Let’s talk about a controversial topics in the NHL, the Department of Player Safety.
The DoPS issued its ruling on the Dustin Byfuglien hit yesterday… here it is… The suspension was greeted with appropriate and almost universal cries of foul from the media covering the NHL. Unfortunately it is these types of situations that give folks that don’t cover, nor understand, nor care about the game another reason to write their high and mighty columns about it.
That’s not what this blog is about though.
My take has to do with the basic process of review of these dangerous plays that the DoPS is supposed to be dedicated to getting rid of. If that is truly their mission, they are failing miserably. And the fault lies in how the DoPS reviews and adjudicates it's mission.
It can be argued that the DoPS actually encourages these types of hits.
Not intentionally, to be sure, but the way the department performs its job inadvertently enables a “slot machine… mentality in the players it is charged with protecting. For every four game suspension given, two-three other players get away with it (*cough*Burrows*cough*). In these situations, clear messages need to be sent, and that is not happening. If you think a slot machine is about to pay off, you will keep plugging coins into it. The same mentality is at work here. "Gee, I delivered an illegal assault that could’ve killed or paralyzed a guy and I only got four games" or "I delivered a blind side hit with nothing to do with the playing the puck, and I got a misconduct with no other action. I’ll keep acting stupid until the punishment stops me."
Four games for Byfuglien is better than none I suppose but that’s not saying I agree with the length… I think a cross-check that has the capability to break someone’s neck and that, only by the grace of God didn’t happen, deserves a stiffer penalty, which brings me to my next problem with this…
Why is injury to the offended player any factor in this at all?
The fact that there was no apparent injury on the play was noted in the NHL’s video and has nothing to do with the offense. The fact that this action was so outside the bounds of appropriate play should be the driving factor. I assume that if Byfuglien broke Miller’s neck then he would’ve got a longer suspension? What kind of sense does that make?
You are right… none whatsoever, but until the NHL decides that the offending action is more important that injury, that slot machine will just keep on spinnin’.
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 4/2 – Nashville continues to lead the Central Division lead with 103 points, St. Louis trails by two points with 101. Anaheim leads in the Western Conference with 107 points. Chicago is three points behind the Preds. The Blackhawks and Blues have one game in hand over Nashville.
- The Western Wild Card – Minnesota (77 games played) owns the first wild card slot with 95 points, the Winnipeg Jets (77) are now on the outside looking in as the LA Kings (77) have taken over the second slot with 90 points. The Calgary Flames (78) have the third slot in the Pacific Division leading the Kings by one points. The Jets are tied in points with the Kings, but lose the tie-breaker for the final Wild Card.
- Who Should Pred Nation Root for Tonight? – No help for the Preds last night as both St. Louis and Chicago won. The Blues are in Dallas, the Stars have to win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, if St. Louis wins, they will tie the Preds in point, but Nashville owns the tie-breaker. Chicago is also in action tonight, they are in Buffalo so just give them the two, Chicago will be trailing the Predators by one point at close of play tonight. The last impact game is Colorado visiting Anaheim. An Av’s win in regulation keeps the Ducks within shouting distance.
- Both the Blues and Blackhawks clinched playoff spots last night in the West
- The Eastern playoff situation got more interesting last night as Boston beat Detroit to tie them in points. Detroit has a game in hand, but Ottawa is only three back.
- Speaking of Detroit, they have not won back-to-back games in almost a month. Their goaltending is questionable at best and they are headed in the wrong direction. It may be too late in the season for them to miss the playoffs, but they do not look like a team that can make noise come April 15th.
- The nerve of the Tampa Bay Lightning, restricting sales to their own fans for playoff tickets. That has never in the history of sports been done before… except in Denver, Seattle, Chicago, Indianapolis and heaven knows how many other cities.
- Five games in the NHL tonight – Blackhawks @ Sabres, Canandiens @ Devils, Blues @ Stars, Avalanche @ Ducks, Coyotes @ Sharks.
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