OTTAWA -- Beyond the usual housekeeping issues -- Columbus landed the 2013 All-Star Game, and the NHL awards ceremonies will remain in Las Vegas for at least the next three summers -- there was not a lot of bang coming out of the league Board of Governors meetings Saturday.

Even with the collective bargaining agreement between the league and players expiring in September, a few teams for sale and/or enduring financial hardships and ongoing concerns over concussions, there apparently were no hot-button topics.

"It was kind of a non-eventful meeting," Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said after team executives convened for a couple of hours at the Chateau Laurier as part of All-Star weekend.

Concussions have been a front-burner topic in recent years, and, in the past couple of years, the league has adopted, then strengthened Rule 48 which outlaws many hits to the head. There was no movement on that issue this time, but Morehouse said the mood has changed.

"I think there's definitely more of an openness to discuss [ways to reduce concussions]," he said. "It was not a popular thing to talk about a couple years ago. I think there are definitely more pragmatic views on how we should try to reduce and move toward eliminating these injuries."

The Penguins have been one of the leading advocates of outlawing all hits to the head and finding other ways to reduce brain injuries. Several Penguins have missed time because of concussions over the past couple of seasons, most notably team captain Sidney Crosby, a perennial All-Star who is not participating in All-Star weekend because of recurring concussion symptoms.

Hockey officials are considering such options as softening shoulder pads, strengthening helmets, and perhaps putting a soft cap on the edges of the boards.

"There's a lot of discussion about equipment," Morehouse said.

"No one wants to slow the game down. What you need to do is to make it safe otherwise."

Veteran All-Star Jarome Iginla of Calgary said players want safety from concussions and will adjust to whatever rules or changes are implemented.

"Because the game is quicker, one way to cut back on that risk is limiting hits to the head," Iginla said. "When I broke in, it was almost a way of hitting. You just finished your check, and you didn't think so much about whether it was a head or a shoulder.