Did the NHL Drop the Ball in the Islanders/Penguins Brawl?
Written by: Larry “The Nucks IceMan” Johnson
If you witnessed the game or highlights of the brawl between the NY Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins last Friday, the question begs to be asked, were the fines and suspensions enough?
Three players were fined and suspended for their roles in the latest NHL version of “Slap Shot”.
They were: Islanders forward Trevor Gilles – suspended nine games for hitting and punching Eric Tangradi, fined $24,193.53.
Islanders Matt Martin – suspended four games for punching an unsuspecting Max Talbot, fined $41,585.36.
Penguins forward Eric Godard was suspended (automatically) 10 games for leaving the bench to fight, fined $40,322.25.
In Godard’s case, since there was no other Penguin on the ice to rescue his goaltender from being pummeled, what else was he suppose to do? It’s something that a hockey player learns from an early age, it’s about team – you stand up for each other.
Some of the players on the ice took liberties with other players that were either non fighters or were ambushed, like Max Talbot by Matt Martin.
This whole on-ice fiasco reminded me of the bench clearing brawls of the 70’s and 80’s but it’s not something you see in today’s version of the NHL.
Was the $100,000 fine that the NHL handed down to the Islanders organization enough? Apparently not for Penguins owner Mario Lemieux, as this is what he had to say.
“Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.
“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.
“We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.
“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”
Now that’s a pretty strong statement coming from an NHL Hall of Famer and owner of the Penguins. I haven’t heard this type of emotional outburst from Mario since the days he was still playing when he got on the pulpit about the hooking and grabbing that was taking place.
When you look at some of the suspensions and fines Colin Campbell has been handing out, Mario has a case. The four and nine games suspensions to the Islanders players are not going to deter anyone from punching it up again if the scenario presents itself. Maybe 15 and 20 games might catch a player’s attention because if nothing else, a quarter of your annual salary would hit close to home.
There is a lot of emotion and the stakes are high these days, with only six out of 30 teams possibly out of the playoffs.
It used to be that teams got serious and started jockeying for position to make the playoffs at about the 50 game mark. Now it starts from game one.
Look at the intensity of the games these days. Was this brawl a one off?
Not if you look at what happened in the Boston-Montreal game last week, where the Big Bad Bruins used the Canadiens as punching bags.
How come no one from the media has questioned the officiating? These types of outbreaks are usually contained if the officials lay down the law early, to prevent the cheap shots from escalating to wars on ice.
I don’t know what to think anymore about the lack of respect the players have for each other. Have the stakes become so high that it’s a dog eat dog world on the ice and in the NHLPA fraternity?
I could go on for another ten minutes but to answer the question I started with, yes, the league had a chance to nip this in the bud and yes, it dropped the ball. The suspensions were not long enough nor the fines high enough.
Good on Lemieux for speaking up. I wish more NHL owners would have done the same.
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