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Posts Tagged Colin Campbell

NHL Discipline Getting Better

Jun 3

Posted by EB in News, Soap Box | 1 Comment

League disciplinarian Colin Campbell will be stepping down after this year. In doing so, the torch is expected to be passed to former player Brendan Shanahan.

In the 13 years of league disciplinarian, Campbell has taken many criticism from fans. At times he has been viewed as too tough, others not tough at all. The reality however, is that his position was set-up to be scrutinized, ultimately to fail.

The current disciplinarian system is a one man decision, influenced by one’s perspective. On top of this, the decision is based on a set of rules that at times, does not address the action to be later disciplined. Also, the U.S. believes in “justice is blind”, yet it is evident that the current discipline does take into account who the offender is. Factor all these together and you have what we have today, a broken system.

With a new face in Brendan Shanahan, the league intends on changing the position entirely. Although the details have not been laid out, the league does expect to crack down on players.

“If we are going to move to harsher discipline, that change needs to send a clear message and we think it would probably be best to do on a clean slate.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in regards to Campbell stepping down.

Shanahan will have his hands full in the off-season. He is already handling the department of player safety. The two roles will overlap though, with player safety developing rules to better protect players without changing the fundamental nature of the game, the disciplinarian position will be to enforce the rules to protect the players.

Look to next season to be more consistent than years past. This is in part with the leaving of Campbell, but more so, having the rules in place to be enforced. The game evolves, as does the rules. Not many fans will morn Campbell stepping down, but as a fan and as a rational person, a lot of respect should be shown towards Campbell for doing the best that he could do in a tough, tough position.

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Three Games on the Docket Tonight

Apr 26

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Should be a fun filled night of hockey playoff action tonight as two of the games are do-or-die game 7′s and one is bound to be. Here are the match-ups and why you should or should not tune in.

Boston Bruins @ Montreal Canadiens

More drama than a soap opera, the Montreal Canadiens look to tie up the series at 3 a piece. Starting in the regular season with the Zdeno Chara hit on Max Pacioretty, the Habs fans tried to get Chara in hot water by calling the police to investigate the action. Failing to have Chara serve hard time before the series, the show continued. Game four brought another bit of excitement as Boston Bruins Andrew Ference was fined for displaying the California howdy to the Montreal crowd. Ference took a Janet Jackson defense claiming a wardrobe malfunction.

The games have been quite abnormal with a win-on-the-road series for the first four games. The  Boston Bruins have finally won one at home to lead the series 3-2. This was of course without lack of excitement as the win came in the second overtime. Expect Montreal to come out flying fast and peppering goalie Tim Thomas with pucks. The series is set-up to be going to game 7.

Buffalo Sabres @ Philadelphia Flyers

The Buffalo Sabres had the Philadelphia Flyers on the brink of defeat, only to lose on home ice in 5-4 loss in overtime. Traveling to the sea of Orange, the Sabres have a tall order to fill to win.

On a bright note, the Sabres look to bring back secret weapon Derek Roy after suffering a torn left quadriceps tendon. This will however be at the offsetting loss of Tim Connolly. Connolly was driven into the boards from behind by Flyers Mike Richards. Some might even call it a boarding. Richards, who you could say started the whole reason for taking blindside hits to the head more serious with his hit on David Booth, will not receive any suspension. After reviewing the tape, it was difficult to decide the severity of the hit and if it warranted a suspension…. if your name is Helen Keller. Connolly knocked out the for the series, hit from behind, can NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell be fired yet? I think the weather man/woman gets more calls right.

Regardless of the outcome of the game, one team needs to advance only to be eliminated in the next round. Watch if you have nothing better to do.

Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks

Welcome to the maiiiiiin event!

That’s right, the defending Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks look to eliminate the season leading record Vancouver Canucks. After losing the majority of their team in the offseason to salary cap issues, the Blackhawks barely made it into the postseason only to give the Canucks a run for their money. Losing the first 3 games and winning the last 3, momentum looks to be on their side.

Vancouver is in a panic and rightfully so. On the verge of being called the new San Jose Sharks with their lack of ability to produce in the postseason, the “untouchable on paper” Canucks can be eliminated. Media outlets are trying to pin point the turning point, saying the Canucks Raffi Torres hit on Blackhawk defender Brent Seabrook woke up the giant. I don’t quite buy that, but I do buy that Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis is trying to deflect media attention from net-minder Roberto Luongo with his claim that the referees are out to get them. Sure Chicago has had 27 power-plays to your 16 in the series, 22 to your 12 in the last 4 games, but hey, who’s counting? OK, maybe Gillis has a point, but still, Luongo looks bad, real bad. With a career 2.57 goals against average and .915 save percentage for the playoffs, I think we know who to point the finger at and it is not the refs.

Should be a fast paced game and worth watching, even worth staying up late on the east coast. Either one of these teams very well could be in the championship this year, which one though will be decided tonight.

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Zdeno Chara No Instigator Suspension

Apr 24

Posted by EB in News, Soap Box | No Comments

Boston Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara will not be suspended after receiving a minor penalty for instigating, a major for fighting and a game misconduct at the end of the game against the Buffalo Sabres.

The initial rule is as follows:

47.12 Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) – A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct penalty (see 47.22).

The NHL rescinded the suspension on Saturday under Rule 47.22:

47.22 Fines and Suspensions – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) - A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.

Emotions are running high on both sides pertaining to the incident, Buffalo fans demanding a suspension while Boston fans in favor of the Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell’s decision.

After reviewing the play myself, I fell the decision to not suspend Chara is indeed the right call. However, upon my own feelings pertaining to the rule (Last year Stanley Cup Playoffs as Evgeni Malkin instigates a fight with Henrik Zetterberg), I feel that it should be more black and white. Any fight instigated within the last 5 minutes of the game should automatically be deemed a game misconduct for the following game. With such a black and white approach, this would disallow for the NHL’s biased suspension policy, one that allows for “known” players to dodge accountability for their actions.

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Matt Cooke and the Boston Bruins

Mar 18

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Colin Campbell looks stumped, just as Boston and NHL fans are about the non disciplinary action against Matt Cooke and his head shot to Bruins Marc Savard.

Colin Campbell looks stumped, just as Boston and NHL fans are about the non-disciplinary action against Matt Cooke and his head shot to Bruin's Marc Savard.

Tonight, Matt Cooke and the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Boston Bruins at TD Garden Arena.

The last time the two teams met, Cooke blindsided center Marc Savard which resulted in a serious injury. However, no suspension nor any disciplinary action has been taken against Cooke.

Many fans, especially those of Boston, and players themselves, are unhappy with the NHL’s handling of the incident. Previously in the season, Philadelphia Flyer’s captain Mike Richards blind-sided and injured Florida Panther’s David Booth. The hit also left an injury, and set precedent to the current Cooke hit, that being no suspension.

How could this be?

The league has met and spoken since then, and next year hope to implement a new rule change that would ban blind-side hits in the NHL. Still though, it seems this season has no real discipline for the reckless and dangerous incidents.

Tonight, the NHL’s sole disciplinarian, VP of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, will be in attendance at the game to monitor any possible retaliation. Expect the building to erupt with loud boo’s and negative chants of, “Campbell sucks”, or something of the like. When asked by a local news source if Campbell is expected to speak with the team before hand, Bruin’s forward Mark Recchi responded, “No, we don’t want him in our room.”

Some believe the game tonight will be nothing more than a normal game with  Campbell’s presence being a deterrence to any rough stuff. Others, like myself, feel there will be a good ‘ol fashion hockey game, you know, the one sport that self disciplines with bench depleting brawls.

No matter what anyone believes, Matt Cooke is expected to drop the gloves. The questions that will be answered in due time is with whom, and who will end up on top.

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