First, let me preface this by saying that the Orpik hit on Olli Maatta was a poor hockey play, even for playoff standards. It was late and was deserving of a suspension.
However...
What kind of message is the NHL and the Department for Player Safety sending to the players if Orpik receives a 3 game suspension for a high, late hit, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare gets just one for almost paralyzing Dmitry Orlov with a vicious check from behind in Game 3 of the first round?
And the one that really frosts my cookies? The fact that Kris Letang received NOTHING from his blatant and vicious slash to the face of Viktor Stalberg which resulted in Stalberg losing a few teeth.
Orpik is known for his hard-nosed and, sometimes, questionable rough play. As a Caps fan who hated him while he was on the Penguins, I do appreciate his presence on the ice. However, that presence may no longer be felt in this series, and as a hockey fan I think the NHL and Player Safety unjustly made him a 'scape goat.
Plenty of fines have been dolled out this playoffs and other offenders have picked up suspensions, but Orpik's play and his intent is no more a blatant disregard for player safety and the respect of other players on the ice than Letang's obvious intent to injure.
Brayden Schenn was finally given a just suspension after his incredibly dirty cheapshots at Caps players during the first round, but that suspension will be served next season, not during a round.
Again, Orpik deserved a suspension for his "...unacceptably high and excessively late" hit, and his history of suspension didn't help his case, but the Dept. of Player Safety and the NHL need to be more consistent with their rulings.
Chime in: What do you think about Orpik's suspension? Too little? Just Right? Too much?
What do the Caps have to do to fill that physical role?
More to come...