Written By:Iain Carnegie, AllHabs.net
“I can’t see the difference – can you see the difference?”
Do we all remember that commercial? Apparently Mr. Shanahan not only saw that commercial, but has decided to subscribe to it when reviewing potential suspendable hits in the National Hockey League.
Late this afternoon, Brendan Shanahan released his explanatory video as to why Max Pacioretty has been handed a three game suspension for his hit on the Penguin’s Kris Letang last Saturday night.
In Shanahan’s explanation, he states that players that come across the middle of the ice have to expect to be hit, but they should not expect the “primary point of contact” to be the head.
I have watched this video over and over again, from multiple angles, and I couldn’t disagree more.
What is clear, is that Letang did take open ice contact, and that his head certainly was touched, but it was far from being the “primary point of contact” on the play. It’s also clear that Letang knew the hit was imminent (also stated by Shanahan in his video explanation), and dropped his head to continue the play. I’m not sure how anyone could expect Pacioretty – who had clearly already committed to the hit – to change his body position and not follow through.
What makes this suspension less bearable, is the fact that the Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations was asked to make a ruling on the exact same style of hit earlier this year. On October 1st, while attempting to clear his defensive zone, the Canadiens Chris Campoli was hit in the exact same fashion by Ryan Malone of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The National Hockey League’s website (nhl.com) made the following statement regarding Shanahan’s decision on the Campoli / Malone hit:
“Shanahan called it his most challenging decision thus far, but ruled no suspension because Malone had already committed to the hit and Campoli leaned forward and left himself vulnerable.”
So let me ask you once again … I can’t see the difference. Can you see the difference? Sounds awfully familiar doesn’t it?
If you haven’t seen both hits, take a look at the following video’s and then tell me where the difference lies.
Pacioretty on Letang:
Malone on Campoli:
In the end, the explanation that exonerated Malone is the same explanation that convicted Pacioretty. At a time when players like Milan Lucic can run at, and concuss a goalie with no consequence, it remains baffling that a player with no previous record can be handed this type of suspension.
Consistency continues to run a muck in the NHL, and it’s taking the sports credibility with it.