Suspensions in the NHL....still fair and consistant?

Michalek didn't leave his feet but he appeared to target the back of the head. I'm thinking he should have gotten at least a game.

I agree. Consistency has slipped. Zetterberg didn't get a suspension but then I don't think he deserved one.

They must be seeing something we are not seeing. We can look at all the youtube hits we want but we still won't see what they get to see.

That is what has me angry: A few minutes after Ovie's hit--and, yes, it was an illegal hit because Ovie practically Air Jordaned--Michalek goes and headshots Matt Hendricks into the boards. And he did leave his feet, although not as much as Ovie did. If ONE is a suspendable office, BOTH should be. Furthermore, Michalek allegedly admitted that he deliberately targeted Hendy. Does he get away with it because he's a Penguin?

Ovie also should not be considered a repeat offender. I have read that per the terms of the CBA, a player's suspension record is expunged after 18 months. Ovie's last suspension was 22 months ago (a boarding call in a game against Chicago in March 2010). He's cleaned up his act since then. I think the Caps and/or NHLPA would have a case for appealing the length, given Shanahan's erroneous mention of his past record without mentioning that it's been almost two years since his last suspension.

Now Ference--come on, that WAS a dirty hit. Three games may be a bit severe for a first-time offender, but his opponent couldn't see the hit coming and brace for it, where Michalek could brace for Ovie's hit. There's a difference between hitting a guy between the numbers and aiming for a guy's shoulder and (oops) getting the side of the head.

Sorry your boy is out. Maybe next time he'll remember not to board a guy.

I admit I didn't see the Ference hit, but from what I have gathered this year, it seems as if the base is usually 3 games, then more games get added for injuries and recent (within 18 months, apparently Ovi's last one wasn't) suspensions.

Given that neither caused apparent injury, and Ovechkin hadn't been suspended in the last year and a half, the suspensions were consistent.

I think we can all agree this year is better then the random suspension system last year.

No, no I don't quite agree with what Shanny does.

But I don't agree with you either. Ovi's hit, while he jumps, is nowhere near as viscous as Ference's. Ovi's hitting a guy you can clearly see braced and ready for the hit. It's dirty, don't get me wrong, but at least the guy could protect himself. Ference dumps it, lines him up, and shoves him into the boards.

I'm a little more aggressive than Shanny would be. Those 1-game suspensions wouldn't exist in my ruling, because really, that's no punishment.

But back to the original point. Consistent and fair? Maybe not. But no one on this earth could be consistent and fair at the same time. Shanny's got a list of things he looks for, he talks to the guys. I don't mind the job he's doing. I just wish he'd start handing out much, much bigger suspensions.

@Meerkat - The guy Zetter hit, I've heard, wrote Shanny a letter explaining that he lost his edge and Zetter had nothing to do with him falling and asked he not be disciplined. I assume that's why there wasn't even a meeting despite the injury.

I cannot stand the inconsistency on the suspensions. For one, Michalek should have got at LEAST a one game suspension (though personally that was boarding at it's best if I ever saw it, so it should have been at least 3). And 2, Subban should have been suspended about 5 times now but for some reason I guess Slew footing is acceptable as long as you pay a $2,500 fine. Great Job NHL!

This is what I do not get....they want to "Prevent" dangerous hits and "protect" players on the Ice....but they "punish" the player AFTER the damage has already been done. Now, I'm not trying to Cooke bash, as I believe players CAN redeem themselves. But, how in the hell does Matt Cooke getting suspended last season for the playoffs help out Marc Savard after he got hit by him? It doesn't!

The League needs to think about this...how man suspensions have been handed out already this season? Or the first 2 Months of the Pre-Season/Regular Season? Okay. Now, how many players are still hitting/cheap shotting players and currently getting suspended? Exactly. The players to me still do not seem "scared" of the suspension punishments, And I'm also scared that, players that have been suspended will be afraid to hit like they used to during the games....even if it would be a clean hit....the thought in the back of their mind would be "I don't want to jeopordize my career".

The whole thing is Inconsistent, and I'm not seeing how anything is working. Again I'll state my opinion on what would work....It's called bring back the Enforcer!

Hi

First, I hate when people just say Shanahan when it comes to the suspensions, he is just the public figure, it is a whole committee that decides these things.

I have felt a few should have been longer, but most of those are the more sever repeat offenders. For the sake of those bringing up Ovechkin, him being out 3 games hurts his team more than about any other player currently not hurt. He plays more minutes per game and is more apart of the game plan. You have to weight that into the time of the suspension. You figure in he also forfeits more salary per game then some players do their entire suspension and that is another factor to consider.

I am expecting the lengths for first time offenders to the targeted hits to the head to go up next season. I have been very unimpressed with the players response to the league saying this has to stop.

Thank You

First of all, I don't think by NHL rules Ovi is repeat offender. I seem to recall that only repeats within some time frame (is it 18 months?) count.

There will always be some who object to every suspension. What I think makes the current system okay is that Brendan Shanahan explains exactly WHY he is suspending and to some extent why he chose the specific period. Way better than the old system which seemed to be totally random.

I think Shanny's doing a pretty good job. Obviously you can't please all of the people all of the time, and there have been a few suspensions or non-suspensions I would question, but overall I think the NHL is on the right track. If you start punishing every single headshot, eventually they'll disappear (I like rough hockey, but hitting the head is just a dick move).

I think shanahan is doing a great job, but Michalek should have been suspended at least a game too.