NHL Adopts New Concussion Protocol

As part of a five-point plan unveiled Monday, players will have to pass a baseline test to rejoin play after being hit in the head.

At a meeting of league executives in Boca Raton, Fla., on Monday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman moved to show the league is serious about concussions, announcing a plan to reduce head injuries. The new protocol includes mandatory baseline concussion tests that must be administered to players in a quiet place before they can return to the ice after suffering a headshot. The new rule would likely have prevented superstar Sidney Crosby from playing after suffering a concussion on Jan. 1. He received a second concussion days later and hasn’t played since. Other elements of the plan include equipment modifications, fines for teams whose players receive multiple suspensions, a review of rink safety, and the formation of a concussion committee.