I do agree that the red-line change has caused the most speed. The most devastating hits I find are from guys coming through the neutral zone with speed. The 2-line pass rule forced players to slow down. They continue with that speed into the offensive zone, and continue while cutting wide along the boards.
It just creates bigger hits all over the ice. Even when they are not falling down, or even when that hit doesn't look so 'devastating', they are absorbing a lot of energy. Add-in the hard plastics, and the general disrespect (though, that is a tough one - players are human, and thus are both competitive and emotional) - and injuries pile up.
The NHL is removing fighting from the game slowly. Yet, for sheer numbers of concussions and other career-ending or career-limiting injuries, it is negligible to what other forms of contact have been doing statistically. If the NHL was really serious about concussions, then they would look at removing the red-line.
However, it is not likely to happen. The NHL markets itself as a fast paced game. They want the game fast. Fans love it too. It was (and is) difficult to remove fighting out of the NHL because of both fans and players who like it, and slowing the game down probably not be received well by anyone, except doctors.
The NHL is going to have to figure out how they can maintain that speed in the game, but make it safer for players. I really don't have any answers. Changing some of the player's protection would probably help, but it won't solve the issue that players are traveling at a high velocity and making contact at high velocity. Regardless of padding, this is going to cause injuries.
This whole looming concussion lawsuit might have the biggest impact on the game. Will be curious to see how the NHL changes in the next 10 or 15 years, especially with the development of tracking tools that measure players speeds and better cameras, which will have the added benefit of analyzing serious injuries.
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