The Weight Hit...Does The NHL Need To Rethink Their Safety Strategy?

With the advent of younger players, a faster game, harder equipment, and harder ice, it's hard to deny the risks for players is dramatically higher than it was 15 years ago Younger players with skill pose a significant risk to older, "old school" players whose talent set doesn't fit as well in the current NHL. Consequently you have over indulgent veterans taking advantage of these vulnerable players under the context of "fair hits". There is no doubt the fans love a huge bone crushing, brain mashing hit at centre ice. However how good is hockey going to be if all it's young stars are either taken out of the game completely or scared into under performing. If shoulder pads are capable of crushing bones, then doesn't it seem to make sense that shoulder-to-face hits need to be outlawed? We shouldn't outlaw hitting all together, just the style of the hits that seem premeditated towards injury. The same can be said on blatant knee on knee hits, like that of Chris Neil on the Ottawa ... (link)