NHL Suspension's Don't Add Up

It's funny or sad, depending on how you look at it, that two different players can get two different number of games in suspensions for simply using their mouths. And the player who used his to speak received the lessor penalty. Remember back in early December when Dallas forward Sean Avery uttered the phrase 'sloppy seconds' to a reporter. The comment was a bone-headed one to say the least, and he was punished through a 6 game suspension. Fast-forward to last week and the second mouth violator came from Ottawa's Jarkko Ruutu, who during a tussle with Sabres tough guy Andrew Peters, broke the skin on Peters' thumb after biting him through the glove. And for using this non-man like action (girly), Ruutu received only 2 games. And in case you are wondering, this is Ruutu's second suspension of the season, as he lost 2 games earlier for a vicious elbow.

Clearly the NHL, and more specifically league disciplinarian Colin Campbell, have a strange way of dealing with players actions when it comes to handing out suspensions. Lets face it, both players mentioned above are in the league for one reason, that is to cause havoc to their opponents. But to sit a player for 6 games because he said something idiotic...and then to slap only 2 games on a guy who tried to amputate a thumb, let's just say they really don't have a handle on the power that could be with the proper use of suspensions.

Interestingly enough, the NHL actually has reference to biting in three different areas in their official rules. Actually it is sad that it's in there, as you would think that players would act more appropriately than kids do on a playground. But it's there. And in the biting case with Ruutu, because the on-ice officials could not come to a conclusion on what might have left the teeth mark and caused the blood on the thumb, the league went to the 'Supplementary Discipline' section that says in part: 'the Commissioner may, at his discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with and game and may asses additional fines and/or suspensions...'. And there you have it, the power of the suspension.

You would think that, in broad terms, a suspension should come to players who jeopardize the integrity of the league. In fact, in Commissioner Bettman's own words regarding the Avery suspension, he said that his actions were "detrimental to the league or game of hockey". What offers more of a threat, hurt feelings or bodily harm? Wild fans will remember last seasons when Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund gave Mikko Koivu a two-hander that broke his leg. Mikko ended up missing over 20 games because of the incident and what did Ohlund receive? Only a slap on the wrist of 4 games. And a bit off-topic here but who could forget the block-buster acquisition the Wild made prior to last seasons trade deadline when the team picked up the suspension king, Chris Simon, who has the two longest suspensions in NHL history (now there was a good use of a 6th round pick). Incidentally, Simon's league leading 30 game suspension came after stomping on the leg of, you guessed it, Ruutu.

The list of the abuse of the suspension rule goes on and on and there appears to be zero consistency on the offense committed and the length of suspensions related to the incidents. And to top it off, guys like Ruutu have little incentive to change their ways. One day the NHL may wake up and concentrate on more important things like keeping up the leagues integrity instead of trying to save someones feelings from getting hurt.