At their meetings last week the competition committee suggested a new set of rules based on deliberate hits to the head. A player accused of a deliberate hit to the head on another player could get a minor or major penalty, and if it is a major penalty it automatically brings up a review and possible suspension by the league. The NHLPA has to look the proposal over and while they may make a few changes to it, there is no indication that the players will deny such a rule change.

Another rule change being considered is the tie-breaker system for determining who makes the playoffs. Right now, if teams are tied in points then the first tie-breaker is combined regular season wins. The GMs are considering changing that to wins in regulation or overtime to help reduce the chances that a shootout can determine who goes to the playoffs and who doesn’t. The problem the GMs see is coaches not playing for the Northbet.com win and instead trying to get to the shootout and win that way. This is an attempt to discourage that.

Unpredictable Buffalo rookie defenseman Tyler Myers continues to be a star in the NHL and the top contender for the Calder Trophy that signifies the rookie of the year. The last Sabre to win the Calder Trophy was goaltender Tom Barrasso in 1984. In their history the Sabres have two Calder winners; Barrasso and Sabre legend Gilbert Perreault who won the award in 1971.