San Jose Sharks: No Consistency In NHL’s Discipline
Well, can’t say I’m surprised San Jose Sharks fans.
Earlier today, the NHL declined any further discipline for Dustin Brown or Milan Lucic for their actions against Logan Couture during last night’s 5-1 season opening win for the Sharks.
This comes after the league decided to hammer San Jose forward Raffi Torres with a 41-game suspension that will see him miss half the season. Torres released a statement expressing his disappointment in putting himself in that position and for letting down his teammates. General manager Doug Wilson followed up with his own statement, agreeing with the league’s decision.
I guarantee you if you asked Wilson about his thoughts on the lack of discipline for Brown and Lucic, you wouldn’t see the same sense of agreement.
This is the latest instance of the frustrating inconsistency that has plagued the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. They always talk about cracking down, but when it comes down to it, they always take the easy way out.
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Make no mistake, Torres absolutely deserved his suspension. But how then, do you see two actions such as last night and decide that just a warning should suffice.
Brown, who has been suspended by the league in the past, always seems to teeter on the line of questionable hits. What a great time to send a message that launching yourself head first into an opponent’s face shouldn’t be tolerated.
While some may argue that Brown stumbles and his intent was to hit him through the body, you can’t judge intent. You can only judge results.
Instead, the NHL Department of Player Safety punted on this one and let Brown slide by with another brutal hit. You already know what would have happened if it said Torres on the back of the jersey. Next time, just wait for Brown to fully knock Couture out of the game before deciding something should be done.
It’s utterly frustrating to watch the same players get away with borderline hits, while the NHL wants you to think they’re cracking down. They’re not and don’t buy into what the NHL wants you to think.
For the Sharks, all they can do is take solace in the fact that Couture was fine and they thoroughly dominated a Kings team that doesn’t look as daunting as many media pundits think. Here’s what Peter DeBoer had to say earlier today (via Paul Gackle):
Rightly so, DeBoer is trying to move his troops forward. They can’t control what the NHL does, and they’ve got another big game against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday in a contest that could likely be chippy as well.
The Sharks stood up for themselves last night and earned a decisive victory. They must continue to do so moving forward because it’s clear the NHL won’t.
Next: San Jose Routs Los Angeles In Season Opener