The Gudas, The Badas & The Ugly https://t.co/tlArmHllSo pic.twitter.com/nVSzcI0ykV
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 4, 2016
Correct me if you've heard this one before:
Philadelphia Flyers lightning rod of controversy Radko Gudas has once agin escaped the long arm of the NHL law.
Gudas' latest transgression occured on Monday night when he targeted 2016 Hobey Baker winner and NY Rangers rookie Jimmy Vesey. Late in the first period, Gudas hazed the fab freshman with this egregious hit from behind.
Gudas hit on Vesey pic.twitter.com/vWzHesVSKa
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 3, 2016
Shame on Vesey for not knowing that Gudas was on the ice for his shift. Rangers veterans should have warned the kid to keep his head on a swivel. Vesey can get away with a late turn off playing against 19 year old boys at Harvard. Not against men in the NHL. Vesey better grow eyeballs on the back of his head. His Rangers will be playing the Flyers early and often this season.
I'm not at all apologizing for Gudas' ultra-aggressive, predatory hit on Vesey.
What makes it so dangerous and cheap is Gudas didn't stop when he saw Vesey in a vulnerable position. Gudas knew what he was doing to whom he was doing it to. He targets the other team's skill players. Always has. That's why he deserves a suspension.
boarding major assessed to Gudas pic.twitter.com/IU2BEqmOCG
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 3, 2016
Vesey returned to the Rangers' bench to begin the second period.
Gudas was properly assessed a boarding major and was sent to the showers for his carelessness.
I want Gudas suspended for 10 NHL games. He has a fat suspension coming his way for the way he has scummed his opponents with greasy hits the past couple of seasons.
Vesey was able to return to the game. He scored after Gudas smashed him.
The only way the NHL would have looked at this play is if Vesey had to be stretchered off the ice after being sewered by Gudas. Maybe that's how teams will retaliate against the Department of Player Safety and its propensity to continually turn a blind eye to Gudas' shenanigans.
I'd love to see former NHLers Chris Pronger and Stephane Quintal removed from the NHL Department of Safety panel. I say each member of the DPS panel gets a two year term limitation. After two seasons, new law men will be hired to police the game. I'm pleased that retired tough guy George Parros was hired this summer to serve on the DPS panel. Parros is a forward and he doesn't appear to have a partiality for players that played his position.
On Tuesday, the NHL said there was no need to hold a supplemental discipline hearing.
"I think we both made the wrong decision," Gudas said. "I was committed to the hit, and when he was turning it was tough to stop", Gudas told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Gudas would be a multi-time offender right now had he been suspended for dirty hits on opponents like these.
If the NHL Department Of Player Safety isn't going to protect all players against predatory hits from habitual offenders like Gudas then the league should repeal the Instigator Rule and allow the players to police themselves like they have in the past.