Headshots?

So I have been tempted to chime in on this headshot debate for awhile now. I don't mean to start one side against the other, and I recognize this is a Senators website, but I am interested to know if anyone else feels the way I do.

I am as big a fan as any of the regular NHL fight, brawl, hit, etc. However, I am not a fan of headshots. But who is really? Headshots do not need to be a part of the game. There is no reason for a headshot. None. And before anyone argues that it will soften the game if there is a rule made regarding headshots, please give your head a shake. The idea that eliminating headshots would soften the game is ludicrous to me. How can anyone believe that those types of hits that lead to headshots are necessary? They are not incidental because the majority of players who are delivering these hits are goons and cowards (see Matt Cooke, Steve Downie). These players are paid for this play. Sure none of them would admit it but that's what they do. 

What do we need to see next in order for it to stop? Do we need to see someone die? If the NHL does not seriously do something about this then it may be a possibility. And if that happens the American media outlets will go crazy coming down on the 'agressive ' and 'dangerous' league called the NHL. The NHL is an entertainment industry. It is there to serve the customers, as it should be considering they are the ones who pay the salaries (theoretically...) and unless they do something about it then something worse is going to happen and there will be an outrage if that is the case, leaving the NHL with probably the same amount of fans in Canada but losing ground in the ultra competitive sports industry in America. 

NHL concerned about softening the game? How about being concerned about losing money when people don't want to go see this cheapshot fest. Americans won't buy into the game as much as Canadians would after something like that. Or maybe even more concerned with a player dying on the ice, because that isn't that far from being a possibility.

I don't care how entertaining or aggressive the game is suppose to be, the NHL must do everything within reason to prevent something bad from happening on the ice, something that they are NOT doing right now. No game is worth losing your mobility or life for (or any other injury a headshot may cause). I understand that it is still a dangerous game and accidents do happen, but headshots are not accidents and they have no place in the game in the modern day.

It should be a players responsibility to make sure he is not delivering a headshot. I know the game is played at a high speed and players are bigger and heavier than before but these players still have the ability to sidestep making a headshot, they are not kids who don't know what they are doing out there. It should be like the highsticking rule where intentional or not, it's a penalty (make it 5 and a game). The only exception I would make is if it were completely and incredibly incidental and the player was not harmed at all. The game misconduct could be the referees discretion, but the 5 minute should be mandatory. The NHL could make a mandatory 4 game suspension for a headshot which could go up depending on the severity. And there may be an option to appeal the 4 game suspension if it can be shown that it was completely accidental (using video and historical player information). I'm not keen on hashing out exactly how it could be done but why is the NHL so tentative on eliminating these from the game?

Sorry for the rant, folks, I am just perplexed why I have heard so many people (and the NHL) who are opposed to taking this more seriously.