Has received criticism for his onslaught of bans since the beginning of the preseason? Has he received high praises for trying to save players careers? Has he gone overboard in trying to nip in the bud something that could possibly save a player's playing career and life? Has he ruined the game that we love by making players accountable for their actions?
I personally think that the brutal, blatant hits should receive even stiffer suspensions. I know what you're thinking: 'This guy is a nut-job; how can he possibly want hitting taken out of the game?' sort of thing. I don't want hits taken out of hockey; that would be like telling a boxer not to block his opponent's punches. What I do want is Shanahan and his team to stay vigilant and keep taking a hard stance and punishing the real, blatant offenders.
In short, a head shot is a head shot is a head shot: MAKE SURE WHAT YOU ARE SUSPENDING A PLAYER FOR IS INDEED A HEAD SHOT....inconsistency breeds disloyalty, and perhaps even a distrust, and even though it may seem that the NHL is trying to ice a better product, they will in the end be shooting themselves in the foot by creating a big, stinky, oozing monster that will make them wish they had never attempted to fix in the first place. Simply stay strong and keep plowing; you're on the right track.
One good thing is that the NHL poster boy is taking a stance on the hitting/concussion issue, and that can only help matters...unless, of course, Don Cherry calls him a sissy for sitting out all this time...
L8r hockey geeks,
J
[To see Ken Campell's The Hockey News article, buy the back issue with Stamkos on the front...]
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