The Max Pacioretty Hit Part 1

I was at the game, and saw it right before my eyes. I thought the kid was dead. We are all passionate Habs fans, but if this was any other player in the league too I would be just as horrified by the hit and moreso by the reaction from the the NHL.

What is so completely and utterly asinine about the way in which the league shell's out supplemental discipline is how they take into account the player's past history regarding discipline. That is only relevant if the culprit has committed more than one crime like a Trevor Gillies, like a Matt Cooke. If these guys are being suspended over and over again it simply means that whatever discipline the NHL is subjecting on them is completely useless and has no impact on the player to change their actions. But that is another topic of conversation. 

How does it make sense that someone who has never had supplemental discipline before be exonerated from responsibility because "he is not a dirty player". There is a first time for everything. That was Chara's first time two nights ago. Wouldnt it be nice if I where exonerated from bashing someone's head into a pole and committing assualt because I don't have a criminal record and I have been a good citizen in Canada my whole life. It makes no sense whatsoever and such would not be the case if this was being analyzed in a court of law. 

At the end of the day, there is a first time for everything and players need to be responsible for their actions on the ice regardless of their intent or their previously held "good record". In my opinion, no player needs to be given the benefit of the doubt, whether you are Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or Trevor Gillies. They are all human beings and should all be held accoutanble for their actions on the ice when it comes to player safety.

And most definitely Mike Murphy took Chara's reprise of actually coming back off the bus after initially snubbing the media to answer a couple of questions as a sign of remorse. The PR guy for the Boston Bruins should request a raise for being able to keep their star player in the lineup...what a joke.

Analyzing intent is impossible. The only person who knows what there intent was the person who committed the action. Having outsiders spectulate on the intent let alone the NHL offices is completely ridiculous. Intent should have no bearing on diminishing the affect of the act committed. If I rear-end someone in my car it is my fault. It doesnt matter that the guy in front me had to stop suddently, as a driver I am responsible for handling my own vehicle and if I happen to hit somone I am ultimately responible. Using the stanchion as a skategoat to blame the hit on is completely ridiculous. The NHL should be embarrased within themselves. Sometimes I wish Roger Goodell ran this league instead of that incompetent Bettman.

It's clear to me that a player needs to die on the ice before the NHL wakes up. Are you kidding me? And even then....perhaps the "hockey play" would be to blame....