GMs back broader penalties for head hits

The NHL's general managers have agreed with a recommendation to broaden the league's definition of illegal hits to the head, likely expanding the scope of a rule enacted last year to outlaw blindside head shots. The GMs met in a downtown Boston hotel before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday. While they agreed more can be done to protect players, most executives don't believe the NHL will ever outlaw all contact to the head. A panel of former players, including Brendan Shanahan and Rob Blake, has been investigating ways to protect defenseless players since March. The panel and the GMs agree the word ''blindside'' should be taken out of Rule 48, expanding the rule to focus on most hits to the head.