Hagelin banned 3 games

Dude!  Did you even see him smear Zetterberg's face into the glass?  He should have been gone like 6 games...

... oh wait.

Can't argue against this suspension, but you can argue against the inconsistency with the NHL's rulings.  Hagelin bringing in a high-elbow to a players face and smashing the back of his head into the boards causing the player to leave the game and not return warrants a suspension.  

Similarly, Weber punching Zetterberg in the back of the head and pushing his face into the glass has to be considered as bad or worse (Zetterberg was more defenseless, the hit was less of a "hockey play").  

Hagelin should've gotten a 1 game and Weber a 2+ game suspension.

The NHL disciplinary system is a farce. Hagelin probably deserved a one game suspension, but compared to all the other crap that's been going on (Weber, Neil for example) him getting 3 games is just the league picking on a non-star player to "go tough on"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0

Chara hits Pacioretty

The playoffs are getting absolutely out of control, especially with the Flyer/Pens today, thanks to the tone that Bettman and Shanny set in the Weber incident. It's like they're throwing darts at a board to determine punishment. No wonder the NHL is so far behind the other three sports leagues

The NHL is becoming the NBA: Bettman wants to make it all about stars and has proven that he with attempt to alter the outcome of playoff series to advance the teams and players of his liking. The recent inconsistencies in suspensions are nothing but another way in which he can help the teams of his liking so get used to it.

As far as each individual suspension goes, I have played hockey for a very long time so I will give my personal opinion on the suspensions or lack of suspensions. I will first mention that I will never believe that a player getting injured or not should have much bearing on the punishment the player deserves. If a players gets hurt on a penalty deserving but not dirty play I believe it should get a 1 game suspension. If you want to punish players every time someone gets hurt, it would be easy. 

The worst offense was definitely Carkner: Premeditated, was dressed specifically to do this, cheap shot, kept punching him until he was tackled and was attempting to injure the other player   **My Punishment: Series Suspension (no matter how long it goes)

2nd worse: Aaron Ashman: Stick used, player without the puck, defense of a teammate. But its the hit to the back of the head once the Flyer player is down that makes this awful. **My Punishment: 4 game suspension 

3rd worse: Weber: Threw a punch to the head, grabbed the head an shoved face into glass, intent to injure. **My Punishment: 4 game suspension

4th worse: James Neal hit on Couturier: Left his feet, player without the puck, contact to the headplayer turned away and unsuspecting, cheap shot. **My Punishment: 3 game suspension

5th worse: Byron Bitz: first play where the player being hit had the puck or was still legal to hit. Hit to the head, hit from behind, caused injury (see my disclaimer above).**My Punishment: 2 game suspension

6th worse: Hagelin- Elbow to the head, caused injury (to NHL star, what a joke) **My Punishment: 1 game suspension

The NHL is a joke. Hagelin a nobody gets 3 games because he hurt a star player on a bang bang play that happens 10 times a game*. Then, Weber shoves a players face into the glass but because he is a star, and in my opinion playing the Red Wings who Bettman hates, he gets a $2500 fine. The NHL then tries to show that hits to the head are worse than punching defenseless players in the face by giving Carkner a laughable 1 game suspension. 

* Watch a full game and count how many elbows or fists end up in the face of the player getting hit. 

Not surprising based on the chart (CHART!)



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4093950458_03e4645497_o.gif

Sad to see Shanahan F it up so badly. He got to off to a great start with some heavy punishments for cheap shots and dangerous play back in October, including some preseason dust-ups. Then apparently the GMs weighed in, expressing a preference for beer league antics over star protection. So now the compromise seems to be if you are an award candidate -- especially a Canadian one -- you can do whatever the heck you want. If you are a rookie -- especially a European one -- the league has it in for you.

If Alfredsson plays tonight the suspension will be shorter.

I understand people don't agree with Gary Bettman on a lot of things, but I hardly see how this is on him.  There is a panel of ex-NHL players, GM's and well thought of people who determine these things.  Brendan Shannahan and this panel review all aspects of the infractions prior to the ruling.  

So why is it wrong that Bettman has used this panel to handle suspensions.  IMO it is 10000 times better than the NFL where the Roger Goodell is judge and jury.  He hands down the suspension/fine and then also is the person you appeal to.  The NHL has done this right, the infractions panel hands down a penalty, and if you want to appeal THEN AND ONLY THEN does Bettman become involved.  

I agree Bettman hasn't always done right when it comes to Detroit, or the game in general, but it is hard to argue there is a commissioner who has done more for their sport than him.  After a lockout season the NHL has never been more profitable, there are MULTIPLE regional TV deals that weren't in place when he took over.  The playoffs are on a MAJOR network, and every game is televised.