The Inmates are now running the Asylum!

      The NHL's dicipline problems are now totally out of control. Dart board justice Colin Campbell and his clueless crony Mike Murphy can't seem to impose any kind of suspensions of substance. They leave dangerous hits, cheap shots and repeated intents to injure unpunished. The players are now starting to take matters into their own hands and vigilante justice is now running rampantly through the league where no player is safe.

     The NHL has most likely lost its biggest superstar, Sidney Crosby, for the rest of this season and still head shots continue to happen. Some completely unpunished, others severely, depending who you are and which team you play for.

     After his death, former tough guy Bob Probert's brain scan showed he had CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) which is caused by multiple concussions. Still, the NHL makes no changes to its body checking or fighting rules.

     Mario Lemieux ripped into the league about the leniency of suspensions for what he sees as intent to injure tactics. He warns the NHL that it needs to correct these problems or he might leave the game as an owner. Still, the NHL makes no changes.

     Boston Bruin's defenseman Zdeno Chara (6'-9",265lbs.), finished his illegal interference check of Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty into the slightly padded stanchion between the two team benches. Pacioretty's head is directed by Chara's arm right into the dangerous turnbuckle where Pacioretty is knocked unconscious and fractured his C4 vertebrae. Chara stated he did not intend to check the player into the stanchion and did not know where exactly he was on the ice. Chara claimed that Pacioretty jumped up while being pushed into the stanchion. The league's disciplinarian's assistant, Mike Murphy reviewed the video and talked to Chara by phone before deciding that he could not see anything wrong with the check other than interference and that the players head was not targeted. Chara had no prior history of suspensions, so the Bruins player was not even punished.

     Max Pacioretty spoke out that night from his hospital bed, with disbelief, that the NHL didn't see the hit on him as dangerous enough to warrant a suspension. Canadiens' GM, Pierre Gauthier, briefly stated: "The NHL made it's decision and it's not for us to express our opinion publicly,".

     The next day, a letter was released to the media from a major sponsor, Air Canada, to the NHL, threatening removal of sponsorship if no action was taken with regards to the issue of headshots and concussions. Bettman informed them that if they wanted to pull their sponsorship, then the NHL teams could use another airline carrier for travel.

     The owner of the Montreal Canadiens, Geoff Molson decided to address a letter to the team's fans on their website which clearly stating the Teams ownerships' views on what had happened to Max Pacioretty. The letter stated:

"Dear Fans,

I would like to thank you all for your comments and support as the Pacioretty family, and our entire organization, deal with this difficult situation. I share your frustration, disappointment and shock. I feel for Max, the team and you, our fans.

Max, on behalf of my family, fans and all who are associated with this great organization, rest assured that we are all behind you and hope for a full recovery.

The Montreal Canadiens is an institution that has played a leadership role in this League and in our community for over 100 years, and you can count on us to continue to do so in the future. The news of the NHL decision yesterday was a hard blow for both the players and fans of the Montreal Canadiens. It was one which shook the faith that we, as a community, have in this sport that we hold in such high regard.

The Montreal Canadiens organization does not agree with the decision taken yesterday by the National Hockey League. We can assure you that we have made our position clear to Commissioner Gary Bettman, and that he has agreed to make this issue a priority at the next General Manager’s meeting, which will be held in Florida on March 14-16. Pierre Gauthier, our General Manager, will be present at this meeting and has already expressed his wish to carry out, clearly, our message to his 29 counterparts and to the League.

Our organization believes that the players’ safety in hockey has become a major concern, and that this situation has reached a point of urgency. At risk are some of the greatest professional athletes in the world, our fan base and the health of our sport at all levels. Players’ safety in hockey must become the ultimate priority and the situation must be addressed immediately. As a proud father of three hockey players, I want to help create a healthy and safe experience for them, and I certainly never want any family to go through what the Pacioretty’s are experiencing at this moment.

We understand and appreciate hockey being a physical sport, but we do not accept any violent behavior that will put the players’ health and safety at risk. On this specific issue, I am asking for the support of the 29 other NHL owners, to address urgently this safety issue. And I am willing to play a leadership role in coordinating this group effort.

You are the best fans in the league, and I am proud to have you behind us. Both the team and Max need your support now more than ever. A solid playoff run is just around the corner and we are counting on you to carry us deep into the spring!

GO HABS GO!


Geoff Molson
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Team Owner"

      As the fans' uproar has grown over the last week, more sponsors have expressed their concerns with the NHL's failure to address the concussion issues. Some high profile players (J.Thornton, H. Sedin) have come out against the NHL's decision not to suspend Chara for the hit on Pacioretty. As always, there are others who believe that nothing is wrong with the way the game is presently being played and you just can't make hurried changes. This week in Florida, the GMs will meet to discuss many issues but the main topics are concussions and the headshot rules. We all wait to see what the NHL will do if anything, after the past few difficult weeks of publicity. This is going to be interesting to see how the NHL will respond to what has transpired this season in the league.

     I have 30+years as a player, coach and referee in hockey at all minor league levels. The Chara hit disturbed me in many ways. Hockey has been played for over 100 years and changes to the game have always come to make the game better and fairer. What most fans have seen over the last few years, is the NHL players are getting concussed more now. Crosby being out has only heightened the awareness of the problem. Probert's and Fleming's diagnoses of CTE again worsened this fear. It should not be simply dismissed. The game has become faster because the rules changed in the NHL after the lock out, to stop the interference. The rules of the game are all there to stop what is happening in the NHL but they have to be enforced. I have, since I was a kid, wondered why is it that the NHL does not seem to have the same penalties for the infractions as we do. The NHL is not the leader for safer or better hockey. Kids have always followed NHL Players' actions but do we really want our kids acting this way? The NHL has a catch 22, if there are to be changes. It must be the same from the ground up every where. Some provinces and countries have different philosophies, checking rules and teaching techniques. Players in the NHL come from around the globe now as well. The NHL has to re-teach the players how to check an opponent and that the purpose of body checking is not for intimidation but simply for regaining possession of the puck. The NHL hits today do neither. I hear too often that the player was just finishing his hit and didn't intend to injure his opponent. Well then why do it? Finishing the hit after the puck is gone seems ridiculous since the puck is no longer there to possess anyway, therefore the hit only serves to intimidate, injure or gain retribution. Chara's body check was deemed illegal on the ice by referees because the puck was no longer there. The body check was clearly serving one of the three reasons I stated before, but only Chara knows which. The reason the NHL could not give a suspension now was because it only would show their incompetences in not correcting the stanchion problems and that they failed to act on all the previous times this infraction occured. This is just another problem which was ignored again by the NHL while failing to make changes for the betterment of the game. People who really love the game of hockey must continue to demand changes, not in the rules so much as the attitudes towards how they are enforced by the officials and how the game is played.

     It is clear to me that right now the players are out of control with no line being draw as to what is acceptable and what is not. The players are deciding on their own by their actions being shown on the ice, that the NHL leadership is no longer in control of the game.

Out of The Fires of Hell, the New Jersey Devils Have Risen!

         On December 23rd, 2011, the New Jersey Devils were the 2nd worst team in the NHL with a record of 9 wins - 22 Losses - 2 Overtime/Shootout losses. They had only 1 win in the last 9 games and been out scored 15-3 in the last 3 games. The devils were disorganized, injured and a complete disappointment to their fans. They simply weren't the team everyone, including themselves, had expected them to be this season. The 2010-2011 season was over for the New Jersey Devils, they were too deep in a hole and buried to even think of making the Stanley Cup playoffs.

     The Devils looking like the Titantic, already sunk in every body's minds. There were supposed to be drastic changes to the team, in order to rebuild them for the future. The speculation had already started earlier in December that the Devils would start to off load some of their UFAs and bigger contracts including future Hall of Fame goalie, Martin Brodeur.

     On December 23, Devils' GM Lou  Lamoriello announced that he had fired Head Coach John MacLean. He explained that the fault lay with himself and the players, not John. The GM had decided to bring back Jacques Lemaire for this season. The only man Lamoriello felt could help decide how to move forward and clearly evaluate the team. He had asked his friend Jacques to just coach, teach and see what were the problems that needed to be addressed with the team until the end of the year.

     Jacques Lemaire, having coached the Devils last year before retiring from hockey, knew the players well. He coached the Devils that night but he also saw the same losing results as MacLean. He lost the first 3 games before winning one. With the Devils' disappointing 1-7 record under Lemaire, GM Lamoriello traded captain Jamie Langenbrunner just 15 days after the coaching change . Lamoriello went out of his way to explain that the trade was made for the reason that Langenbrunner's on-ice role would be reduced, allowing the younger players to play bigger minutes for coaching staff to better evaluate them. He also stated that the Devils would not be re-signing Langerbrunner who would be a UFA at the end of the season so it was better to trade him now. Lamoriello felt that this move was respectful to Langerbrunner for all his years of service for the Devils. One of Lamoriello's statements stood out the most for me at the time:

"We have to look at what the reasons are that we find ourselves in this situation. In my opinion it's not talent, but maybe it's the wrong talent, wrong chemistry. That starts with me."

    Since Lamoriello made that trade, the Devils have a record of 20 wins - 2 losses - 2 OT/SO losses with their All Star goalie, Martin Brodeur, missing some of those games. They had turned their dismal season completely around despite the absence of Zach Parise, Brodeur, and trading their captain. Lemaire has been able to diagnose the problems and make the necessary changes to get the Devils playing successful hockey. It sure looks like Langerbrunner may have been one of the problems but definitely not the only one. Lemaire and his coaches have the team playing smart defense-first hockey with opportunistic scoring. Even more impressive about Lemaire is that he has convinced offensive talent, Ilya Kovalchuk, that this system will win games. Kovalchuk is working hard on learning to play defense but he has also exploded on offense. He has increased his goals from 9 to 24 and reduced his plus/minus ratio to -17 from an awful -27. Ilya is scoring big goals to win games and has bought completely into Lemaire's system. The Devils are playing it one game at a time but they are also closing the gap between themselves and a playoff spot. They are charging for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference, after being 18 points out, and are now only 8 points behind the Buffalo Sabres. With 17 games left to play and 8 points to gain, will time run out on this team that just won't quit?

     The Devils, Lemaire and Lamoriello have turned into the story of this season. They will receive a big boost from the return of All Star goal scorer, Zach Parise sometime in the next couple of weeks. This could turn out to be the biggest turn around of any team in all of sports. I, for one, believe they are going to do it. If they make that 8th spot for the Stanley Cup playoffs, then it is a whole new season for the surging Devils. Watch out, whoever has to face them in the first round series. This team isn't supposed to be anywhere near the playoffs so they will be a very dangerous team to play against just like the Canadiens and Flyers of last season. A team like the Devils are going to be having so much fun and playing with absolutely nothing to lose!

     Jacques Lemaire is definitely the coach of the year. He also now belongs right up there with Hall of Fame coaches Scotty Bowman and Toe Blake. The New Jersey Devils story is starting to look like a legendary myth that will be recounted to all hockey teams who are ever down and out!

     We should all lace up the skates, strap on the helmet and sit back because we are in for one hell of a wild ride. Let's all watch the Devils blaze their way through the teams ahead of them right into the Stanley Cup playoffs!

NHL and Player's Association Given a Gross Misconduct Penalty on Rule 48 Head shots!

Part 2

 

     The week of February 6-13th 2011, two games have shown just how ineffective the NHL & P.A have been with regards to head shots, concussions, goonery, retaliation and suspensions.

     The Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins played a fight filled game on Feb. 9,2011 where a total of 182 penalty minutes were given. The last minute of the game is where things were clearly out of hand. It started with Andrew Ference's two handed slash on Tomas Plekanec which provoked Travis Moen to defending his teammate by going after fight Ference. This started a line brawl which had the Bruins enforcers Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton and Boychuk going after Tom Pyatt, Roman Hamrlik and Jaroslav Spacek. Bruins Thornton and Boychuk (fighters) started fights with Hamrlik and Spacek (non fighters) breaking a long time fighting code where fighters do not engage non fighters unless punched first. This was not the case here. In fact the opposite happened. Campbell followed the code against Pyatt engaging him only after being punched twice. Campbell later used his elbow pad as a weapon on the face of Pyatt cutting him badly enough for him to require seven stitches. No Bruin was suspended and the team was not fined for putting their goons on in the last minute of the game. NHL H.O. Colin Campbell or Mike Murphy failure to address the games final events has to put a dark shadow over the NHL's integrity as Campbell's son was one of the players involved for the Bruins.

     Two days later, a Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders game escalated so out of control that it left some long time hockey people shaking their heads in disbelief. The game ended with a total of 347 minutes in penalties. It all started with Matt Martin of the Islanders trying to sucker punch Maxime Talbot from behind which he escaped unhurt. It is believed this attack by Martin was for retribution of a late body check on Blake Comeau by Talbot in the previous game. The Islanders felt it was a dirty check. Comeau has been out of the Islanders line up, suffering from a concussion. Talbot received no penalty or suspension for the hit. The game only became worse after that. Trevor Gillies, of the Islanders elbowed Eric Tangradi to the head from behind, into the boards. He then proceeded to punch a hurt and dazed Tangradi which brought teammates to his defense. Fights started all over the ice. The linesmen broke up a fight between Mike Haley(NYI) and Maxime Talbot(PIT) but were unable get the players to the penalty box. Haley skated the length of the ice to start another fight with the Penguins goalie Brent Johnson. He was clearly trying to get some payback for his goalie Rick DiPietro. DiPietro is out for 4-6 weeks with a facial fracture suffered in a one punch fight with Johnson in their last meeting. DiPeitro had initiated the fight with Johnson. Eric Godard(PIT) jumped off the Penguins bench to come to the aid of his goaltender and he started punching Haley together with Johnson until it too was broken up.

     Campbell summoned Godard, Gillies, Martin to a disciplinary meeting to discuss the events of the game. Zenon Konopka was also summoned to this meeting because he supposedly left the bench on a legal line change to instigate an altercation. This infraction demands a review with a possibility of suspension. Haley was simply not even summoned by Campbell as if his actions were within the rules of the game.

The next day, the NHL announced their decisions on the players as follows:

Eric Godard (PIT.) - 10 games suspension for leaving the bench during a fight.

Trevor Gillies (NYI.) - 9 games suspension for blindside elbow to head with intent to injure.

Matt Martin (NYI.) - 4 games suspension for a blindside sucker punch to head but the player was not hurt but it was his 2nd offense for head shot.

Mike Haley (NYI.) - 0 games suspension, no answer by NHL. Not even called to meeting by NHL. No explanation of any kind as why he was unpunished.

Zenon Konopka (NYI.) - 0 games suspension, again no answer given by the NHL.

New York Islanders - $100 000 fine to the club for failure to control players.

     The NHL's announcement of these suspensions fueled the already furious Pittsburgh Penguin's owner ex-NHL (Great) Mario Lemieux to issue this statement:

"Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn't hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

"The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

"We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.

"If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it."

     The NHL should not consider the intentions of the perpetrators nor the injuries to the victims when deciding on length of suspensions. When are the NHL and P.A. going to wake up and protect their assets ( the players)? They can stop the head shots if the referees are instructed to call these hits automatically and more consistently. They can raise suspensions (Bigger suspension for 1st offense, 2nd and so on.) each time as a deterrant and coach the players how to properly separate the man from the puck, not the head from the shoulders. Hockey is a very physical, fast and the greatest game. No exception. It is even better when the body checking is done both cleanly and properly. The NHL continues to lose some very skilled and talented players to head shots, borderline dirty hits and human missiles charging into body checks.This can not be good for the game of Hockey, period. IT IS TIME FOR THE NHL TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL LEVELS OF HOCKEY WITH IT'S ACTIONS TOWARD ON-ICE VIOLENCE. The NHL needs to correct these issues before some player's neck is broken or worse, dies while playing a game that he and so many of us really love playing. Has the better, more protective equipment caused players to play like human missiles with no apparent fear of injury? Sidney Crosby might not play again this year. Is this best for his health and also the game of Hockey in the NHL? Only if Crosby does not return, will the NHL make the necessary changes to their game and they would be wise to listen carefully to Lemieux's statements. He has the ability to see the game of hockey as both a player and an owner but he also has the leverage of Crosby being hurt to help make the necessary changes to the NHL game. Lemieux hit it bang-on with his statement that the NHL failed to give meaningful disciplinary action. Martin's suspension is a joke. Martin's gutless attack was eerily similar to that of Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi would received a suspension for the rest of the regular season and playoffs for his attack on Steve Moore where his neck was broken. Martin could have received just as much or more if Talbot had been badly hurt. Haley received no suspension whatsoever for his actions nor were they even considered. He, like Martin, also was seeking retribution for an injured teammate and should have been properly suspended.

     Colie Campbell and Mike Murphy have been placed in positions where you have to question their integrity and that of the NHL. The NHL allows both of them to hold these decision-making positions while they have both applied or requested about General Manager jobs with teams around the league to which they have been turned down. Could these men not hold any grudges towards any of the teams who rejected them for these jobs? Very hard to prove or believe, but why does the NHL leave them in their present jobs? Colie Campbell's son plays in the league for the Boston Bruins. He has excused himself when it comes to suspension or decisions of discipline to the Bruins, allowing Mike Murphy to make those decisions. How is Murphy supposed to be unbiased when he works with and is a good friend of Campbell? Murphy's integrity came into question by Dean Lombardi of the Los Angeles Kings after a goal against his team was allowed by the referees, that was clearly struck by a high stick into their net, by the Phoenix Coyotes. Murphy, who is in-charge of all video reviews from Toronto, allowed the call on the ice to stand. Lombardi and the Kings were livid after they lost the game in Phoenix 2-0. Lombardi exploded after the game to the media, claiming he should have expected his team not to get the proper call when the decision would be made by Murphy who was rejected for the Kings GM job. Lombardi was fined $50,000 by commissioner Gary Bettman for questioning the integrity of the NHL and Mike Murphy. We have to question Bettman's point of view now, as the Coyotes hockey team had not yet been sold by the NHL so they were still in ownership of the club. The NHL, Campbell and Murphy are in conflict of interest in their decisions and the jobs these men hold.

     I believe it is time for NHL to use a Disciplinary Committee to address game misconducts, match penalties and all required suspensions, using a group of 7 people. It should include ex-players, ex-general manager, ex-NHL on-ice officials, someone with no present biases toward any team. This type of committee can only be an effective deterrent for the players' on-ice transgressions by acting clearly, consistently and fairly when imposing suspensions.

The following are my suggestions for this committee:

Wayne Gretzky(NHL Player, coach, owner) as Chairman,

Keith Primeau (NHL player left game with concussions),

Pat Lafontaine (Same as Primeau),

Scott Bowman(Coach, general manager and special consultant),

Bob Gainey(NHL player, coach, general manager and special consultant),

John D'Amico(NHL linesman one of the most respected),

Andy Van Hellemond(NHL referee, supervisor, video review supervisor and the most respected referee).

     If the NHL and the P.A. work together, cooperate and listen to each other's views of the problems, only then will there be better solutions to the concussion injuries that plague their league. When the Collective Bargaining Agreement is re-negotiated in 2012, this is where the two sides must make substantial changes to the rules for the game of hockey and the NHL.

　

　

     Here are all the infractions so far this year, mentioned in this article. You take a good look at all of them before deciding what the NHL should have done that could have changed what has happened on the Head shot Issue. Are the NHL really trying to get concussions and dangerous hits to the head out of the game of Hockey? I certainly don't think so but you decide.

Eric Godard(PIT) 10 games suspension leave bench altercation Feb11,2011Trevor Gillies(NYI) on Eric Tangradi(PIT) blindside elbow to head & punches after player down intent to injure 9 games suspension.Matt Martin(NYI) on Maxime Talbot(PIT) Blindside sucker punch player not hurt on intent to injure 4 games suspension Mike Haley(NYI) no suspension 2nd altercation length of ice with Brent Johnson(PIT) goalie?   http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=53&id=97529 NYI VS PIT Feb 11,2011 all above events.

Matt CookePIT on Fedor TyutinCBJ $ games suspension 5 min Charging major  http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=552098

Anton VolchenkovNJD on Zach BoychukCAR elbow minor was a blindside hit 3 games suspension only? FDRYhttp://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=552089

Daniel Paille BOS on Raymond Sawan DALFeb. 3,2011 4 games suspension back pressure head shot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5ggHK-FDRY

Mike BrownTOR on Ed JovanovskiPHX Jan.15,2011 3 games suspension Rule 48 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ky4p9m3XM

Tom KostopoulosCAL on Brad StuartDET Jan. 7,2011 6 games suspension head shot not rule 48 - Stuart broken jaw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDYBpZbGvv4

David SteckelWAS on Sidney CrosbyPIT Winterclassic Jan 1 2011- Crosby still out until March Best player in the game, no suspension Steckley incident no intent - What should that matter?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUQziwabMKk

Matt Martin NYI on Vernon FidlerPHX Dec. 20,2010 2 games suspension http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ZAvaL1MSc

Joe ThortonSJS on David PerronSTL - has not played since the hit Nov 4, 2010 2 game suspension  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55RtBUyKcA

Shane DoanPHX on Dan SextonANA Oct.17,2010 3 games suspension. For the most part, it was textbook rule 48. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4iudZhY7ow

　

　

NHL and Players Association Given a Gross Misconduct Penalty on Rule 48 Head Shots!

Part 1

     The National Hockey League (NHL) and its Players' Association (NHLPA) are making decisions that are both detrimental and negligent to the game of hockey. The NHL is supposed to be the role model and leader for the lower levels of hockey while setting the example for all others to follow but the opposite has been happening for way too long. At every lower level of hockey, changes on protection of head shot rules, and disciplinary actions taken on all offenses committed have already been in place for sometime. I have to give the NHL and the P.A. a gross misconduct on head shots Rule 48 on behalf of all hockey!

The gross misconduct penalty rule as written in the rulebook of Hockey Canada. Reads like this:

GROSS MISCONDUCT

Rule 4.7 Gross Misconducts Gross misconduct penalties shall be assessed where a person conducts him or herself in a manner as to make a travesty of the game.

Here is what the NHL's rule now reads like this:

Rule 24 - (Not in use) NOTE: Gross misconduct penalties have been re- classified as game misconduct penalties (see 23.7). The term "gross misconduct penalty" is no longer in use.

     The gross misconduct rule was conveniently replaced by a game misconduct in 2007 by the NHL Board of Governors to make these penalties easier to review. You can see how the NHL and the P.A views the state of the game in their NHL. It appears that the players of the league are the saints of all hockey because they never commit an infraction that could be seen as a travesty of the game. They appear to be so gentlemanly in manners, sportsmanship, etiquette and have a general respect amongst all players, that the gross misconduct penalty is simply not required. Really?

     After the 2009-2010 NHL season, the Player's Association asked the NHL to add an infraction for blows to the head. They had seen some severe concussions during the past season to Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins and David Booth of the Florida Panthers, both on blindside checks making contact with the head of the players. The NHL and their P.A. rushed into effect Rule48 for the 2010-2011 NHL Season.

Here is how the Rule 48 reads:

Rule 48 - Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

48.2 Minor Penalty - There is no provision for a minor penalty for this rule.

48.3 Major Penalty - For a violation of this rule, a major penalty shall be assessed (see 48.4).

48.4 Game Misconduct – An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty - The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.

48.6 Fines and Suspensions – Any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconducts under this rule, in either regular League or playoff games, shall be suspended automatically for the next game his team plays. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule 28).

     There are currently nine suspensions that have been handed out since the start of the 2010-11 season using Rule48. There are plenty more which have not been given a penalty call by the referees, who were standing right in front of the infraction, or reviewed by NHL hockey operations ( Colin Campbell and Mike Murphy) and deemed not warranting further disciplinary action. The NHL stated that the rule is reducing these hits and the players are adjusting to the new rules. According to the NHL, straight-on hits that made contact with the head are okay and are very much a part of the physical toughness of the game of hockey, because a player must skate with his head up at all times when in possession of the puck. Concussions in the NHL continue to happen on a regular basis with varying degrees of excuses, from the hard glass, head down, faster, taller, stronger players, players putting themselves in vulnerable positions and then claims that the check was accidental with no intent to injure.

     On January 1, 2011 during the NHL Winter Classic, Pittsburgh Penguins' star center Sidney Crosby was struck by David Steckel of the Washington Capitals in an apparent unintentional accidental blindside shoulder to the head. That same week, Crosby left a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after another hit this time, into the glass. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion which would keep him out of the team's lineup for 10 to 14 days. Crosby was notably absent from the NHL All Star Weekend on Jan.28-30,2011 because he was still unable to workout due to lingering concussion symptoms. The NHL Board of Governors meeting that weekend dealt with the ongoing battle with concussions. Following that meeting, Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager, Brian Burke stated that the media's attention on concessions was only generated by Sidney Crosby's recent Diagnosis. Darren Dreger of TSN also reported that "Another NHL general manager says the impact of Crosby's concussion has heightened the demand by league owners to introduce a penalty for head checking, perhaps, as soon as next month's GM meetings in Florida. If that happens, one issue the league will have to wrestle with is fighting which, of course, leads to hits to the head". It appeared that the owners were only concerned about concussions after one of the NHL's biggest young superstars extended absence started to take it's toll financially on the team and the league. Crosby's problems are beginning to hurt the owners in their collective pocket books because the drop attendance in a number of venues where Crosby's Penguins would be visiting. Mark Savard of the Boston Bruins, suffered another concussion while being driven face first into the boards, then checked in another game, into the glass.

     February 3, 2011, Daniel Paille of the Bruins check Dallas Star player Raymond Sawan on a back pressure blindside elbow to the head in a fight- filled emotional and physical game. What caused the biggest sensation in the media was the comments to reporters, of his teammate Andrew Ference immediately following the game. Here are those comments: "I mean, it's a bad hit, right? That's what they're trying to get rid of and you can't be hypocritical about it when it happens to you, and say it's fine when your teammate does it," Ference said. "It's a hit they're trying to get rid of. I mean you hear it from every player after they do it, they feel bad, and same thing. I talked to Danny and he feels bad. It's tough, that back checking forward, to make those kind of hits, it's so hard to do it in a clean fashion, with the new rules. It is what it is. He hurt the guy, and I'm sure he'll have a conversation." Ference was ripped by many of the older players who were now reporting that he should have kept it in the dressing room only, not out to the media. You have to applaud Ference for not being a hypocrite about the hit when he was placed in a difficult position by the media. He has to be against these hits when seeing teammates Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron suffering for very extended periods with concussions. Now, Savard having to announce that he must stop playing for at least this season and the very big possibility of having to retire from the NHL due to another concussion. The Penquins later announced that Crosby would not return until at least sometime in March. Crosby told reporters that he was still not ready to workout and was suffering still from concussion symptoms but felt that his condition was improving. He wants to be back this season and hopes not to be forced into shutting down his playing career until next season.

     On Twitter, Bob McKenzie tweeted "Bob Clarke has it right - purpose of hitting has changed from separating man from puck to being a missile. Puck is an afterthought now". If Bob Clarke, who led the Flyers through their Broad Street Bullies era, is the modern day spokesman for sanity in the league, how far have the NHL fallen? Lest we forget that the Broad Street Bullies were the most penalized team in NHL history. Bob sees the problem but the NHL still can't get right. The retired players of the game have been saying for years that present day players are bigger, faster, stronger, with better all-around fitness levels and greater athleticism but are overall lacking in respect for each other. The older players, like Clarke, played the game rough, physical, without helmets, but they didn't have to worry about head shots when being body checked. The retired players in their day, policed themselves. There were no need for bodyguards. When the NHL absorbed the four remaining teams of the World Hockey Association, big policemen type players protected the Superstars of the game. Wayne Gretzky had Dave Semenko, SteveYzerman had Bob Probert for protection on the ice and players feared going after them in any sort of way. The NHL decided to enact the instigator penalty, an extra two minute infraction to the player who started a fight. The rule was to reduce fighting and the number of fights per season have dropped but it has allowed certain types of players to be more dirty, bold and cowardly in their play knowing there will be no immediate retribution on the ice. Players are now waiting for other games against offending player's teams to exact the retribution thus the vigilante justice that now prevails in the NHL.

TO BE CONTINUED................

Pierre Gauthier's Defense men Dilemma

  
     Canadiens' General Manager, Pierre Gauthier, has a familiar dilemma to face, once again as the NHL trade deadline approaches. He may have to make some tough decisions where his defense men are concerned.

      The Canadiens are at risk of losing all 4 veteran defense men to free agency on July 1,2011 with no players or draft picks in return. Gauthier has to decide who, of these defense men (Andrei Markov, James Wizniewski, Hal Gill and Roman Hamrlik) to re-sign. This decision will not be easy, especially with the salary cap restrictions. Josh Gorges and Alexandre Picard, who are restricted free agents could be re-signed. There is less urgency to sign these players because the Canadiens could match another team's offer or choose to accept draft choices as compensation. P.K. Subban, Yannick Weber and Jaroslav Spacek are still under contract. The team could revamp the defense to be more physical, Mobile and younger or try to mix some of the veterans with the younger players.

     It will be very interesting to watch what could unfold over the next few weeks and then after the playoffs up to the July 1st deadline. The general manager is definitely in the driver's seat to make changes if needed. Teams should always pair their defense men together, by having an offensive defense men with a more stay at home defensive defense men.

The following is what I would do if I were the General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens:

     Andrei Markov could be signed at a much lower salary on a short term deal of 1-3 years. The Team will have to let him go if they can not negotiate a better price than the present contract. He has not played that many games in the last 3 years and has been out way too much in the playoffs. The Habs are showing they can play without the all-star defense man. He is, however still one of the league's top defense man (when healthy) both offensively and defensively. If the Habs need to make a choice, it will be Markov over JamesWizniewski but only at the right price. I think the team will take the risk only if the doctor's reports are good about the knee. The Habs will probably sign a very short term contract but it will be a good pay cut to help with the salary cap issues. The Habs have in their favor that he loves playing and living in Montreal but remember it is a business for the Canadiens. I would sign Andrei Markov to a one year at a lower price with incentive clauses for points and games played for the season and playoffs before July 1.

     James Wizniewski is simply a rental Player. He is gives away the puck too often up the middle of his defensive zone and he is slow to back check when pinching in at the offensive blue line. He doesn't look when he passes the puck in his own zone, too soft fighting for the puck behind the goal line, and he is making mistakes in defensive zone coverage that most minor league players don't make. He won't even score as much as M.A Bergeron, at a much higher salary and he is missing opportunities to shoot on the power play. His asking price and length of contract is going to be too high for what he is really worth. He is surely no Andrei Markov and the price could end up being about the same. They are not even in the same class of defense men, so it's a no-brainer for me. I simply don't re-sign James Wizniewski before July 1.

     Hal Gill is teaching P.K. Subban how to be better defensively just like he did with Josh Gorges last year. He might be slow of foot but is the Habs' biggest and best defensive defense man. Gill clears the front of the net, comes to the defense of teammates, blocks shots like a wall and the biggest reason for the Habs' success on the penalty kill. His leadership should never be underestimated both in the dressing room and on the ice. It was not by chance that the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with him on defense for them. In 2010, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost a hard fought seven games series against the Montreal Canadiens. He was a huge part of shutting down the high powered offense of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Canadiens should not let Gill get away. I think the team sees these values and will re-sign him at about the same salary as this year. If not it is a big mistake on the Canadiens' part. I would definitely re-sign Hal Gill to a one year contract with an option for 2nd year with a buyout clause. I would discuss the possibility of him wanting to be the next assistant coach for the Canadiens to help with the defense men.

     Roman Hamrlik is good but definitely not at the present salary as he is slowing down and at times a step behind. He has played big minutes with Markov out, on the penalty kill and the power play. He is starting to make big mistakes and they are showing up in the form of goals against the Canadiens. Hamrlik won't be back without a big cut in salary or a one year contract, unfortunately age is now working against him in today's younger, faster NHL. He also loves playing in Montreal but this is business and I believe the team will go acquire a bigger, younger all-rounded defense man instead of keeping him. I am Sorry, I hate to see Hamrlik go because he has been really good for the Habs and came to Montreal when other big names free agents just wouldn't sign with Montreal. I would not sign Roman Hamrlik before July 1, and I could use the money saved from his salary elsewhere.

     Josh Gorges is just what the Habs need but not with a long term contract yet. He is just coming off major reconstruction of his knee and it will take him 6 months to be back to the same level of play as before the surgery. It is way more difficult for the defensemen because they have to pivot both ways going backward and push back against on rushing forwards, this puts more stress on the knees. He will have to adjust his skating style to compensate for the fact that the knee was injured for over 7 years (since his junior days). Gorges has shown just how important of a defense man for the Habs' penalty kill which has now dropped from 1st to 6th in the NHL with him out of the line up. He has good leadership skills, can definitely play with pain or injuries, a big shot blocker and plays big minutes against the opposition's best line. He is a true warrior, leader and the Canadiens will keep him for sure. I would re-sign Josh Gorges for only 3 years with an incentive clause for games played and his +/- ratio.

     Alexandre Picard has not played very much recently and appears to be the teams 7th defense man. He played well enough to allow the Canadiens to trade Ryan O'bryne to the Avalanche earlier in the year. Picard has good offensive skill, can play on the power play and has size (6'-3", 215lbs) but must be more physical. He has improved play on the defensive side with the Habs and +/- rating is now +1, better than his career NHL numbers. You really need to look at his stats since joining the NHL. Early in his career, they used Picard as an offensive defense man but playing time was reduced because he was a defensive liability. You have to look at the teams that he played on, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Ottawa. They were not very good defensively during those years he played for them. In last 2 years, he has improved into a plus player. Picard is becoming a better all-around defense man but could improve even more with a veteran partner or Hal Gill's help. The Canadiens can easily re-sign Alexandre Picard very cheaply. I would definitely re-sign Alexandre Picard again to a two way contract for one year.

     P.K. Subban is the next superstar defense man for the Montreal Canadiens, he has all the offensive skills, quick excellent skating speed and a real show stopper. His weaknesses are defensive zone positioning, high risk moves out of his zone, shifts are too long at times, and takes himself out of the play going for that big game changing hit. Subban can get too offensive at the wrong times and tries to do it all by himself especially when the team is behind in the game. These are all rookie mistakes that will improve with coaching, experience and the continued help of Hal Gill. Subban just has to be who he is and continue to bring that fun, passion and youthful exuberance to each game. He is a fan favorite in Montreal where the pressure to perform can be difficult to deal with at times. I would look at signing an extension with P.K. Subban now, because later it will be more expensive.

     Yannick Weber is showing better defensive play but has to start scoring more on the power play. Could he be the odd man out, a possible prospect for trades or next year's cheap 7th defense man? We will see how he plays the rest of the year. What a bargain to keep! Teams looking to improve on the power play or need a good shot from the point might be looking to trade for Weber. He is a good fit for a team with big, physical defense man and need a skating puck moving defense man . The Canadiens have many of options with him so they will be cautious in any deals. I would see what I can get for Yannick Weber or a package deal with another player to bring some more speed and size in return. If not, he is still under contract so I can continue monitor his defensive progress. I would make a trade only with the right offer for the team.

     Jaroslav Spacek is always a step too slow defensively and pinches at the wrong times on offense. Martin tends to like the veteran defense men but now has Jaroslav Spacek playing with Yannick Weber as the teams' 3rd set of defensemen. He is probably 5th or 6th on their depth chart and way over priced at $3.8M for next year. Spacek is no longer playing against the other teams best lines and if you look at the last 10 games, he is only averaging 14 minutes per game. It is clear that the coaches are protecting him while seeing that he's a step too slow and for playing on the power play.The Canadiens could buy Jaroslav Spacek out, place on waivers or get real lucky with a trade. There are no guarantees of a starting job next year as age and high salary will be the deciding factors. George Laraque's last year of contract buyout is off the books for the Canadiens giving the team more salary cap space for next year. I would look at all these options to find the best one for the team but I would not if possible keep Jaroslav Spacek next year.

     Alexandre Picard, Yannick Weber and P.K. Subban will only get better and are inexpensive right now. The Canadiens are not looking at the Russian, Alexei Yemelin who may be leaving the KHL to try-out for a position with the Habs. It's not going to happen, the Canadiens have been burnt twice already by Perezhogin and Valentenko because there is no transfer agreement between the NHL and the Russian Ice Federation or the KHL. The progress of young Jared Tinordi in the juniors could prove to be very interesting as he is a big, tough defense man who can play well in both ends of the ice.

     The Habs only need a big, scrapping, tough defense man, who is good defensively. They might be trying to pick up a guy like Chris Phillips and a big offensive forward Jason Arnott as rentals players for the playoffs. Robyn Regehr is a big defensive defense man but has too big a contract for the next couple of years. Dustin Penner is a big forward the Canadiens are looking for but the contract is probably too big to fit under their salary cap unless the Canadiens move other big salaried players. I don't see Pierre Gauthier waiting too long to make any moves, as we have seen from last year, the Canadiens try to make trades well before the deadline. The big deals and large changes to any of the clubs late in the year at the trade deadline, usually don't work and disrupt the team chemistry going into the playoffs. Most teams will only tweak lineups if they are in a playoff position. It's the ones really out of the playoff hunt or have decided to start rebuilding for the next year who trade the most players.

     The Habs' failure to sign big free agents in the past are over because the Canadiens are a better team and organization, thanks to Bob Gainey. Look at the record of the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs in the last 4 years. The players called up have shown they can step in and do the job necessary to keep the team in the playoff hunt.

     I believe that you will see Pierre Gauthier and the Montreal Canadiens keep Hal Gill,Josh Gorges, P.K. Subban, Alexandre Picard, Andrei Markov and Yannick Weber. They will try to pick up that big, tough, younger veteran defense man who can play well in both ends of the ice. No matter what happens this year, the Montreal Canadiens are going in the right direction with their personnel in the defensive zone. They have cut the shots on goal and goals against way down from previous years which is a big step in the right direction. Now The Habs just have to get the right players to protect their best asset, their young goaltender Carey Price. The offense will definitely need bulking up for the playoffs and the next season but that is a story all by itself, after the Stanley Cup Playoffs are over.

Here are my choices for Montreal Canadiens defensemen for the upcoming 2011-2012 NHL season:

The Montreal Canadiens Defense Men

(L)                 (R)

          H. Gill               P.K. subban

A. Markov            J. Gorges

            ?               Y. Weber

 A. Picard