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.
While I do think a 1-game suspension for Neal seems reasonable, I completely agree that Shanahan's rulings seem completely random with little logic or rationale behind them. It is absurd that he bases his rulings on the outcome of the action (whether the targeted player was injured or not). It should be merely based on on intent. The fact that a player is not injured is purely fortune. That doesn't lessen the crime. Additionally, he says in his videos that he considers prior history, but the suspensions (or lack thereof) seems to have no rhyme or reason that tie to that. Hagelin suspended 3 games with no history. Neal suspended 1 game with a prior history of dangerous hits. Shaw, with no prior history for the Hawks, suspended 3 games for hitting Mike Smith. Weber not suspended at all for throwing Zetterberg into the turnbuckle. What a joke!— mills014- Shanahan is in over his head and is not able to do this job. What about Kerry Fraser for this job?— BobbyD
- Asham is expendable and that's why he got four. Shanny doesn't want to hurt the on ice product too bad that's why the 40 goal scorer only gets a game. Had it been another Asham type player, he'd get multiple games as well. It don't matter none, get dem brooms out.— AEPi71
- You guys are all correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a joke. The penquins are frustrated and DELIBERATELY trying to hurt the flyers. they have no other way to go. Everyone can see it for Christ sake. Someone has their tongue a place it should not be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— silpugs
- You said a mouthful and I could not have said it better myself. I was thinking exactly that. Thanks for sharing.— silpugs
- Actually, yes! I would like to see him sit out this next game and start off not playing a few games next year!— silpugs
- It's a shame that no one has the balls to hop over the bench anymore. Raffi Torres hits someone like that and everyone just sits there after a little wuss scrum. I'm disgusted with the lack of player support these days. It's all about money. NHL has to take a serious look in the mirror. The lack of enforcement from players and the tzar leads to players taking liberties on others. 1 game suspension, $2,500 dollars...wtf
Bettman I said it when you were in my box for a playoff game with your body guards 2 yrs ago and I still mean it today. You Suck.— michaelthegreat - Sucks that Neal is going to miss the post game handshake. Would have loved to see his punk face as he had to shake Couturiers hand!— PhillySteve5
- When Crosby's career ends super early with his next concussion (on a cheap shot most likely), he will have no one to blame but himself for captaining a team that plays with such disregard for opponent player safety. Can't have it both ways Sid the Kid (or Infant) - don't cry about how you have been targeted and then play with such unsportsmanlike immaturity. The league will also be a huge part of the blame as long as they allow attempted decapitation with little consequence. What if Giroux and Couts had been serioulsy injured? Marion Hossa taken out on a stretcher. Does someone need to be paralyzed or worse before the league takes its discipline seriously? Some of the things done during this year's playoffs would get jail time out on the street.— wilcowaits
- I actually think Sam fails to put the whole thing in perspective. The game of hockey's future is in doubt. Fans love it, but concussions and permanent brain damage are piling up at an unbelievable rate. Kids won't be permitted to play when the consequences are likely to be so grave.
And yet the NHL is more concerned about talking. They slapped the maximum allowable fine on a Senators player for mouthing off. This is a league which doesn't get it and I'm hoping all of us fans give them a headshot to get even. I guess I don't get it either if I'm making jokes about it.— jdoggg - As a life long Pens fan and Flyer HATER I'll admit that I will have a hard time rooting for them tonight. The Flyers have played an exciting and honorable series thus far and the Pens have performed and acted the total opposite. The team can say that the series isn't over, but their lack of composure and body language says it is. It's hard to imagine that we can roll off 4 in a row when we've won 1 game against you this year that actually mattered. Even if we win tonight, the Pens have no confidence that they can beat you at home. I will be watching the game tonight but it will be more for entertainment as I'm a huge hockey fan. James Neal should have been suspended for the rest of the series as both hits were attempts to injure and happened after the game was "over". The mood here is of embarrassment not only of losing the first 3 games, but more of the way we reacted to losing. Barring a miracle for us, good luck in your quest for the Cup.— sutchapensfan
- this is all based on head-hits and concussions,...the NFL has gotten away fron neck-up hits and is moving toward torso-up to get the players to concentrate on hitting lower,...in the NHL they specifically state do not leave your feet and Neal left his feet not once but twice;....if you are a repeat offender as in this case,...Shanahan should levy the punishment first and then inquire for comment from Neal and either change his punishment at that time or let it stand,....this nonsense about letting the fox run the hen house is ridiculous and will lead to more litigation;....as a repeat offender, Neal should be excused for the remainder of the series and if Pitts moves on he should be welcomed back at that time— SyddBarrett
- If I ever INTEND to kill someone and fail, I want Shanahan on my jury.— feudal_nobility09
- “I’m Brendan Shanahan of the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety … and I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.”— feudal_nobility09
- Shanahan is angry because he can't believe that one Flyer has not made it to hearing before him yet.— acanders
