Ilya Kovalchuk to be Suspended? Think Again

Eric over at the FanHouse brought up a game of "Guess the Suspension" which, with Colin Campbell as disciplinarian, is always a crapshoot.

However I think this one has an easy answer. Zero.

The league has always gone a little soft on suspensions for star players and I can't see this one being any different.

Fortunately for Kovalchuk, you could spot Roszival glance over his shoulder and see Kovalchuk coming. That might be all Campbell needs to say "Players need to protect themselves better" and then hope it all goes away.

Remember the Ovechkin hit on Briere? Not only was he not suspended, Campbell didn't even give him any sort of verbal reprimand.

If that's not a double-standard, I don't know what is.

UPDATE: Shortly after publishing this, Kukla put up a link to the official announcement of a one-game suspension. I bet that'll teach him a lesson.

Notable quote from Kovalchuk:
“I just tried to finish my check, and he kind of turned right before I tried to hit him,” he said.

Dude, we've got it on video. Roszival had his back turned the whole time.

Related Links
Kovalchuk Hits Roszival Video

Boulerice Gets 25 Games

Jesse Boulerice has been handed a 25-game suspension for his hit on Ryan Kesler. Kesler is all right after the hit and should be in the lineup tonight to face the Oilers. However the hit was as dirty as it can get and was really for no good reason. He and Kesler were battling back and forth all night then Kesler hit - legally - a Flyers D and Boulerice greeted him with a stick to the jaw.

25 games matches Simon's suspension and is a bit more than Downie's. So it was a lengthy suspension. A lifetime ban would have been better. Yes, he was sorry after and didn't try to justify his actions after the game. It looked like he was trying to goad Kesler into a fight. But this isn't a one-time offender. He has a history - he was charged with assault while in the OHL - of making stupid decisions on the ice.

Why should he be privileged with a spot on any teams roster?

Related Links
Duhatschek Weighs In
Bob McKenzie Has Some Thoughts

Downie Suspended for 20 Games

The league has handed down a 20-game suspension to Steve Downie following his hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond. It's a lengthy suspension compared to similar incidents but it appears the NHL is ready to finally start sending a message. That message being: you will be punished. No longer is the message: We frown on this.

And it's about time as I'm sick and tired of seeing players carted off the ice on stretchers. I know a lot of people, mostly Flyers fans, are calling it an overreaction. However that's comparing it to previous suspensions like Prongers elbows. Unfortunately, there will always be a double standard when it comes to punishments. However, there will also always be a time where the punishments need to be re-evaluated to ensure it's a useful punishment.

This is one of those times.

Duhatschek: NHL Gets it Exactly Right
Mirtle: "[It's] long overdue"
Two For Elbowing: "Good for them"

McKenzie: NHLPA Ire Misses the Mark

Bob McKenzie has a great article up in his TSN blog about the NHLPA reaction to Mark Bell's suspension. It's a long read but well worth it.

The NHLPA almost has to come to the defense of their players on any issue. However that's going to lead to a lot of friction down the line. It shouldn't be an "us vs. them" mentality but it looks like that's the way it's going.

For more excellent readings on the NHLPA, check out James Mirtle's suite of posts surrounding the recent meetings.