What I propose in this blog is a radical idea, one that may be pie in the sky and wishful thinking, but one whose time I think has come. It seems that daily/weekly we are discussing another incident or illegal hit in the NHL for which some type of suspension, hearing, fine or all three are warranted. Yet, more times than not we are let down by the inconsistent application or interpretation of the rules on- or off-the-ice.
If the league is not willing to take a strong stand, for which the end result has been too many liberties are being taken, then maybe we have to be the voices of reason. In the past, players policed each other on the ice. That didn't aways work out well, but the level of disrespect player to player on the ice seemed to be a lot less than exists now.
It's become all too commonplace for an elbow or shoulder to be delivered to a defenseless or otherwise engaged player's head. How about a knee-to-knee hit? Maybe you prefer a spear from behind or even in front of a player. Take your pick, as we have seen all of them in the playoffs. But, the penalties associated with those hits have ranged from either nothing at all or insufficient at best. Examples of which are listed below and the league's discipline :
Milan Lucic's spear from behind on Danny DeKeyser - $5k fine
Corey Perry's spear on Jamie Benn - no discipline
Brent Seabrook - three-game suspension
Matt Cooke - seven-game suspension
As seen, the discipline ranges from nothing to a minimum, token fine, to a phone hearing to a moderate at best suspension. In Lucic's case, he admitted that this was the third time he had done something like that, yet basically nothing. Perry retaliated for a clean check by Benn with no impact. Seabrook targeted Backes' head and deserved way more than a three-game suspension. In Cooke's case, he had more than enough time to avoid Tyson Barrie, but kept skating with his leg out, making contact with Barrie's knee, sidelining him for 4-to-6 weeks with an MCL injury. Why Stephane Quintal, the new Director of Player Safety, only factored in discipline on Cooke since the current CBA went into effect is beyond me.
So what's the answer? I will admit this is not a perfect situation but one I feel would go a long way to restoring the respect on the ice and take away some of the interpretation of the rules, though it could lead to others. At worst, it would stimulate conversation and maybe lead to a better solution, because what's in place right now isn't working, as the illegal hits keep on coming.
If a player is suspended for an illegal act, like Cooke's knee-to-knee to Barrie, that offending player is sidelined for as long as the injured player is out. That's the easy part. In addition, if the player who was suspended for the act is not a player of a similar importance to his respective team, than one of a similar ilk shall be determined by the opposing coach to sideline for as long as the injured player is out.
Radical, I know, but what exists now isn't working. Granted there are flaws and determining the intent of a player and the extent of the absence leave loopholes but hear me out. In the case of Seabrook and Backes, each are of similar import. Seabrook is a top-two, d-man for Chicago while Backes is a top-line center for St. Louis. The impacts somewhat negate, yet I think Seabrook still should be out for as long as Backes is.
In the case of Cooke and Barrie, there is a substantive difference in import to their respective teams. Cooke is a checking line winger while Barrie is Colorado's best offensive and most important defenseman, or at worst, a close second to Erik Johnson. Want to send a clear message to owners, GM, coaches and owners, even that up. If Matt Coole does something stupid as he did, make the team pay. In this case, either Ryan Suter, or if that's viewed as too much, then Jonas Brodin or Jared Spurgeon has to sit. Extrapolate that example over the myriad of cases we have seen or might see and very quickly the garbage that has gone on recently will cease to exist.
A radical idea, but maybe one whose time has come or at least consideration should be given to because I think we all believe the game needs to be cleaned up.
(Back tomorrow with a Game 4 Rangers-Flyers preview)
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