from Darren Dreger of The Dreger Report,

While I am still in the camp that believes the emotion of the sport dictates fighting will never be eliminated, more and more, coaches, managers and NHL executives are hinting there will come a day when stiffer penalties — perhaps a game misconduct —will be added to help further curb fighting and the health risks that go along with it.

It's unlikely additional sanctions will be implemented in the next year or two, but those who govern the game see it as inevitable.

In the meantime, the NHL and NHLPA's work to maximize safety for its players remains a top priority. According to those in the boardroom during Tuesday’s Board of Governors meetings in California, a lot of time was spent discussing health and safety. Obviously, it's good business to keep players healthy and on the ice to deliver the best possible product.

The concussion spotters program is believed to be functioning the way it was intended. Granted, the NHL's concussion sub-committee has only met once to discuss early observations, but a ton of data has been collected involving both the club-appointed and league-hired spotters, which, in the future, should assist in developing a better system.

The concussion sub-committee is scheduled to meet again next month during all-star weekend in Nashville.

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