For Shanahan, another head-scratching decision
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
For Shanahan, another head-scratching decision
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s dean of discipline, should be featured on Saturday Night Live.
His videos are a laugh riot.
Shanahan on Tuesday night suspended Pittsburgh’s Arron Asham for four games and teammate James Neal for one game because of incidents in the Penguins’ 8-4 loss to the Flyers on Sunday.
On the same shift, Neal took runs at Sean Couturier and then Claude Giroux.
In his video, Shanahan explained that Neal, a 40-goal scorer in the regular season whose presence will be missed, was suspended for charging at Giroux and “once again launching prior to making contact.”
Fair enough.
But his failure to penalize Neal for leaving his feet for a dirty hit on Couturier was laughable.
Shanahan said the NHL was “willing to accept Neal’s assertion” that he jumped at Couturier “to brace himself for an unintended collision.”
Shanahan’s decision is supposed to be based on WHAT HAPPENED, not on what the player DIDN’T INTEND TO HAPPEN. It should also be noted that Neal was fined once this season and received two warnings for incidents _ and that he was suspended three years ago for a check from behind.
From here, the run at Couturier was much worse than the one at Giroux.
From here, if Shanahan used a dart board, his decisions would make as much sense.
His most grievous post-season error was not suspending Nashville’s Shea Weber for slamming the head of Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg’s into the glass.
He slapped the all-star defenseman on the wrist with a $2,500 fine.
The decision on Neal just re-affirmed this: Shanahan is a master at inconsistent rulings.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Comments (74)
You are absolutely right with your assessment Sam Carchidi! Shanahan should be just as ashamed as the Penguins. The league wonders why they are second class to the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and even the NBA and its bush league officiating and enforcement of the rules which perpetuate how people view the NHL. What a joke!— Mythos13- Frankly, the entire NHL, beginning with every league official, and most ESPECIALLY Brendan Shanahan, should be ashamed, and the worst is that it really isn't a joke The on-ice violence that is permitted, then glossed over, absolutely makes the NHL a second rate game. How many great players have to be lost or diminished, most particularly by concussion, before the league FINALLY!!! gets a clue. And, BTW, in the glossing over the dirt bag hitting, you can include about 98% of the announcers calling the games as well.
The players should be sent packing for appropriately extended suspensions, and if the teams suffer for their loss, then the teams are only getting what they also deserve.
Frankly, I DO remember the BSB's, and they were not nearly so dirt bag as hitters as it has become today. In today's NHL, they would be the Broad Street Wusses.
GET A CLUE, NHL! Brendan Shanahan was a pretty good player, but as an NHL enforcer he is way out of his depth!— BEMiller - "Inconsistent rulings". That is incredible restraint on your part Sam, as we both know that Shanahan is unfit for the job, has made absurd and contradictory rulings all season, still sees a Flyer's team they called "The Broad Street Bullies" 37 years ago, when this is 2012, not 1975. But why change now? Lets just make these suspensions count by putting the Piggy Pens back in the mud where they belong.— PhillyboyinNYC
- The officiating in the game was horrible. Not to be outdone by the refs, Shanahan stands logic on its ear and slaps Neal on the wrist. Shanahan is in somebody's pocket. Here in D.C. the fans are up in arms over the Backstrom suspension. The Rangers and Wings are down on him. Shanahan should retire, I was about to say gracefully but he's long past there. They've legalized prostitution in Toronto and Shanahan is exhibit A. They say everybody has their price. I'd say for Shanahan it's about 2 bits.— Claudio Vernight
- Shanahan isn't going to suspend a 40 goal scorer because he tried to decapitate a lowly rookie. Mario Lemieux wouldn't like it. Note to Raffi Torres...remember to tell Shanny that you jumped at Marian Hossa "to brace yourself for an unintended collision". What a joke. The czar of "Player Safety" just gave every headhunting player an alibi. Shanahan is every bit as bad as Colon Campbell.— SkinnyJoey
- The TV ratings would suffer more from Weber, Neal, etc. out than Asham, Carkner, etc. That is all the explanation one needs to know to "understand" Shanahan's rulings. This is no different than his excuse for allowing Milan Lucic to steamroll Ryan Miller in the regular season.— icarus
- Neal: 1. Repeat offender. 2. Launches self into air to deliver maximal impact. 3. Directs impact to Couturier's and Giroux's heads. 4. Infractions committed within 42 seconds of one another. 5. Knob.
Neal's intent to injure 2 players is clear and completely indefensible.— OrangeFury - Put the Penguins aside...any third grade teacher knows that the key to controlling bad behavior is consistent enforcement of the rules. The NHL has struggled to remain a major sport with promotions like 24/7 and the Winter Classic, but when HQ can't seem to have the same rules for everybody, the players will enforce them as they see fit. The Playoffs are supposed to be the showcase in any sport but this year's first round has been a disgrace. If the League's owners are not embarrassed enough to get rid of both Bettman and Shanahan, the NHL is not much better than WWE.— JoeyMax
- I love the Shanahan videos, the dummy obviously can't read. Hilarious.— Sidewinder7
- Regardless of what explanation Shanahan said in the video, 1 game was a fair suspension... we are talking about a playoff elimination game. Those hits weren't worthy of more than 1 game, I'm sorry. It takes a lot to get suspended in the playoffs. The NHL likes the players to decide things... and anyway, it's totally moot point case the next game Neal will be playing in will be the preseason. This series is over in game 4. Sweep.— morningstar
- Having played hockey for a long time, I could buy Neal's assertion that he was bracing himself. When I watched the replay, I thought about that and it does appear that he is bracing more than launching into Couts. I know we have orange colored glasses, but I could see that might have happened. However, in a men's rec league, you would generally follow that up with a "hey sorry, you alright" as you skate by - not skate down the ice and elbow the other team's best player in the head. I can see two games. I can see two games for Asham. It was stupid but hey it wasn't that bad. Personally, I would rather all of their guys be back in the lineup. I would like to see the Flyers beat them straight up with no excuses from the Pens fans when we clobber them again and let the players sort it out at the end of the game.— MackethB
- I have to disagree with you. My husband played hockey for a long time too and he agrees with me. They are out to hurt people. They do not deserve to play. they are desparate and trying to kill us so we cannot make it through the next series. The penquins are babies and they showed it in all the replays. They don't deserve to be on the ice at all. — silpugs
- I have been a long-time hockey fan and have realized a long time ago, hockey will survive desipite the best efforts to make a mockery by those who run the NHL. Shanahan continues in the tradition. What other sport has as many players suspended after the playoffs begin? This is the time when the league has the most to gain. Of course, who can complain, at least the bozos now realize that they have have to suspend players in the playoffs.— lgm4885
- Sam, while I appreciate your article, your assertion that this decision is arbitrary is inaccurate. If so, Neal wouldn't
Have received a suspension at all. From my perspective they both deserved 2 games and fines. It's easy for outsiders to sit on their soap boxes and pretend to understand hockey. Shanny is doing a fine job! in the old days, goons would have policed this type of activity on the ice. Hockey has changed and as a result "Dean of Discipline" is required!
I just hope the Flyers remain composed and don't take a run at Cindy tonight!!!! Go Flyers!!!!!!
Flyers!!!!!!
— Jjrjr16 - I wonder what would have happened if a Flyer had gone after Malkin & Crosby on the same shift in the same reckless fashion?— Jerome99RIP
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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