I’m fine with Alexander Ovechkin being suspended for his hit/push on Brian Campbell in the first period of Sunday’s game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks. If the NHL classifies that as a punishable play, fine. Let’s just hope they always make the same call in the future, even if the play results in a lesser injury. What I have a problem with is the NHL’s inconsistent handling of other dangerous on-ice incidents.
Alexander Ovechkin
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell has missed 21 games after a hit from behind from Evgeny Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins in a game at GM Place in January. Malkin received two minutes for boarding. How does Ovechkin’s hit result in two games and Malkin’s only two minutes? Yes, Ovechkin is a repeat offender, but is that the only criteria? The NHL was quick to suspend Ovechkin, perhaps due to an almost instant diagnosis of Campbell’s broken clavicle and ribs. Mitchell’s injury was not immediately known and, as a result, there was no way to determine the severity or number of games the Canucks would be without their top shut-down defender. Malkin served his two minutes and that was it. The Penguins were in no way affected by the incident while the Canucks ended up having to deal away a draft pick at the trade deadline to fill the void caused by Mitchell’s absence. The NHL should have the ability to revisit penalties and/or suspensions applied, especially regarding head injuries, and add additional discipline weeks or months later if necessary. The Canucks have played well without Mitchell but, if he does not return and the team struggles defensively at the end of the regular season or come playoff time, the Malkin hit will be a big reason why.
At this time, there is no meaningful punishment to deter players from taking advantage of other players in vulnerable positions. Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers received no discipline for high-profile “predatory” hits to the head that most in the hockey world seem to be appalled by. The NHL’s position is that they do not have rules in place to penalize shoulder hits to the head. NHL general managers have discussed new rule recommendations with hopes of implementing them by the start of next season at the latest. If the NHLPA and league competition committee are on board the new rules could be applied sooner or right away. Until then, a shoulder hit to the head is perfectly legal.
The Richards hit on October 24 was similar to Cooke’s recent hit on Boston forward Marc Savard but worse in my opinion because it was late and Richards left his feet. As a result, David Booth of the Florida Panthers missed 45 games with a concussion. Booth was second in team scoring in 2008/09 with 31 goals and 29 assists in 72 games. So far in 2009/10 Booth has four goals and eight assists in 22 games. The Panthers are currently six points behind eighth place Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Where would the Panthers be with Booth scoring at last year’s pace? A playoff berth is worth at least a few million dollars in revenue for a franchise even with a first-round loss. The Richards hit affected Booth’s health and may have an impact on the Panther’s finances as well. The Flyers are sixth in the Eastern Conference, nine points ahead of Florida. The Flyers might be lower in the standings if Richards, one of their top scorers, had missed any time due to suspension. Savard is out indefinitely while his Bruins battle to make the playoffs.
Funny, by NHL standards it is worse to insult Dion Phaneuf’s girlfriend than to almost knock a player’s head from his body or push/hit a player from behind into the boards causing a lengthy injury. After insulting Elisha Cuthbert prior to a Dallas Stars game in Calgary last year, Sean Avery was suspended indefinitely, forced into an anger management evaluation, entered a counseling program, and needed to apply to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for reinstatement. After serving the suspension, Avery was banished to the minors by the Stars and didn’t resurface with the New York Rangers until three months later. Avery is a major jerk but, by their actions, so are Cooke, Richards, Malkin and Ovechkin. Perhaps the NHL needs to protect their players in the same fashion they protect the players’ significant others.
