Follow Paul on Twitter: @PaulStewart22
One of the more frustrating aspects of supplementary discipline -- something I know both from the experience of being the decision-maker and also as an observer -- is wading through the inevitable argument that someone should not be suspended for a reckless hit because "he's never been suspended before, so he's clearly not THAT kind of player."
Previous suspension and/or supplementary fine history absolutely does come into play when weighing how many -- if any -- games a player should get for an offense. However, it becomes frustrating when a player who has repeatedly gotten the benefit of the doubt (and therefore has no "official rap sheet") is involved in another incident and his supporters latch on to the lack of previous suspensions as a defense.
A good case in point is former Tampa Bay Lightning and current Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas. I may be mistaken but I do not believe he has been suspended to this point, despite a growing history of delivering checks to the head. His MO seems to be a penchant for chicken-wing forearms or elbows to the head or chin as he skates through his check.
Yes, other players should absolutely keep their heads up and protect themselves. That is Hockey 101. However, under today's rules, the onus is on the hitter to avoid making principle contact with the head. Additionally, the rules have always required the checker to keep his arm tucked and to hit with the shoulder. You can't chicken-wing the recipient.
While with Tampa, Gudas received a match penalty -- but no supplementary discipline -- for a reckless/potentially deliberate head shot delivered to Dallas Stars' forward Antoine Roussel (a player with a well-deserved reputation for cheapshots in his own right). Last season, the NHL Department of Player Safety let Gudas slide again after he delivered an elbow to the head of Florida Panthers' forward Scottie Upshall.
Now in his first season playing with Philadelphia, Gudas has already been involved in two questionable plays in a span of two months. When Philadelphia played the New York Rangers in October, Gudas caught Viktor Stalberg with his head down in the neutral zone and blasted him with a dangerous hit.
On the Stalberg hit, the point of contact was the chin and not the number or logo or the middle of the player's chest or arm. Furthermore, Gudas winged him. As a checker, Gudas could have hit him square but instead went up high, and it caused an injury. No penalty was called here, but anything above the laces on the sweater, should/could be a penalty.
The latest incident happened on Tuesday night in Ottawa. A split second after the drop of a faceoff in the Philadelphia zone, Gudas steamrolled Senators forward Mika Zibanejad with an upper forearm or elbow to the head. Zibanejad was in immediate distress and left the game with what looked to be a potential concussion. There was no call on the play.
For the record, I do think Gudas will get suspended this time because the video is all the place today in the media and the DOPS -- video explanations notwithstanding -- tends to respond as much to the visibility of an incident as to the actual details relative to similar plays that go without review or suspension. The prediction here is two or three games.
************************************************************************
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.
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.