The NHL is close to rewriting its rulebook to include language that penalizes blind side hits to the head, Hockey Night in Canada analyst Glen Healy said during Saturday's Hotstove segment.

The majority of players — 76 per cent — wanted it last year, Healy said, but after the death of Don Sanderson, improving safety during fights became the main focus, and the topic of hits to the head was relegated to the backburner.

But after the general managers met this week, it seems the NHL is serious about targeting head shots.

"That's a good thing for players in the game," Healy said.

But not everybody believes change is necessary.

"What's new about this?" HNIC analyst Mike Milbury asked. "It's not like [hits] are any different than it was 15 or 20 years ago." A lack of respect and violent culture was just as prominent in the 1970s as it is today, he said.

"[The only reason] we're all focused on it now is because there are so many cameras," Milbury said.

Although players might have been just as mean in the 1970s as they are now, today's NHLers are bigger, faster and stronger, Healy countered. They hit with more force, causing greater impact.

It's about time the rulebook was amended to target head shots, Healy said.

"If you give a guy a five-minute major for doing something like blindsiding a guy — like hitting from behind — the light will go on in a cave, and people will stop doing it."

During their meetings in Toronto, the 30 GMs also dealt with the issue of goaltender equipment, specifically the size of their pads.

Former Vancouver Canuck netminder Kay Whitmore gave a presentation, showing off a pair of smaller goalie pads.

By January, the NHL will inform all goaltenders of the new size restrictions for their pads and manufacturers are expected to begin making them shortly after the announcement. When the 2010-11 season begins, all NHL goalies will be wearing smaller pads, Healy said.