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SPORTS Monday 6 March 2017
NHL GMs to talk video review,

concussion protocol at meeting

STEPHEN WHYNO It’s something we can’t
AP Hockey Writer go seven, 10, 12 minutes
When a collision knocked to get it right. ... It is some- This March 22, 2016 photo
Mike Smith’s mask off, the thing where I think the call shows Arizona Coyotes’ Mike
Arizona Coyotes goalten- has to be done within a Smith putting his mask back
on as he skates back to his
der was less than pleased certain timeframe to keep position during the first pe-
when he was told a few the game going.” riod of an NHL hockey game
minutes later he had no GMs will also discuss some against the Edmonton Oilers in
choice but to leave the disputed coach’s chal- Glendale, Ariz.
game. lenges where a player’s Associated Press
One of the NHL’s central skate is off the ice and the
spotters in New York made play is ruled offside.q
that call to trainer Jason
Serbus, and in accordance
with the league’s concus-
sion protocol, Smith’s de-
parture was mandatory.
“Mike didn’t want to come
out, but that’s what was
going to be done,” coach
Dave Tippett said. “I’m in-
terested to see how that
one goes in an overtime in
playoffs or something like
that. We’ll see how teams
react to that one.”
The playoffs are still a
month away, and teams
are already not reacting
well to concussion proto-
col for goalies, which is why
it’s one of the topics that
general managers are ex-
pected to discuss at their
annual March meeting be-
ginning Monday in Boca
Raton, Florida. Smith and
New York Rangers goalten-
der Henrik Lundqvist are
among those who have so
far been critical of the rule.
Other issues include the
offside rule, coach’s chal-
lenges, goalie equipment
and goalie emergencies
as GMs try to refine rules
they’ve put in place in re-
cent years. GMs will talk
about potentially not al-
lowing coaches to call
timeout after icing, which is
being tested in the Ameri-
can Hockey League, and
about allowing repeat
players in the shootout af-
ter the first three rounds.
Video review is among the
hottest topics, especially
the time it takes. Major
League Baseball recently
instituted timing guidelines
for umpires, and that could
soon happen for hockey
officials.
“That’s probably maybe
the No. 1 discussion,” Dal-
las Stars GM Jim Nill said
via phone Sunday. “Oth-
er than getting the call
right, it is the timeframe.