Today, if you clicked onto ESPN or the NHL's website, you found out that Trevor Gillies was suspended 10 games for his hit to the head in the New York Islanders game against the Minnesota Wild. While Cal Clutterbuck was able to return to the ice that game, still, this leaves the question: How? How did this happen?
The answer is a suspension system that is flawed. The NHL has proven through this decision that once again they aren't answering the calls to hits that cause, or could cause, serious injury to an opponent.
The new rule involving blindside lateral hits is not enough. Since when is going after a guy's head something that is okay with the new NHL? When the NHL came out of lockout from 2004-05, the league was looking to change the game. They wanted to make it higher-scoring, faster-paced and more exciting.
They have succeeded in improving the game. Of all lockouts in sports, I think the 2004-05 lockout was one of the most successful in addressing pressing issues. However, now more than then, the NHL needs to stop the hits to the head.
Let's take a look at Trevor Gillies and exactly what he did against the Minnesota Wild. C ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Immer Chriswell
NHL Falling Short of Expectations in Protecting Players
March 4th, 2011 by Immer Chriswell Leave a reply »
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