What's the answer to one of the biggest issues?

You know.... I thought of this idea once while completely drunk on how to make the league a little safer. Here's what I came up with. If you are familiar with NASCAR then I know you know about the SAFER barriers they have installed that helps dampen the impact with the wall during wrecks. So check this out. You install the same SAFER barrier to the boards at hockey arena's or something similar to that. Give the boards a little give. I don't know but maybe you won't see as many separated shoulders, or broken ankles, or whatever injuries that may be caused by getting creamed into the boards. Maybe this idea won't work at all. But, heck, I think its at least worth a shot.

p.s. Please add Valtteri Filppula and Jason Williams to your list. Thank you and good night.

Simple. Make the players understand that there will no longer be any room for interpretation on hits that cause injuries. All injuries shall be reviewable by the league and if deemed intentional then the player that causes the injury will incur an ejection from the game and from the league if he continues to do so. In between those of course is a sliding scale of penalties.

Why such extreme measures? Well, If I were to go into the supermarket and intentionally crosscheck a stock boy to the floor and cause him to miss work for a while, I'm sure that five minutes in the box would be the least of my worries.

The players and coaches have no regard for the safety of the players, so naturally the league now has to act on their behalf.

Better conditioning can make the league safer. Consistency in calling penalties can make the league safer. Being in the right place at the right time instead of the wrong place can make the league safer. Guys play until they are older now thus more injuries.

KatesBack!! :)

I don't think we can really do anything to stop injuries. But we can be safer. I think the NHL should take more dicipline on Head Shots or Cheap Hits. Maybe that will teach some a lesson about not doing those thing!

Honestly the MEDIA (and the fans) make it out to be a bigger deal than it is. The congested Olympic schedule has led to a larger cluster of injuries.

The only thing that I would like to see tinkered with is that I would like to see equipment used for it's purpose.....elbow pads that are padded to protect the elbows, not this hardened plastic gladiator stuff they wear.

Bill...please do not use silly references to everyday street life as examples, they make no sense. Can you go into a store and give someone a completely clean bodycheck? Can you put them into an MMA hold and break their arm? Can you throw a 90 MPH fastball at them? Can you drive down the street NASCAR style at 200 MPH?

You cannot compare what happens in sport to what happens on the street. It is fruitless and inane.

DiPietro??? Take that bum off the list. He's been injured ever since he signed that massive contract. Wouldn't you pretend to be hurt if you kept getting paid millions of dollars for 13 years?

Nothing will make the game safer with out making the game less grate. it is a phisical game