Storyline: The NHL has responsibility for maintaining safety standards, regardless of intent or the player or team involved. Not acting accordingly raises serious questions about the integrity of the NHL.
Why do we as fans continue to wonder why the NHL and league officials don’t treat each incident and player equally? The NHL went to a two-referee system to help clean-up situations and speed-up play. But it’s evident recently that penalties aren’t being called on players with a Superstar moniker. Those plays are being brushed aside as “hockey plays” even though the careers and live of other players are being changed because of reckless play.
Connor McDavid (photo, puckmeplease.com)
Every incident resulting in injury is reviewed by the League–even if not deemed a penalty on the ice. But the issue at hand is this: penalties that would be called on most others do not get called on Superstar players, even plays resulting in severe injury.
A high stick is a two-minute penalty regardless of intent. If it draws blood, then it’s a double minor. If severe, it’s a major penalty with a game misconduct. Those are written rules that get reviewed by the NHL regardless of the on-ice call.
Or so we thought….
Read the following rule and then click the link to watch video. Keep in mind that the rule below is from the NHL Rulebook.
Rule 85. Slashing: Slashing is the act of swinging a player’s stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not. (NOTE ) Non aggressive stick contact to the pant or front of the shin pads, should not be penalized as slashing. (a) A minor or major and a game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player who impedes the progress of an opponent by “slashing” with his stick. (b) A major and a game misconduct penalty or a match penalty shall be imposed on any player who injures an opponent by slashing. (Bold added) (See Rule 43 – Attempt to or Deliberate Injury of Opponents.)
According to Bill Daly, the NHL VP and Deputy Commissioner is NOT looking into Crosby Slash on Methot. Watch this video.
The previous night it was not penalized either. Watch this video.
Result of Crosby slashing Methot (photo, NY Daily News)
The league and officials of every sport have the responsibility to maintain safety standards, regardless of the player, teams, or country of origin. Not doing anything–and publicly stating it will not be reviewed–is something that needs to be addressed at the ownership and management levels.
Not acting accordingly raises serious questions about the integrity of the NHL. It also adds to the perception of favoritism and disregard for the safety of other players.
A slash is one of many penalties. It happens often and many slashes aren’t called. This infraction comes with risks, and one of those risks is penalty and/or injury.
The player who is not trying to hit the puck, but instead targets the stick, hands or body, is deemed to receive a penalty by rule. It could be called countless times during a game and the game would be even slower with more stoppages.
Know that I personally like it when players play with an edge, but that approach also needs to come with accountability, not by hiding behind officials or the league. It used to be that matters like theses were handled by players on the ice and that approach prevented like-offenses from occurring for the remainder of a game or series. It’s very simple: if you want to play that role, then it comes with costs. That was true for all players … or at least it should be.
Courtesy: Boltsbythebay.com
Many of us in hockey accurately predicted that removing the enforcers/policeman from the game was only going to create more stick-work and more injuries. Again, that outcome falls squarely on NHL Management and ownership, and I think it was the by-product of decisions made during the lockout.
Ownership needs to speak up when players receive special treatment and are allowed to commit penalties the result in possible career-ending or long-term injuries. When a Superstar goes unpunished that spells trouble because it places a mark on one of the most skilled players the NHL. Players around the league don’t forget. Fans don’t either.
If the League does the right thing it alleviates the perception of bias. In this particular case, the NHL may have failed the players, teams, and fans. It also raises serious questions about the integrity of the game.
Is my assessment too harsh? I urge you to do your own research and then make up your own mind. The names of those involved were not given so as to protect the Superstar player and NHL Representative. As long as the NHL gives a free pass to individual players to do as they please, then other players are not safe. Teams will be forced to employ Enforcers that the NHL has worked hard to push out of the game. Enforcers will return out of necessity and Superstar players can then concentrate on skills that the NHL covets.
Years ago I served as Director of Officiating in minor league hockey. This is what I told my officials: “If you don’t call it, then you are condoning it.”
@StirlingWright
