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There have been a number of on ice ‘incidents’ in the NHL this year from Hjalmarsson’s hit from behind on Pominville to James Wisniewski’s obscene gesture to last nights Rick Rypien’s clash with a Minnesota Wild fan. Every time one of these incidents take place it seems everyone in the hockey world participates in the ‘guess the suspension’ game. Some will guess 2 games, some will guess 10 games, some won’t be satisfied with the suspension even before the NHL makes a ruling, some think the NHL is always too harsh, many think the NHL is always too lenient. To me it is all one big yawn. I mean, who cares really.
My opinion on all of these incidents/suspensions, especially the player vs player incidents, is this: If the NHL and the NHLPA are fine with the suspensions, so am I. The NHLPA has the responsiblity of looking out for its players, even the ones who get hit from behind, so if they are OK with a 2 game suspension for the Hjalmarsson hit, so am I. The NHL and its owners are responsible for paying injured players who get illegally hit from behind so if they are OK with a 2 game suspension for the Hjalmarsson hit, so am I. I am just a fan. I don’t risk my health playing the game nor am I risking a huge investment in the form of an ownership stake and a an injured players salary. The same goes for the should fighting be allowed in hockey argument. It isn’t up to me to decide, it is up to the NHL and the NHLPA.
From my perspective, what I enjoy is hockey. I enjoy watching the game of hockey and talking about hockey on several levels from that highly skilled play to who is the best player in the NHL to how to build a successful hockey team. Playing “guess the suspension’ games I enjoy not so much. Unfortunately players make mistakes and players do stupid things in the heat of the battle, I just wish everyone wouldn’t let a few stupid incidents dominate the discussion.
David Johnson