Giroux suspension too harsh (UPDATED)
Giroux suspension too harsh
Giroux suspension too harsh (UPDATED)
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Well, the Flyers have their rallying cry.
NHL dean of discipline Brendan Shanahan has done it. He has suspended the Flyers’ Claude Giroux for one game for a hit to the head of the Devils’ Dainius Zubrus in Game 4 of their playoff series Sunday night. Shanahan has suspended a superstar player with no discipline history, for a hit that did not cause an injury, for a game in which his team can be eliminated.
Brave new world.
I didn’t think the hit was worth a suspension -- because Giroux did not have a history, and because Zubrus did not sustain a significant injury, and because the 6-foot-5 Zubrus was kind of leaning over already -- it was the only way the 5-foot-11 Giroux could have contacted Zubrus’ face with his shoulder. There was all of that, which made it a close call -- and there was Giroux’s status on his team and the precariousness of his team’s current circumstances, trailing three games to one in the series.
It didn’t matter. It was going to be close, and Shanahan has made a clear statement here. His willingness to suspend a star without a rap sheet, on a hit without an injury, at such a crucial moment in a playoff series, will send shockwaves around the NHL -- make no mistake. If this is the way it is going to be, we really have crossed a threshold.
Shanahan typically releases a video explanation after such a decision, and it was comprehensive in its analysis. He placed a lot of emphasis on the entirety of Giroux's shift, which was fraught with obvious frustration about a call that the officials did not make after Devils goaltender Marty Brodeur played the puck outside of the designated area. And, make no mistake: Giroux did hit Zubrus in the head, and that is against the rules, and he was properly penalized and the situation was properly reviewed by the NHL.
But we have broken new ground here. The clean history did not matter. The injury situation did not matter. What have sometimes been considered as mitigating factors were not enough to mitigate things for Giroux in an undeniably crucial situation for his team.
In my mind, the decision was too harsh. It was close, but given everything -- and, yes, for better or worse, that does include the fact it is an elimination game -- it seemed to suggest a fine and and a warning, not a suspension.
But, no. And now the Flyers will undoubtedly attempt to summon up whatever emotion they can as they try to overcome the loss of their best player. And the rest of the league will attempt to recalibrate their expectations for discipline the next time.
Brave new world.
MORE: Here are some additional thoughts, after a couple of hours of thinking about it.
It was after Game 5 of the Flyers-Penguins series. It was, you might remember, the night was the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin was completing his second straight game of searching and destroying and pretty obviously trying to hurt an array of Flyers players.
In Game 4, there was the sneaky elbow that gave Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossmann a concussion. In Game 5, there were two incidents: an unnecessary late hit on Brayden Schenn and an assault on Sean Couturier that, if it wasn’t a head shot, was within millimeters of being one. The Grossmann play went unseen by officials. Both of the Game 5 hits were penalized. And afterward, in the corridors below Consol Energy Center, I sought out Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.
There was a time when it was the general manager’s job to work the officials between games of a playoff series. I was wondering if Holmgren wanted to play on the subject of Malkin. I asked the question, and he thought for a second, and then he shook his head and said, “No.”
Some of that is the man’s personality, not given to histrionics. Some of it, too, was his notion of what it is to be a good citizen in the NHL in 2012, and what it is to respect Brendan Shanahan and the whole discipline process. But there also was the sense, although he never said it, that Holmgren also was operating under the mental rules that have been a part of hockey forever.
That is: that the Penguins were on the edge of elimination, and Malkin is a star player, and those three unspoken words:
It’s the playoffs.
It is why I did not think Giroux would be suspended for his hit on Zubrus. I get that Giroux hit him in the head. But he has no history, and Zubrus was not hurt, and so many other prominent players appeared to receive the benefit of the doubt from Shanahan. Malkin did, a couple of times. The Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin did when he hit the Rangers’ Dan Girardi. The Penguins’ James Neal did when he leveled Couturier.
So why not Giroux? Why did he not receive the benefit of the doubt? Is he not a star, too? Is his team not in a desperate elimination situation, too, just as Malkin was when he spent two games wreaking havoc in the land?
The answer, apparently, is that Giroux’s was such a clear head shot that the league could not overlook it, and that the others were more body checks that involved incidental contact to the head. It is a difference without a distinction when you are the one laid out on the ice, but it is a crucial difference for the NHL.
You watch Shanahan on the video reviews and you almost never disagree with anything he says as he analyzes the pictures. Yes, Giroux was outwardly frustrated. Yes, he hit Zubrus in the head -- even if Zubrus was kind of bent over. It isn’t the analysis, but the conclusion.
If not Ovechkin, and if not Malkin, why Giroux? Because it is not as if any of them were innocent. That's the point.
Come on, Rich. Whether or not a guy gets hurt on a hit, or how badly, is most often a matter of blind luck. As far as 'first-time offender' goes, does everybody get one free head-shot? Giroux launched his shoulder at the guy's head. Like Ovechkin did at the Ranger ... but Ovie would have to carry a gun before this joke league would suspend him. And also: what the heck does the status of the series matter? Again, free dirty hits until like, Game 4 or 5?— Tangerine- flyers article after flyers article, these out of town trolls are still here. don't they realize no one pays them any mind because the real hockey fans are having a REAL hockey conversation here LOL. these guys are almost as bad as HEXY4GM, who refuses to join any convo unless it's after a flyers loss lol toolbag— 420Phillie
- Last thing we need to hear about is preferential treatment for our teams. Sure seems like Phil. teams get screwed but honestly need to make their own luck instead of counting on it. Hopefully this get the Flyers riled up and they win game 5. Just need to look at it game by game not as 3. If they don't come out hot and keep the intensity for 3 periods they can count on the loss.— glove69
- Shanny is a joke. Losing much respect for this sport....not at all surprised.— Phillyfan666
- what, pveedee? Mr. Stevens intentionally injured 7 players in the playoffs over two seasons. His size, repetitions and intentions alone separates this from a 5'11 player skating in front of a 6'5" player, who acted like he was hit by a Scott Stevens karate shoulder elbow. All the fans here are asking for is consistency, which is clearly lacking in Shanahan's demonstration of his own concussed noggin. If I had bought tickets for tomorrow's game I'd be demanding a refund from Bettman. Does he forget what fans pay to see these stars only to see them arbitrarily suspended? I've seen the other hits that were not sanctioned. Farce. I fully support the league's attempt to control head hunting, but they have no business duping us with rationals that change from case to case. I hope Snider goes ballistic.— retzlaff
- Shanahan a joke. James Neal gets one game for two separate head shots vs Flyers, one of which he left his feet (to hit Courtier). Just make it up as you go along boys. And Shea Weber from Nashville slams Zetterbergs head into glass with his hand and no suspension. Suspensions are all over the place...Shanny took too many head shots himself or has his own agenda...maybe in the pocket of some odds makers?— wilcowaits
- The kid lost it, but he has a record as victim and none as agressor. Elimination game - he should be eliminated he should have been finalist but he was replaced by a goalie in mvp? his problem is he's not a penguin. Eliminate them all. Ridiculous— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
- Giroux deserved the punishment. He's a superb player and has decided to play like Bobby Clarke in the the old Dave Schultz days. He has the talent to be a Briere, LaFleur, Perreault....or even a Crosby (though he's not as tough as Sid). He shouldn't waste his talent trying to be Philadelphia's new Clarke.There's only one Bobby Clarke, who played in different times, under different rules. Go Devils!— frenchconnection
- In all fairness, Giroux was totally wreckless and appeared to just be head-huting out there as a result of his frustration. He needs to wake up and be a professional. This is a good call. Concussions are putting more and more players at serious risk, and I commend Shanahan and the NHL for this decision. The fact that game 5 is elimination game for the flyers is the flyers fault, and shame on the author for implying this should hold any gravity in the situation. Regardless of Giroux's clean history, this was the exact hit straight to the head which is knocking players out of careers that has to be treated seriously. This ruling sends a great message that regardless of how much of a star you are, you need to be in control of yourself on the ice.— kreece27
- It doesn't matter. The Flyers gave up 2 games ago. They're ready to go home to watch the Cup finals.— fmMD
- I would be fine with this if Shea Weber had been suspended. Weber's hit was clearly done with malice, and he gets slapped with a $2500 fine ($5 in real people cash). I don't understand it...plus it's an elimination game as well, so he really shafted us.— warreninrochester
- I would be fine with this if Shea Weber had been suspended. Weber's hit was clearly done with malice, and he gets slapped with a $2500 fine ($5 in real people cash). I don't understand it...plus it's an elimination game as well, so he really shafted us.— warreninrochester
- Gotta be honest, Giroux should have been suspended. His status as a superstar and the fact that his team is facing elimination should not matter at all, neither should whether or not Zubrus was hurt. Giroux was out of control, and he hit Zubrus illegally, in the head. It deserved a 1 game ban.
This being said, I think it will actually help the Flyers. Giroux is their leader, and he has not been leading them well this series. He is first in line for the killer turnovers, the passes to no one, the fancy plays when a smart gritty one is called for.
It seems the Flyers still think they are playing pond hockey, against Pittsburgh. This is playoff hockey at its grittiest that the Devils are playing. The Flyers (Giroux in particular) were listening to ESPN talk about how great they were, and haven't been willing to get down and dirty, and match the Devils intensity.
They thought that by showing up, they'd win easily, when in fact, if they showed up AND WORKED HARD, they would have won easily. If this wakes them the hell up, and gets them in playoff hockey mode, they can still win this series. Game 5 is at home, and they shoudl be desperate. If they can play with desperation, they can win game 6 also. If they make it to game 7, I believe they will win on home ice.
The only thing that matters is they must play with desperation and maximum intensity. If they do that, they have a chance. If they don't, they'll be golfing on Wednesday, and they would deserve to be.— morningstar - You don't need to leave your feet to give someone a head shot--since that has apparently never occurred to most of you.— Not again
- Neal repeat offender. Left feet twice on same shift. Two head shots. Couts left ice. Giroux shaken..... Neal gets 1 game.......... Giroux did not leave his feet, not a repeat offender, zubrus was back next shift, zubrus much taller....giroux gets 1 game".................. Yeaaaaaa seems right, shanny is a joke. P.s-weber got 2500 fine— fman727
