CHICAGO — The news out of the NHL’s general managers’ meetings in Toronto? Not much.
No major rules changes were recommended by the GMs, though there was a lot of talk about trying to ensure better player safety with fewer hits to the head.
“It’s something that there certainly has been a lot of attention paid to. Obviously, you’re talking about players’ livelihoods here, and their safety,” Avs general manager Greg Sherman said Wednesday. “Those are things we’ll continue to look at and discuss. Hitting is a part of our game, and yet we’re not naive to the concern of some guys being in vulnerable positions to blindside hits.”
The NHL will not discontinue the use of the trapezoid area behind the nets, Sherman said, as some wanted.
Injury updates.
Avs veteran Milan Hejduk did not play because of a back injury. He was with the team, but did not take part in the morning skate and had off-ice treatment instead. The team hopes he’ll be able to play Saturday against Vancouver.
Defenseman Tom Preissing skated, but has yet to make his season debut.
Philippe Dupuis was a healthy scratch for the Avs.
Third jersey to debut.
The Avs will unveil their new third jerseys today, at a 2:30 p.m. news conference. Hejduk and Paul Stastny will model the new sweaters, which are expected to have a dominant royal blue color, unlike the previous all-burgundy ones. The jerseys will be worn by the Avs during Saturday’s game against the Canucks at the Pepsi Center.
