Brendan Shanahan Calls Sabres’ Comments Following Milan Lucic Hit ‘Irresponsible’
Miller, who was left concussed after colliding with the Bruins winger early in Saturday's game, ripped Lucic after the game. General manager Darcy Regier called for discipline, as did head coach Lindy Ruff.
Yet, after league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan spoke with Lucic over the phone on Monday, he was satisfied with what he heard and opted not to suspend Lucic.
On Monday night, Shanahan let it be known what he felt about the public reaction from those in Buffalo.
"I think Buffalo's comments are irresponsible to suggest that it's open season [on goalies]," Shanahan said at the Hockey Hall of Fame induction, according to TSN. "I will have this warning for players: It's not. If you run a goalie, you're going to find yourself in the same situation that Lucic was today, you're going to have to explain yourself and if you don't explain it sufficiently, and I don't buy it, you're going to be suspended."
Shanahan also reminded the Sabres that his main job is to enforce the rules that are already in place and not to revise the NHL rulebook.
"If they feel, as [Regier] suggests, that goalies are like quarterbacks and that their needs to be a higher standard in supplemental discipline, [I'm open to that]," he said. "I'm not a policy maker, but I'm a policy enforcer. If these guys want that I'm happy to enforce that policy."
