The NHL general managers are one step closer to establishing a rule that will eliminate shots to the head in professional hockey.

On the second day of the annual GM meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, a group of eight managers discussed the issue and were able to find a potential solution that could include penalizing players that make contact to the head of an opposition player that is in a defenseless position. Although the rule is unlikely to eliminate shots to the head completely from the game, it is a sign of progress in an area that has led to 200 reported cases of concussions in the past two years.

The group of eight is scheduled to present the sports book solution to its constituents in a larger meeting on Wednesday. If an agreement is reached among those present, an official recommendation will be made to the NHL’s competition committee.

The issue of head shots is one of several that are being discussed at this week’s meetings, but has been shoved into the spotlight by Pittsburgh winger Matt Cooke’s blindside shot to the head of Boston center Marc Savard in Sunday’s game. That hit left Marc Savard with a grade two concussion and indefinite status for the remainder of the season.

There has been no ruling on Cooke’s hit by league disciplinarian Colin Campbell at this time.