With Petr Sykora recovering at home from a concussion, Wild coach Todd Richards said Tuesday he doesn't expect NHL officials to discipline Dallas center Steve Ott for the hit that blasted Sykora's head into the glass Saturday. But dangerous shots to the head -- and the serious injuries they cause -- will be discussed by the league's general managers as they conclude their fall meetings in Toronto today.

A number of players have suffered concussions this season, and an Ontario Hockey League player was hospitalized in critical condition last month after a brutal hit caused skull and facial fractures. Toronto GM Brian Burke said there isn't much sentiment for creating additional penalties for hits to the head, but the topic warrants attention.

"We don't want an automatic penalty for contact with the head," Burke said. "An otherwise legal check that includes contact with the head, that's a penalty in some leagues. We don't want that. It would take hitting out of the game completely. But there have been a couple of hits this year that trouble me, and we'll talk about those."

The meetings began Tuesday with the GMs deciding to retain the trapezoid behind the net, which limits the area in which goaltenders are allowed to handle the puck. Burke said the brief opening session confirmed that his peers are happy with the state of the game, and there is no sentiment for major rule changes. This week's discussions will be resumed during the annual spring meetings, when any changes would be made.

Richards said Sykora already is feeling better, which he considers a positive sign. While he initially called Ott's hit "questionable," he explained that the incident isn't easily seen on video, making it unlikely the league would issue further punishment.

Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said he didn't consider it a dirty play.

"It's part of hockey," he said. "You never want to have anyone get injured, but some things are unavoidable in a contact sport."

Stargazing Fletcher, Richards and other Wild coaches and staff attended Monday's Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Richards, a first-time visitor, found it particularly exciting to see players of his era honored -- even if it reminded him he's not getting any younger.

"To be there on that night was something pretty unique and special," he said. "The names of the past, you have some recollection of the things they did. But when you see the names of the guys going in and you can recall their whole career, you're starting to get old."

Philling the net Toronto fans finally got to see former Gophers forward Phil Kessel last week, and he looked as if he could energize a staggering team.

Kessel, who was traded from Boston to the Leafs last summer while he was recovering from shoulder surgery, played his first game for the Leafs on Nov. 3. Since then, he has two goals and two assists in four games -- including a goal Tuesday, when he was Toronto's most dynamic player while logging more than 21 minutes of ice time. The center is playing on a line with left wing Jason Blake of Moorhead, who played at North Dakota.

Etc. • Defenseman John Scott was scratched.

• Fletcher said he spent most of his second general managers' meeting "observing, listening and learning." He also spent time this week with his father, Cliff, the former Maple Leafs executive now serving as special adviser to the team.