Player safety changing for better

Six suspensions already handed out since preseason began in September

The Department of Player Safety was formed in 2011 to change player behaviour and to make the game safer while keeping it physical.

As of the end of October the NHL has handed out six suspensions since the preseason, the first one being to Max Domi of the Montreal Canadiens.

Domi was suspended two games into the preseason after roughing against Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekbald, he was suspended for the rest of the preseason on Sept.20 with five games left in the preseason.

Robert Bortuzzo was suspended seven days after Domi for elbowing Washington Capitals defenceman Michal Kempny. Bortuzzo was suspended the rest of the preseason, which was two games and also one regular season game.

Six days after Bortuzzo was suspended came Tom Wilson’s suspension. He was suspended 20 games on Oct. 3 for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. This was Wilson’s fourth suspension in his last 105 games, including preseason and postseason. Wilson will also forfeit $1.26 million.

The first regular season suspension came against Mike Matheson of the Florida Panthers, when he was suspended two games on Oct.15 for interference/unsportsmanlike conduct on Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson.

Most recently Mark Borowiecki of the Ottawa Senators was suspended for one game on Oct.24 for elbowing Boston Bruins defenceman Urho Vaakanainen and then his first game back from that suspension, he was suspended again for an illegal hit to the head of Vegas Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin.

There are two different types of hearings you can have with player safety, one of which is a telephone hearing. A telephone hearing is where the Department of Safety determines that any supplemental discipline from an infraction that will result in a suspension of five games or less, or a fine of more than $5,000. If this is the case the hearing will be conducted over the phone.

The other type is an in-person hearing, in which if the infraction might require a suspension of six or more games. The player is offered the opportunity to have an in-person hearing, in this case the player remains suspended until the hearing has taken place. If the player waives his write to the in-person hearing it will be conducted over the phone.

Repeat offenders like Tom Wilson for example, will be referred to as a repeated offender until 18 months following his most recent suspension. His status as a repeat offender is used to determine the amount of salary forfeited should he receive another suspension. Even if a player is not defined as a repeat offender, his past history may play a role in future supplemental discipline.

Money that players forfeit to fines/suspensions is put into the NHL Players Emergency Assistance Fund.

Players may appeal the department’s decision only provided

that written notice of the appeal is provided within 48 hours of the decision. The commissioner (Gary Bettman) will make an effort to hear all appeals quickly and will determine whether the decision was supported by clear and convincing evidence.

Another appeal right to a neutral arbitrator will be available if the suspension is six games or more. The neutral arbitrator shall have full remedial authority in respect of the matter.

Sidney Crosby was recently asked in September about his take on the NHL’s recent rule changes on player safety some of his reply was, “You talk about hits to the head and that was just, as a player, you felt responsible. If you went to the middle of the ice and you got hit in the head that was your fault because you were in the middle of the ice. You were in a bad spot, you put yourself in that position, head down, and that was accepted. That’s just what we knew.”

He also added, “With rule changes now that’s not the way we see it. We’ve had to adapt and I think those are good rule changes.”

The NHL has so many young stars across the league the last thing Crosby wants is what happened to him to happen to them.

Player safety is changing for the better, with the league cracking down mainly on illegal hits to the head. Viewing plays more thoroughly, making sure the get the calls correct and suspending if need be.

As has been seen multiple times this season if you compare to last year a lot more of the hits to the head have been called and suspended.

Hopefully as the season goes on and as the seasons go on it will keep on getting better and players will be more disciplined.