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No professional sports league has had such a checkered history when it comes to player safety as the NHL. Players, coaches and fans never know what to expect on a nightly basis, even in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last night in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ matchup against the New York Rangers, the referees missed a huge call when Penguins defenseman Kris Letang tried to decapitate Rangers forward Viktor Stalberg.
With 12:45 remaining in the third period, Letang was battling a forecheck from Rangers forward Dominic Moore. At the same time Stalberg was coming in and Letang swung his stick into Stalberg’s face and neck area. There was a deliberate and unprovoked attempt by Letang to hit Stalberg. You could see his stick moving forward and Letang looking right at Stalberg. Stalberg went down, clutching his neck and was shaken up. No call was made on the ice by the referees or linesmen. Letang got away with attempted murder, and the Rangers were denied a four-minute power play as Stalberg was bleeding as a result of the slash. You can see the play by clicking here.
If the NHL was really concerned with player safety it would bring Letang in for a hearing, because this was a deliberate attempt to injure. If a similar action by the Chicago Blackhawks’ Duncan Keith when he swung his stick at the Minnesota Wild‘s Charlie Coyle was worthy of a six-game suspension, then why would the NHL not look at this? The excuse of no penalty being called on the ice doesn’t fly. If the NHL lets this go they are sending a signal to players that disciplinary action might not be forthcoming. It does nothing to discourage dangerous cheap shots like the one Letang took.
This wasn’t a missed hook or trip. This was a deliberate attempt to injure. The stick was being used as a weapon and was swung into the face and neck area, one of the few unprotected areas on a hockey player. Meanwhile, the NHL is suspending the Blackhawks’ Andrew Shaw for using a homophobic slur. The lack of action and consistency by the NHL is just one more reason to question the league and their player safety rules and just how seriously they truly take them. It is frustrating for players, coaches and fans alike and one reason the NHL has an image issue.
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