Pierre-Marc Bouchard suspended for 2 games has been hot news since he’s not the type of player to get suspended for anything let alone a hit to the head.
The NHL is serious about getting hits to the head out of the game. They don’t care if it was intentional or an accident. A player will be held accountable for targeting the head or anything resulting in a hit to the head of another player. With everything that has happened in recent years with concussions and head injuries, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Is this a good thing for the game?
On Saturday night in the Wild’s home opener and first game of the season during a face-off after the Wild scored, Pierre-Marc Bouchard took a penalty for high-sticking Columbus forward Matt Calvert in the face. It drew blood and Calvert had to leave the ice. The stick to the face knocked out one of his teeth and parts of two others. Looking at the video of the incident, it’s easy to see that Bouchard did not intend to hit him in the face but he did intend to hit him.
The video shows Calvert initiating contact with Bouchard and Bouchard retaliating by trying to slash Calvert on the hands at his waist. As Calvert lifts Bouchard’s stick with his own stick, he moves Bouchard’s stick into his own face. Bouchard reacts to the incident by dropping his stick and throwing his hands to the side as if to say he didn’t mean to do that. Was there intent to injure? No. If a player steps on your stick and trips, it’s still a tripping penalty. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t mean to do it. The message is clear. You are responsible for and must control your stick!
Back in the preseason, Columbus defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended for a hit to Cal Clutterbuck’s head after the 3rd period came to an end. From some of the quotes after the Bouchard incident, you would think that Columbus is looking for redemption from the Wisniewski.
Columbus coach Scott Arniel said after the game:
“It’s definitely an attempt to injure. Our whole bench saw it. Their whole bench saw it. We want to talk about getting hits from behind and shots to the head, but we allow a guy to stay in the game after taking a baseball swing at a guy’s face? That’s a joke.”
Pierre-Marc Bouchard’s agent emailed the StarTribune on the matter:
“What message is Brendan Shanahan sending with this unwarranted suspension? All perennial Lady Byng candidates should now be on notice that when an opponent high sticks himself in the mouth, he can expect a minimum suspension of 2 regular season NHL games. This result is a shameful farce for the League.”
“All in all, these 20 minute disciplinary hearings are nothing more than kangaroo courts. More League effort goes into writing scripts and producing slick video’s than in getting to the real facts of what occurred on the ice. It’s an inherent conflict of interest for an employee of the NHL to be conducting these hearings and imposing suspensions on players. It’s time for a neutral 3rd party not associated with the league or the players to take over supplementary discipline as this system clearly does not work.”
Those are heavy words. I don’t think he can get any sort of fine or suspension from the league for this response.* Maybe the NHLPA could do something? I don’t know but it seems wrong that an agent can spout off like that and not face some sort of repercussion.
*Does anyone really care what an agent thinks? He’s trying to protect himself and his client from losing money – Bouchard forfeits two days salary, $44,108.10 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The players are really building that fund up, huh? They are already past ¾ of a million dollars! Thanks and keep up the good work! Wait…no…that’s not right!
The bottom line is every player is responsible for their stick. If Bouchard’s stick hits Calvert up higher or lower, maybe on his visor or helmet or even his chin, he probably doesn’t get suspended. Is this unfortunate? Of course it is, Calvert lost one tooth and parts of two others. The Wild lose Bouchard for two games and Bouchard loses a couple days pay.
The Bourne Incident Bouchard incident also serves as an example for the rest of the players in the NHL to be responsible for what they do with their stick. Hopefully it lessens the amount of stickwork we see in the game although there will always be the litte slashes and stick taps to let a player know you’re there. Now players may think twice about where they are swinging their stick. We all want less injuries in the game especially if they can be prevented. That would be a good thing.
What’s your opinion on this debate?
Is the NHL going too far with this suspension? Is it consistent with what they’ve already done?
Shanahan has a tough job filled with controversy that will come under scrutiny from time to time. So far I believe he’s done a great job!
Pierre-Marc Bouchard has 22 career hits and 1 suspension. Cal Clutterbuck has 1014 career hits and zero suspensions.
Related stories:
Pierre-Marc Bouchard suspended two games – (StarTribune.com – Russo’s Rants – Michael Russo) – 10/9/2011
Bouchard’s agent decries “kangaroo court” – (StarTribune.com – Russo’s Rants – Michael Russo) – 10/9/2011
Minnesota’s Bouchard suspended for two games – (NHL.com – video explanation from Brendan Shanahan) – 10/9/2011
With PMB Suspension, It’s All About Consistency – (HittingThePost.blogspot.com – Nick) – 10/9/2011
On Brendan Shanahan and Controversial Suspensions – (UnitedStatesOfHockey.com – Chris Peters) – 10/10/2011
Wild’s Bouchard suspension appeal denied, as well as good judgement – (Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy Blog – Greg Wyshynski) – 10/10/2011
Somebody started a pretty cool site called The Shanabans at Shanabans.com that keeps track of all the suspensions that have happened this season. Check it out!
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You’ve been CLUTTERPUCKED!!!
Robb Dahlen
