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There's a group of self-proclaimed hockey intelligentsia whom I've dubbed the Corsicans. I'm not referring to everyone who makes use of so-called advanced statistics, but rather the group that tends to hyper-focus on them while either ignoring or being unaware of the rationale for WHY things get done a certain way. This quite often includes an appalling lack of knowledge (or attempt to research) what the Rule Book says.
The other day, I chuckled a bit when a Corsican hockey writer opined that the NHL's three-game suspension of Arizona Coyotes defenseman Anthony DeAngelo for abuse of an official was an "overreaction" by the league.
There was no reaction necessary, folks, much less an overreaction. Rather, this was an open and shut case, based directly upon the specifications of the NHL Rule Book.
Under Rule 40, which deals with abuse of an official, when an abuse penalty is called on the ice by an official (as it was in this case with DeAngelo), it carries an automatic suspension protocol based on different categories dealing with the severity of abuse. The minimum automatic suspension is three games. In instances of potentially more egregious categories of abuse, which carry heavier automatic suspensions, the NHL Commissioner may review the case and adjust the suspension up or down.
If Rule 40 is NOT called on the ice, then any potential suspension review of an incident of suspected abuse of an official falls under Rule 28 (Supplementary Discipline).
Rule 28 provides the NHL the authority to “investigate any incident that occurs with any Pre-season, Exhibition, League or Playoff game and may assess fines and/or suspensions for any offense committed during the course of a game or any aftermath thereof by a player…….
At least in the past, there was a history of on-ice officials not calling Rule 40 and it's often associated, directly or indirectly, with job fear. I applaud the officials in the Arizona vs. Calgary game for not putting up with DeAngelo getting physical in trying to get away from a linesman by shoving down on his arms and then raising an elbow.
I don't know DeAngelo personally, but the constant refrains of him being a "misunderstood good kid" ring increasingly hollow. The truth is that his raw skill level has gotten second and third and fourth chances. Nevertheless, he continues to disrespect the game and the people in it. At bare minimum, he lacks any semblance of maturity, common sense and self-control.
In this case, the right rule and category were cited by the on-ice officials, who did so in a calm and measured manner. There was no overreaction involved.
As for DeAngelo, his career to date symptomatic of a larger problem with making kids feel like they are above the game. This is a second-year "pro" with obvious puck skills and speed but who is already in his second NHL organization. That's one red flag. A bigger one: the kid was twice suspended in his junior career for verbal abuse during his junior career, including ethnic slurs directed at his own teammate, Danny Nikandrov.
Now, DeAngelo puts his hands on an official. Are you sensing a pattern here? But, hey, he's got a lovely Fenway rating per 60 minutes on Tuesday evenings when there's a waxing crescent moon --indeed, he truly drives possession of the TV to catch a few innings of the Sox game -- so let's focus on that instead.
Conversely, if you are interested in learning the rationale behind Rule 40, how it has evolved and how it differs from other forms of supplementary discipline (which fall under the Department of Player Safety realm), click here.
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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.