The NHL's "Head Shot" Rule for 2011-12

From NHL.com: Players will now face a minor penalty for any hit that involves primary contact to the head and shots that target an opponent's head and make it the principal point of contact. The original wording to Rule 48 applied only to hits that came from the lateral or blindside. Those words have been eliminated. This ban, effective immediately, applies to hits anywhere on the ice and from any direction... the league is still not willing to eliminate all head hits... Whether a minor penalty or major penalty or no penalty is assessed for these infractions, players could still be subject to suspensions.

From NHL.com: A penalty will now be given to a player who delivers a hit on a defenseless player that causes him to hit the boards violently or dangerously. Players must try to avoid - or limit - contact against an opponent who is deemed to be in a defenseless position... However, referees, have discretion to determine if the player who is hit put himself in a vulnerable position - thus making the contact unavoidable.

As with any NHL rule change, it all comes down to how it's interpreted on the ice. Enforcement is largely a matter of judgment and practical application, with parameters set by NHL head office and the general managers.

In the case of a new or evolving rule, referees have been known to alter the standard of enforcement in the middle of a season, and it often takes a couple of years before the true impact of a rule change can be assessed.

But here's how the new wording of the rulebook allows the possibility for change when it comes to head shots and other dangerous hits:

The Head Shot Rule

The rule is more comprehensive than before. It no longer matters which direction the attacker comes from. The onus is on him to avoid aiming above the opponent's shoulders.

But the new wording also places more responsibility on the player receiving the hit. Referees are instructed to consider all circumstances of the incident, including "whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit."

Not all contact with the head results in a penalty. Referees must take into account whether "head contact on an otherwise legal body check was unavoidable."

A two-minute minor penalty is now in place for an illegal hit to the head. That didn't exist before: a five-minute major was the minimum penalty. Making the punishment less extreme will hopefully encourage referees to enforce the rule. No ref wants to call a five-minute major unless he has to. But minor penalties are common.

Rule 48 no longer includes a provision for a 5-minute major or game misconduct. If the referee believes a hit to the head deserves more than two minutes, he can call a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure.

The Boarding Rule

The wording of the boarding penalty has always acknowledged "an enormous amount of judgment" by referees, and that won't change.

The phrase "impact with the boards" now appears a couple of times, suggesting that a hit into the boards can be judged a penalty even if the collision itself doesn't look severe or violent.

As in Rule 48 (above) the onus is on the player receiving the hit to avoid putting himself in a vulnerable position.

The NHL acknowledges that a referee might miss an infraction under Rule 41 and Rule 48, or might not be in a position to judge the severity of a hit. So the the league has the right to issue a suspension for boarding or a hit to the head even if no penalty was issued during the game.