My NHL Blog

NHL Must Open Its Eyes!

Posted on January 17, 2010 by admin

I got frustrated just reading this, I feel that consistency is necessary when handing out suspensions, a cheap hit is a cheap hit regardless who is behind it.

Discipline czar Colin Campbell applies uneven standards when he should be outlawing all dangerous head shots.
By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

t used to bother me that NHL Senior VP and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell — aka the discipline czar — doesn’t explain how he does or doesn’t come up with suspensions.

How does the Wild’s Derek Boogaard get five games on a first-offense elbow last season but Phoenix’s Ed Jovanovski gets two on a third blow to the head in two years — and second in a month — just a week ago?

How does one man arbitrarily render discipline based seemingly on no criteria?

Critics joke that Campbell must have a dartboard in his office, although as a blog commenter said on “Russo’s Rants” the other day, it’s more like “Wheel of Fortune” because eventually Campbell would get good at throwing darts.

By dodging transparency and then showing zero candor, Campbell leaves the league open to criticism.

But after hearing Campbell on the radio Thursday justify why he didn’t suspend Pittsburgh’s Sergei Gonchar for his blow to the head of the Wild’s Cal Clutterbuck, it’s probably best he keeps muzzling himself.

Read on