NHL general managers have wrapped up three days of meetings with a framework for a penalty for hits to the head.

The new rule would allow referees to assess a minor or major penalty for blindside hits to the head.

The proposal is subject to approval from the league's competition committee -- which is made up of five players, five GMs and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider -- and has not been given a specific name.

The rule's proposed wording is as follows:

"A lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or is the principal point of contact is not permitted. A violation of the above will result in a minor or major penalty and shall be reviewed for possible supplemental discipline."

While the issue was bound to be discussed at the meetings, head hits came to the forefront after Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke knocked Boston Bruins star forward Marc Savard unconscious over the weekend with a late blind-side hit.

Savard suffered a serious concussion and may not play again this year, Boston GM Peter Chiarelli has said.

Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior vice president of hockey operations, said Wednesday the new rule simply takes an otherwise legal hit and makes it illegal if delivered to the head.

"We are shifting some of the responsibility from the player getting hit to the player delivering the hit now, which was never a part of our game," Campbell said. "Since you grew up, you always had to have your head up. You'd get crap from your dad if you got hit while watching your pass. But now, there is some responsibility on the guy delivering the hit."

Campbell also announced Wednesday he would not suspend Cooke for the hit on Savard, a decision Chiarelli called "disappointing."

Former player and current NHL executive Brendan Shanahan said players have long wanted guidance on what they can and cannot do on the ice.

"This is not something the managers and fans have demanded or the media on their own," Shanahan said. "All you have to do is pick up a newspaper and read the quotes from players today. Players want certain types of hits gone from the game."

Neurosurgeon applauds rule

Dr. Charles Tator, a neurosurgeon and founder of the ThinkFirst foundation, told Canada AM his organization is encouraged by the move.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," Tator said of a rule to ban head shots. "We have to get head shots out of hockey."

While head hits have always been a part of hockey, the issue has become more serious over the past 10 years as players have become stronger and faster.

Traditionalists have been slow to calls of change, because they say banning hits to the head, will take hitting out of the game.

"The pros have been resistant because they are worried it's going to change the appeal of the game," Tator said.

He said his organization believes the violence of hockey turns off a number of potential fans.

"I think we can look forward to a great game, a game of terrific skill and speed and excitement (and) that taking shoulder hits to the head will not spoil the game."

Tator says the severity of concussions cannot be understated.

"They carry the scars of these concussions for their entire lives, especially if they have had more than two or three," he said.

Tator also said he has been seeing more injuries to young players at the amateur level.

"I saw a kid recently in my office, who was only 13 and already had three concussions in hockey," he said.

"A concussion is a brain injury and we need to move to make rules against hits to the head."