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Where to begin as we conclude the first week in the 2012 post season? Is it the year of the suspension much like 2010 was the year of ‘too many men’? More importantly, is what we are seeing the precursor to inevitable battle lines over and around the CBA negotiations this summer?
The latest controversy surrounds the actions or inactions, depending on your perspective, of chief justice for NHL discipline Brendan Shanahan. As former writer for, and friend of Hockeybuzz, Al Cimaglia, tweeted on Thursday night the “(in)actions of Shanny in regards to the Weber hit may define his reign.” This was in response to a Globe and Mail article posted by James Mirtle about how the Torres suspension may define him. It’s the ironic effect, which should take notice of you dear reader, for there really is a line in the sand.
First it may be time to take a look at a few events in playoff history. Exhibit A is the elbow delivered by Pavel Bure on Shane Churla in the 1994 post season. This hit resulted in a $500 fine from then-sheriff Brian Burke and no games lost.
When looking at this particular hit the cheapness is beyond anything we’ve seen in recent years, or is it. Consider exhibit B: Duncan Keith on Daniel Sedin
Now take a long look back into what some would call the Golden Age of hockey with exhibit C: Quinn’s elbow on Orr
The interesting point is that Cherry says, “If he did that now he’d get 40 games,” in his commentary before saying “what a beauty hit.”
I’d like to offer the people exhibit D: Steve Moore on Marcus Naslund.
I never liked this hit from day one and I’ve said time and time again had the league been proactive here Steve Moore is playing hockey.
One of the most famous post-season hits is exhibit E: Lemieux on Draper.
Exhibit F: Tie Domi on Scott Neidermeyer
Now look at some of the vicious attacks with sticks starting with exhibit G: Granato on Wilkinson
Exhibit H: McSorely on Brashear
Exhibit I: Cicarelli on Richardson
So what does this say? First off, suspensions of the most flagrant nature, which appear to be assault, have been penalized with the most severity. Only Domi received more games than one of the stick offences shown- 11 games in 2001.
The NHL clearly has a guideline or it’s line in the sand about what constitutes flagrant and excessive action. If the stick is used as a weapon the longer the sentence will be. Brad May got 20 games in 2000 for hitting Wilkinson with his stick. Cicarelli spent a day in jail and McSorely got 17 games for his attack on Bertuzzi while Duncan Keith got 5 games and Shea Weber none.
Now we wait until Shanahan brings down his gavel and delivers his verdict on the fate of Raffi Torres for his hit on Hossa. It’s a no-win situation for Brendan and I go back to 2004 and Moore’s hit on Naslund to show you why, nothing has changed.
Torres’ hit is not much different from Moore’s yet entirely different.
Both players had given up the puck, both were watching the play apparently move away and both were in extremely vulnerable positions. While the hits were delivered differently the results may be similar, but only over the course of time will we find out. It could be argued that Naslund was never the same player after the hit from Moore and we should all hope Hossa makes a full recovery but should that make Torres the ‘last straw’?
There will be no defense of Torres here but when looking at the bigger picture he may inevitably become defensible for the reason that he is not the problem, he’s a symptom.
Had the league acted with stern and forceful action after than fateful night in March 2004 would things be any different? I would like to think so but history, as illustrated by the above evidence, says probably not. The hit from Quinn is arguably the most ugly, cheapest thing I have ever seen yet is it that much worse than Bure’s elbow? Put the latter up against Domi’s assault and who is the ‘winner’?
What about Draper’s fate? Where does that fit on the ranking scale when we examine all the evidence? Dale Hunter’s hit on Turgeon was equally ugly yet no matter what year, what era, these hits continue. Why?
Last year when Torres hit Eberle, in an equally sad manner as his hit on Hossa, he made the comment “If I don’t make that hit I don’t have a job.” If this truly is the pressure a player feels why are there so few hits of such severity. The counter argument could be that is the reason we see hits of this nature in greater frequency.
So which is it?
Probably both and that’s why finding a cure via Shanahan and/or any other disciplinarian is unlikely. They are in the employ of a league that is governed by the same people who pay these players to hit, and be hit. Right now there’s just not enough injuries and incentive to change. It’s why after a strong two months on the job Shanahan seemed to go ‘soft’ or did players start to learn and change their habits? It’s an answer we may never have.
Shanahan started strong because he punished everything with greater severity but then it got complicated. Did he receive pressure from above to modify his decisions? Some would like to think so and to find that smoking gun would be akin to the ‘bounty tapes’ in the NFL. However, all we have is theory so here is mine.
The NHL clamped hard on Shanny after two months. Owners and GMs pleaded for some reprieve and they got it but the players came back because they too are under pressure as owners want results for their millions spent. Forget the inevitable casualties the risk of earning millions in post-season revenue is far too appealing and the suspension is worth it. Look at the players doing the cheap shots. Other than Keith and Bure, is there a superstar getting suspended?
When it comes to the post season and salaries are fully paid the lower rung guys are playing for a deal next year and need to make an impact. During the regular season they are fighting for ice time and if they get suspended for a few games the financial penalty of lost paid manpower is far lower on those doing the hitting. This is where the pressure to perform in an overly aggressive manner is fostered. Take it to the post season and it’s only amped up due to the emotional intensity of the games.
The debate can be spun around in a variety of angles and points of view but one consistent thing remains; the hits and assaults continue year after year. The fix may have to start at a basic level and it’s the one area the NHL has struggled with for years and years, getting the simple things right.
Intent has to be considered as serious as injury. While hard to determine should a player be any less guilty for failing to injure severely even though the chance was there? It’s like trying to kill some one with a gun and only sending them to the hospital because the shooter has bad aim. He was still trying to kill him.
It’s why Weber should be seeing the same number of games as Torres. It’s why Keith should have got as many games as Domi. It’s why when you consider that Aaron Rome did this to Horton last year in this clip:
It’s going to be awfully hard to figure out what to do with Torres when there is no history of consistency in 40 years or in the last year. Hits may be about jobs, they may be about pressure, desire or simply dollars but stopping the madness has to start with common sense.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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