in the rule book that the referees only sometimes call. There has to be enforcement of any rules around dangerous hits. And make the penalty a major. Not just occasionally a major. Take the judgement out of the refs hands and make it the only choice.

Then there is the enforcement from the league. Second offense is a automatic 30 game suspension. Third offense, automatic suspension from the NHL. Also make the coach and team responsible with a significant cash or draft choice penalty.

Make the consequences of serious hits severe enough, and it will catch the player’s and team’s attention.

The NHL is a contact sport, with high speed collisions, so concussions will still happen. But if the NHL really wants to reduce the incidence of concussions, they can do the necessary things to help keep the players healthy.

NASCAR fixed their safety problem. Drivers routinely walk away from 200 mph accidents. Will the NHL fix this one? Only time will tell