The NHL Needs To Finally Get It Right

Watching these clips of incidents involving late hits, sucker punches, swung sticks, and body blows to the head from this season, it becomes very clear that the NHL has a growing problem on their hands.

These clips I've featured here have all been controvercial for one reason or another, and have ignited furious passions among hockey fans with opposing arguments.

At a recent NHL Board of Governors meeting, the league has set out increase the number of instigator fighting calls a player can receive before warranting a suspension. Anaheim GM Brian Burke, whose team has the most fighting majors in the league his season, not coincidentally, led the charge for altering the ruling.

It's my opinion that the NHL simply do away with the instigator call altogether. It might have more of an effect on cutting down on instances such as those seen in these clips, than the NHL's present policing and sentencing policies currently in place.

I would help a great deal, if the four on ice officials could actually get a call correct for once.

In several of these incidents, no call on the initial plays were made at all. Infractions have gone unpenalized as the officials claim that they did not see, or have a clear view, of the play. I find this quite odd, in fact. Going back to last seasons high stick to Saku Koivu's eye by Carolina's Jason Williams, I have become increasingly irritated by how the league folds its arms and closes it's eyes to such things. It is completely unthinkable that 4 of the so-called members of what should be the best hockey officials in the world, can continuously blow calls like these. In the aftermath, the league tends to back up their incompetance repeatedly.





The suspensions handed out to qualify the severity of these abhorrences are equally lucridous.

Each of these incidents are seemingly rendered with degrees of unacceptability, with all the expertise of an amateur figure skating judge looking at what makes a perfect triple axle.

The mounting problems and increase in incidents are a call for stiffer rulings and sentencing that will act as a deterent. Since the league cannot depend on the on ice officials to get things right and control much of the game, the imposed suspensions and fines will have to do the talking.

Since the Bertuzzi-Moore catastrophy of three years ago was fumbled in major proportion by the entire league, a certain on ice frontier justice is being tolerated. If what Bertuzzi ultimately received in accordance to his acts, is supposedly the new standard of fines ans suspensions, it is little wonder why the incidents continue.



I feel it is time for the league to impose benchmark fines and suspensions that call for longer and stiffer expulsions as well as complete removal of earned salary for the duration of a players purgatory.

I believe that standard numbers of games for certain fouls be set without flinching. If a players actions lead to a long term injury, such as a concussion, then the player committing the fouls must remain out of hockey for the same duration as the hurt player. If the injured players career is ended as a result of a hit ruled inapropriate, then the committing player is done with as well.

Furthermore, in lesser cases, a suspended player should not be allowed to participate in games against that opponant, or his team, for the balance of one season and the entirety of the next - including playoffs. This would cut down completely on any incidents of vengence and retribution that could follow.

Blows to a players head would need to be qualified as such that the only tolerated incidents, involve two willing participants in a fight - both dropping the gloves simultaneously. If a player refuses to drop the gloves and go, the player throwing punches would be liable for suspension.

I feel it is time for the league to impose benchmark fines and suspensions that call for longer and stiffer expulsions as well as complete removal of earned salary for the duration of a players purgatory.



I believe that standard numbers of games for certain fouls be set without flinching. If a players actions lead to a long term injury, such as a concussion, then the player committing the fouls must remain out of hockey for the same duration as the hurt player. If the injured players career is ended as a result of a hit ruled inapropriate, then the committing player is done with as well.

Furthermore, in lesser cases, a suspended player should not be allowed to participate in games against that opponant, or his team, for the balance of one season and the entirety of the next - including playoffs. This would cut down completely on any incidents of vengence and retribution that could follow.

Blows to a players head would need to be qualified as such that the only tolerated incidents, involve two willing participants in a fight - both dropping the gloves simultaneously. If a player refuses to drop the gloves and go, the player throwing punches would be liable for suspension.

In the matters of hit to the head using sticks or elbows, a minimum 41 game suspension for causing injury should be put in place. In the instances of shoulders making contact, degrees of acceptability should be considered in respect to the players sizes versus one another. Only what is clearly defined as a clean hit should be tolerated.

When the league initially ruled on Steve Moore's hit on Markus Naslund, it should be recalled that Moore was not penalized for the gesture. Upon many reviews afterwards, it was clearly shown that Moore hit Naslund just as the Canuck player slouched to extend himself in reaching for a puck that had slipped away. The officials in this case made the correct call on the play. It is however, debatable that had a minor or major penalty been called on Moore, it would have diffused the entire incident that followed in the coming weeks.


Of course, all rulings would have grey area's that would require much clarification. In regards to the Kaberle and Drury incidents, there is little doubt that the boards and the ice, respectively, caused the players injuries in these cases. However, such facts do not absDrury's case, a helmet that was poorly strapped down, resulted in a more significant injury that the hit itself. The Simon and Emery fouls involved sticks swung at an opponants head or face, and should be dealt with in an intolerant fashion.

In respect to Scott olve the idea that illegal hits provoked such falls. In the Cam Janssen hit on Kaberle, the contact on the play was extremely late. In Nichol's sucker punch directed at Jaroslav Spacek, the league again blew the call by not nailing the true perpetrator. Spacek received nothing for his trip of Nichol into the goal net - an act that should have been as harshly dealt with. Had an an official stepped in and made a call, leading Spacek away, Nichol may not have been so enraged as to seek revenge immediatly following the deed.



What this column is essentially getting at, is that the penalties invoked upon each incident should not merely penalize the said infractions committed, but act as deterrents for future incidents. The level of the suspensions and fines made mandatory ought to make players think more than twice on what they are about to do.

While my suggestions are quite harsh, I feel that this is the required track considering all that has been seen this season. If players have lost respect for one another to such a high degree, it is now in the leagues hands to deal with the growing problem.

The next Bertuzzi - Moore incident is frighteningly right around the corner if the NHL continues to fail and turn a blind eyes to such a reality.

One black eye was enough. I feel the league needs to have a summit session on this issue as soon as possible.

An Underrated Top 10

Call them unnoticed and underappreciated, breakout players, or rising stars under the radar. Here are 10 players making an impact for their teams this season, who will rarely grab the headlines.

In no order of importance, the unheralded top ten is:

1 - Brian Rolston - Minnesoata Wild: Handy on both the PK and PP, he is a player shaped in the Jacques Lemaire mold. Speedy and intuitive, Rolston plays a role in every Wild win. A gamer 29 other teams would throw on the ice in any game situation, Rolston is enjoting what could be a career year. Won't belong on a list such as this much longer.

2 - Justin Williams - Carolina Hurricanes: An unsung hero of the 'Canes Cup win, this forward is no treat to deal with in corners or in the slot. Consistantly puts up decent numbers while countering the oppositions best threats. Can adjust to any game and tempo, and plays in all game situations. Undid Montreal in last years playoff (in more ways than one) as much as Cam Ward.

3 - Yannick Perreault - Phoenix Coyotes: Reigning facing king has been a late season signing two years running. Missed by each team failing to resign him, YP has offensive flair to go with defensive competance. Though he's never met a corner he's comfortable in, he's put up numbers with limited icetime, won draws at close to a 60% clip, and faced the other teams best while keeping a decent plus/minus. Ottawa, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, and Toronto, really missd the boat on a player who settled for $700,000 year.

4 - Alexei Ponikarovsky - Toronto Maple Leafs: The Buds man of all lines is heading for a career year. Used to shifting line mates, Pony has nonetheless continued to improve offensively. While he adjusts to new linemates by habit, defensive liabilities about him have vanished. The best plus player on his team is on his way to a key componant role.

5 - John Michael Liles - Colorado Avalanche: JML has found himself the unlikely anchor of the Avs D, a role in which he has aquitted himself quite well in. He Q.B.'s the PP and kills off penalties while maintaining close to a point per game ratio. While his rise to the Avs #1 D-man was accentuated by others departures, he has learned and adapted well to his role. As the Avalanches youth matures, so will he.

6 - P.J. Axelsson - Boston Bruins: A role player extraordinaire, P.J. surely underestimated his value in last seasons open market. A proficient pest and speedy thorn, Axe is the type of player every team needs. He stirs, grinds, and needles with Tucker-like instinct. His one drawback is he disappears once games are lost causes. On a winner, he'd be noticed more.

7 - Chris Neil - Ottawa Senators: An old time crowd pleaser with fists, hands, and heart. Shows up, game in game out, despite the score. This sparkplug has desire to spare and has produced surprising numbers while playing in reduced and limited roles. Has greatly overacheived despite what was thought of as a limited talent. Ought to be the next Senators captain.

8 - Chris Clark - Washington Capitals: Parlayed what he learned with Darryl Sutter's Flames into a sound defensive game, he now covers and rides shotgun for Alexander Ovechkin's offensive outbursts. Though the numbers come with the linemates, Clarke is a solid bargain in both ends of the rink. OV won't play a shift without him.

9 - Mike Komisarek - Montreal Canadiens: This former 1st round pick is coming into his own. Call him a subtle Dion Phaneuf, Komi has gained confidence while being the best plus player on the Habs. His hits are painful without needing a highlight reel windup, and he has adapted to the freewheeling new NHL to the surprise of many. A leader in the making and a vital cog in the Habs future.

10 - Olaf Kolzig - Washington Capitals: How does a former All - Star get termed underrated? Forgotten in dismal Caps years, Olie the Goalie has the knack of beating teams singlehandedly on odd nights. Facing close to 40 shots per game, Kolzig is at his best when peppered. A shame he isn't on a contender! Olie is the missing link to many teams Stanley Cup dream. Has stolen his fair share of games so far, and the season is still early. An unsung MVP.