NHL general managers had a long discussion about hybrid icing during their recent meetings.
Tuesday night was another example of why proponents want a change.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen suffered a season-ending broken heel bone when he crashed into the boards on an icing touch-up.
He was taken off the ice on a stretcher after crashing leg-first into the boards while racing the Washington Capitals’ Troy Brouwer for the puck.
He was not taken to the hospital, but the team said Wednesday that he will be out 10 to 12 weeks.
Under the hybrid icing proposal, icing would be called if a defenseman beats the forward to the faceoff dot. Under current rules, the race for the puck involves touching the puck after it crosses the goal line – or dangerously close to the boards.
Though injuries are rare, they tend to be devastating. Kurtis Foster and Taylor Fedun missed a season or more with broken legs.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporter Michael Russo was in contact with Foster after the Pitkanen incident and tweeted that Foster had texted him: “Now that a star like Pitkanen hurt on icing, when is it enough?? No need for it anymore!!!!!!!!”
The injury to Pitkanen occurred on the day that Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford brought in defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to shore up the blue line.
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