Double Your Standards, Double Your Hypocrisy…
The NHL crime and punishment division is a joke. The recent ’slap on the wrist’ to Chris Pronger illustrates why the NHL is far behind other professional sports organization for managing player behavior and following its own clearly defined rules. Well obviously there are no clearly defined rules. We see it on the ice when officials put away the whistle during the last few minutes of the game - we are not sure what is going to get called and what will not. Clearly this approach is adopted by the NHL’s high court when dealing with suspensions for its star athletes. Chris Pronger is a 7 time offender. He committed the same foul that Chris Simon did - I wasn’t aware that boot stomping was the in thing with the NHL crowd these days - but receives a considerably lesser punishment. I suppose one could argue that Simon’s reputation preceded him however, if a 7 time offender is considered to be of lesser significance or of better character then I think there is a serious attitude problem in the NHL. Even the whole ‘there is inconclusive evidence’ shenanigans on behalf of the NHL’s lost and found video department reeks of incompetence. So 4 sets of eyes on the ice, plus the war room in T.O. misses what a camera crew in the rink picked up? Let’s not forget our goal that won us the Cup in 04′…….. Go Flames.
