The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman was reportedly suspended two games for a blindside hit from behind on Buffalo's Jason Pominville during Monday night's game.
Pominville suffered a concussion from the hit. That, of course, should sound familiar to Bruins fans as Marc Savard continues to miss time with post-concussion syndrome following an equally nasty hit from Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke last season.
NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell decided that Cooke wouldn't be suspsended for his cheap shot, but apparently is ready to send the message that this kind of play won't be tolerated. That's great, but the message needs to be sent loud and clear, and a two-game suspension may not do that.
Hjalmarsson came out and said that it was not his intent to injure Pominville — it's not like he'd admit it if it was — but that simply should not matter. The only way players will get the message is if the league takes a stand.
They missed a golden opportunity with Cooke. They've made some strides with Hjalmarsson. But it's still not enough. The discussion does not even need the obvious "what-if" question that seems to come every time this happens. There's no need to ask "What if this hit was on Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin?" That shouldn't matter.
Sure, the NHL stands to lose more as a brand both in terms of economics and star-power if one of those two or some other big-time star goes down as a victim of a cheap shot. But this is about more than that. Players like Savard and Pominville, their livelihood is at stake when they are targeted like they are. Two-game suspensions don't make up for that fact.
The NHL has pledged to clean up blindside hits. Now, more than ever, would have been a good time to make an example out of Hjalmarsson and prove that the league is serious about that.
Hockey is a physical game, there's no question about it. And players — in most cases — are able to police the game themselves. Make no question, though, that there is a line that should not be crossed. Hits like those from Hjalmarsson and Cooke crossed those lines and the NHL should punish them swifltly for doing so.
Should the NHL have suspended Niklas Hjalmarsson for more than two games? What should his suspension and others who are guilty of blindside hits be? Share your thoughts below.
