Thursday, April 19, 2012

You can think it, but you better not say it...



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The NHL which is under fire for the hesitancy it shows in suspending those that embark on questionable activities on the ice, isn't going to be accused of being accommodating  to those that point out their flaws when it comes to discipline.

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quennville is the latest to feel the wrath of the league office, assessed a 10,000 dollar fine today for pointing out the rather obvious, asking how four officials on the ice managed to miss Raffi Torres and his imitation of a North Korean missile exploding upon take off.

The NHL can punish Quennville if they wish (and they did) but the rather unequal distribution of justice leaves one to wonder if thin skins aren't ruling over thick heads.

Considering the reason for his comments, as televised around the world and repeated endlessly now through YouTube, would see rather obvious, we imagine that if a collection were to be taken up at the United Centre tonight, the cash would be raised within mere minutes.

However, if they're going to nail Quennville, for his emotional outburst,  one question if we may Mr. Bettman. How come they are not moving up the food chain towards Ted Leonis, owner of the Capitals?

The social media apostle posted his own concerns over the state of the judiciary in the NHL, outlining his thoughts to his personal blog, a helpful companion piece to many an ongoing theme of late when it comes to the impressions of NHL justice these days, Leonis suggesting that it could be that the NHL would give a team such as Stanley Cup champion Boston a pass when it comes to serious discipline.

The Caps owner is not alone in the executive offices when it comes to offering up an opinion of concern, the Rangers posted their own treatise on the state of officiating, with little in the way of ramification as of yet and the Red Wings while a little more circumspect in their thoughts, don't leave too much to the imagination about how they feel about the hit that seems to have been the starting point for all the anarchy of late.

Caps disagree with Backstom's suspension
Red Wings disappointed at lack of suspension for Predators' Shea Weber
New York Rangers statement on suspension of Hagelin
Blackhawks livid with officials after Game 3 loss

As Quennville writes out his cheque he might be going, wait, they said what?

Clearly inconsistency isn't limited to the enforcement of the rules on the ice. And because of that, the coaches and even owners are ready to take the financial hits to make their point.

Of course, the Blackhawks coach isn't the first one to have to dig up some cash from the couch cushions, the NHL has spent almost as much time in assessing their internal discipline fines, as they have avoiding sending a serious message about head shots and cheap shots in this first round and even in the regular season.

One hopes that they start to give as much thought to the health of the players as they seem to be giving to the health of the leagues coffers.

Blackhawks' Quennville fined $10,000
Senators fined $10,000
Rangers' Totorella fined $20,000 for comments
NHL fines Flyers Laviolette, Penguins' Granato 

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