The NHL playoffs are truly one of the great spectacles in sport and the team that hoists the Stanley Cup at the end of a grueling few months deserves the trophy. But here we are in the first round of the playoffs and the idiocy continues.
Nazem Kadri of the Colorado Avalanche executed a hit on the Blues’ Justin Faulk in game 2 of their first round playoff series. The hit in question was definitely an illegal check to the head but the real question now is; what does the NHL Department of Player Safety do with this situation?
The Department of Player Safety failed to basically do anything a few weeks back when Washington Capital forward Tom Wilson dish-ragged Artemi Panarin, which caused an injury that kept Panarin out of the New York lineup for the remainder of the season. Instead, they decided to fine Wilson $5,000 to save face. This inaction allowed a melee to ensue in the following game between the two teams, which took place within 48 hours of the initial incident. It harkened back to the late 70’s and 80’s, when NHL fans went to a boxing match and a hockey game broke out. The entire situation could have been diffused and kept the league from receiving a black eye from the media, but instead we had a remake of Slapshot. Dave is a Killer…
The game has worked hard to nullify fighting and overall buffoonery, but this latest illegal check by Kadri is an unacceptable play in professional hockey. Fighting is one thing, man vs. man, head-up and even, but when a player waits and times a massive body-check to the head when a player is truly defenseless…well this play has no business in hockey.
In the past decade concussions have become too familiar in professional hockey as it has in all high octane physical sports. But in this regard, the NHL has made it clear that illegal contact directly to the head cannot and will not be tolerated. This may be even more heightened in the NHL as stars such as Eric Lindros, who had to cut his career short due to concussions, and present NHL superstar Sydney Crosby, have dealt with concussions that have amounted to a loss of significant playing time.
It is plain to see that Kadri, who is no stranger to player safety discipline with five previous suspensions, had time and space to avoid making contact with Justin Faulk’s head. But ultimately Kadri showed no respect for his opponent by blind-siding Faulk and raising up to allow his shoulder to directly impact Faulk’s chin and face. Faulk was knocked out by the blow and did not return to the game. Kadri was assessed a five minute major penalty and also a match penalty for the hit and was shown the gate by the men in stripes.
The Department of Player Safety has a golden opportunity to truly set a tone moving forward that will stop this type of play once and for all. The hope is that they don’t do something inappropriate because it’s the playoffs and do not enforce a max suspension. Based on this particular circumstance it would be appropriate to suspend Kadri for the remainder of the post season. This scenario will probably not play out, but it would be appropriate to make Kadri sit through the rest of the season and revisit the discipline board at the beginning of next season and levy another final sentence. It really is the only way this type of hit can be stricken from the NHL.
Hockey is truly a great game. Personally, I feel it is the toughest and most competitive team sport and is jam packed with action and skill. However, when you enable players, like Kadri, to inflict injury or peril to other participants then it loses its luster. Do the right thing this time, Department of Player Safety, make an example of Kadri and put an end to illegal checks to the head.
Recent Comments