The Instagator Rule

In the General Managers conferences today, the GMs of the NHL determined that the instigator rule was preventing teams from protecting their stars. What a crazy idea. It's about time something is mentioned by people of power and influence in the NHL.

The idea brought out of the meetings today wasn't to completly abolish the rule, but to amend it so a player can be charged five, instead of the current three, instigating minors, before they receive a two game suspension from the the league. It's a start. As the NHL has proven that can't effectively police the game on their own players are required to take the law into their own hands. However, because of the two game suspension, players are hesitant to drop the gloves an aid their teammates. For a player making the league minimum, missing two games without pay is something they have to consider.

This new rule is sadly not in place yet, as it needs to be reviewed by the NHL completion committee, and the NHL Board of Governors before it can be put into place for next year. My hope is that this new rule does go through, so players can police themselves and cheap shots are worked out of the great game of hockey.