from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,

The NHL general managers approved concepts for rule changes regarding player safety and offense on the second day of the annual March meeting on Tuesday.

All rule changes must be approved by the NHL-NHLPA Competition Committee before going to the Board of Governors for approval. The Competition Committee meets during the Stanley Cup Final and the BOG meets next at the end of June.

On the safety side, the GMs want a rule that will penalize players who don't leave the ice immediately after their helmets fall off.

George Parros, NHL senior vice president of player safety, said the League is the only one in the world that doesn't currently have a rule governing players losing their helmets in the flow of play.

"I don't see any reason why we're waiting around for something to happen in this space," Parros said. "God forbid something should happen. I think this rule would go on the list right away, so everybody was on board with that. We'll figure out what that rule will look like, draft up some options and push it through the proper channels."

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