Shanahan's incompetence bearing proof

[PhillipBlunt]

The 2013-2014 season has been one of unprecedented attacks against player safety.

Rick Nash spoke about the issue shortly before returning to the ice. He stated "You watch the highlights and it seems that there's a head shot every night."

Just today Zac Rinaldo attacked Antoine Roussel, James Neal kneed Brad Marchand, and Shawn Thornton attacked Brooks Orpik sending him off ice on a stretcher. That's one days worth of games.

While the players are professionals, they are playing in a league without a moral compass. The officials are woefully inadequate at their jobs and Brendan Shanahan has failed miserably at providing the NHL with any kind of consistency.

In effect, the leagues rules are essentially open to interpretation. In a sport as fast and brutal as hockey, this is a recipe for disaster.

[Brad Bellick^]

Shanahan can only hand out suspensions it's not like he can be out on the ice enforcing the rules and preventing things like that from happening.

[PhillipBlunt]

Shanahan can only hand out suspensions it's not like he can be out on the ice enforcing the rules and preventing things like that from happening.

His suspensions shape how players play the game. They indicate what is suspendable and what is permissible. It does affect the game. Open your eyes.

[Brad Bellick^]

His suspensions shape how players play the game. They indicate what is suspendable and what is permissible. It does affect the game. Open your eyes.

And he's handed out suspensions for plays like this. What else can he do? Give players life time bans?

[MANGO]

His suspensions shape how players play the game. They indicate what is suspendable and what is permissible. It does affect the game. Open your eyes.

I would say his inconsistency shapes how players play more so. Also, suspensions I think, need to be longer to get players to change their attitudes.

[TOMapleLaughs]

When he first started the suspensions were a lot longer. Soon after that he got reeled in. Owners and players don't want 'em that long. So owners and players are kinda turning an effective blind eye towards this issue.

Shanny is a puppet.

[PhillipBlunt]

When he first started the suspensions were a lot longer. Soon after that he got reeled in. Owners and players don't want 'em that long. So owners and players are kinda turning an effective blind eye towards this issue.

Shanny is a puppet.

True. The league in its totality bears responsibility to this issue. I guess Shanahan's moniker is merely a bullseye.

[PhillipBlunt]

And he's handed out suspensions for plays like this. What else can he do? Give players life time bans?

He would never be given that sweeping power in a league so concerned with growing the game's brand at the behest of its reputation.

[nuckin_futz]

The 2013-2014 season has been one of unprecedented attacks against player safety.

Rick Nash spoke about the issue shortly before returning to the ice. He stated "You watch the highlights and it seems that there's a head shot every night."

Is this the same Rick Nash? Couldn't be?

[PhillipBlunt]

Is this the same Rick Nash? Couldn't be?

Yeah it is. Maybe not the best person to quote, but it was the most recent and pertinent statement about the issue.

[Master Mind]

If the league handed out suspensions that mattered, players might change. They also need to base them on intent instead of result.

[Ghostsof1915]

Part of the problem is a lot of latitude is given for.

1) Is the player injured? If it's minor, it's a minor suspension.

2) Does the offender have a history. If yes, hand out a long suspension regardless.

3) The infraction and the severity is not really taken into consideration 1, and 2 seem to have more bearing.

Cheap shots to the head have no place in hockey. Having your stick at chest level or higher also has no place.

Maybe be like regular Common Law. Don't be afraid to use precedence.

[PhillipBlunt]

If the league handed out suspensions that mattered, players might change. They also need to base them on intent instead of result.

Agreed.

Basing suspension on intent allows the league to target malicious behavior.

Basing suspension on result penalizes accidental incidents with the same severity as purposeful incidents.

Intent targets predatory behavior

Results target any incidental behavior.

The variables are far too great within a results based suspension model to serve the greater good of the game.

[Henrik Kesler]

Part of the problem is a lot of latitude is given for.

1) Is the player injured? If it's minor, it's a minor suspension.

2) Does the offender have a history. If yes, hand out a long suspension regardless.

3) The infraction and the severity is not really taken into consideration 1, and 2 seem to have more bearing.

Cheap shots to the head have no place in hockey. Having your stick at chest level or higher also has no place.

Maybe be like regular Common Law. Don't be afraid to use precedence.

Suspending based on result, instead of intent has done more harm than good. There are some very, VERY dirty plays that don't result in serious injury and therefore don't result in a suspension, despite being intentional.

I fear the nonsense and retaliation will only get worse until the league starts punishing based on intent (did you elbow the opponent) instead of result (was he concussed despite not throwing elbow).

[PhillipBlunt]

Suspending based on result, instead of intent has done more harm than good. There are some very, VERY dirty plays that don't result in serious injury and therefore don't result in a suspension, despite being intentional.

I fear the nonsense and retaliation will only get worse until the league starts punishing based on intent (did you elbow the opponent) instead of result (was he concussed despite not throwing elbow).

Spot on Henrik. Well said. If players who intend to injure fail to do so, that won't stop them from trying again. This rings resoundingly true if they don't get penalized for their actions.

[Master Mind]

Agreed.

Basing suspension on intent allows the league to target malicious behavior.

Basing suspension on result penalizes accidental incidents with the same severity as purposeful incidents.

Intent targets predatory behavior

Results target any incidental behavior.

The variables are far too great within a results based suspension model to serve the greater good of the game.

Suspending based on result, instead of intent has done more harm than good. There are some very, VERY dirty plays that don't result in serious injury and therefore don't result in a suspension, despite being intentional.

I fear the nonsense and retaliation will only get worse until the league starts punishing based on intent (did you elbow the opponent) instead of result (was he concussed despite not throwing elbow).

Yep, considering how many dirty plays that have happened this year already, it's clear that the disciplinary system is having negative effects, and will continue to get worse until they fix it.

The league has a chance to make things better depending on what they do with Thornton. Though I'm guessing they'll make things worse instead.

[Karlsson`s Flo]

A lack of respect amongst some players isn't Shanahan's incompetence. It's a players issue that the NHL is forced to deal with. It does not matter who you put in charge of player safety when they will always be players playing a violent, physical game.

[PhillipBlunt]

A lack of respect amongst some players isn't Shanahan's incompetence. It's a players issue that the NHL is forced to deal with. It does not matter who you put in charge of player safety when they will always be players playing a violent, physical game.

Not a chance. Players do what they can get away with. The NHLPA doesn't regulate play in the league. Once again, open your eyes.

[viking mama]

The 2013-2014 season has been one of unprecedented attacks against player safety.

Rick Nash spoke about the issue shortly before returning to the ice. He stated "You watch the highlights and it seems that there's a head shot every night."

Just today Zac Rinaldo attacked Antoine Roussel, James Neal kneed Brad Marchand, and Shawn Thornton attacked Brooks Orpik sending him off ice on a stretcher. That's one days worth of games.

While the players are professionals, they are playing in a league without a moral compass. The officials are woefully inadequate at their jobs and Brendan Shanahan has failed miserably at providing the NHL with any kind of consistency.

In effect, the leagues rules are essentially open to interpretation. In a sport as fast and brutal as hockey, this is a recipe for disaster.

....and an invitation to corruption.

The DPS is seeded with affliated players - all with connections to O-6 teams that are simply impossible to ignore. There is a strong bias on this DPS. Shanny & his DPS posse are either too intimidated or beholding to see straight on some issues & will always favor the League Presidents team & players of favored-voting-block partners. Therefore boundaries being set are NOT so clearly defined...for ALL.

Thornton has crossed over into "Sean Avery" terrritory. His actions are so maliciously stupid & fool-hardy...that he's put the entire league in disrepute. If a person made a smple error in judgement on the job-site...he could be reprimanded or even offered retraining. But when a person knowingly & recklessly puts their fellow union brothers at risk ...OR assaults them while defenseless.... & without warning (Duncan Keith, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand...now Shawn Thornton)...in the "real" world - they're arses are FIRED.... & they're done with the company. This logical step doesnt happen in the NHL ....because "pro-violence traditionalists" hold the balance of power....& the culture of hockey violence is still being preached in some cities - to desperately hold on to traditional market-shares. The more progressive family-friendly sports are now considered almost pacifist by comparison. Ironically...the NHL still marches along-side anti-bullying campaigns & continually spews a lot of safety-first mantras at their fans.

So kiddies - apparently saying "fool-hardy" things is still far more egregious in the NHL than wallopping a fellow co-worker within an inch of his life....or at least that's the message that we regularly get from this very dysfunctional league....lead by delusional billionaire gentlemen.

BTW: Officials do have the technology to get a lot right out there. Video replays could be available for practically everything controversial. It's very possible to link referees to feeds for instant clarification from off-ice officials. Simple to do....but they wont. How else could they manage outcomes - if necessary. Just sayin.

[Lychees]

Honestly I think the NHLPA needs to send a memo out to tell players to respect one another, there's just absolutely no respect whatsoever. Just think of the past few playoffs for the Nucks alone. Lots of diving, whining, embellishing, dirty hits etc. and players are allowed to get away with it, is it the refs fault? Partially. But why are we not blaming the players for these acts?

Also man is the reffing horridly inconsistent for all teams, honestly either clamp down, or let them play. Don't swap between the two as the game goes on.