A New Approach?

Perhaps it's time for the NHL to look at a new way of doing things when it comes to supplementary discipline.

Perhaps the time is right for Gary Bettman to take centre stage, to become the man who makes these tough hockey decisions and puts his reputation on the line.

David Stern does it in the NBA. Roger Goodell was the one who banned Michael Vick and has to deal with trouble in the NFL when suspensions are required. Heck, Mark Cohon, every once in a while, at least tries to look like he's running the CFL show when something bad happens on the field.

But not Bettman. Whether it was Brian Burke or Colin Campbell, Bettman has preferred to stay in the background, just as was the case when Brian O'Neill dealt with supplementary discipline under John Ziegler.

But it wasn't always this way. Clarence Campbell, you'll recall, was the NHL president who suspended Rocket Richard. There's no particular rule that says the commissioner (formerly president) can't be the one who makes the call on big suspensions. In fact, when it came to Dale Hunter's hit on Pierre Turgeon years ago, Bettman did make the decision.

So why not step up now on a full-time basis? Colie Campbell, somewhat unfairly, is being trashed on a daily basis for his decisions, just as has been the case for years, even though its pretty clear Bettman and others have influence on those decisions.

The current system isn't working. Players don't seem happy, GMs and coaches don't see the logic and fans are completely confused.

If Bettman really is the caretaker of the league, then this could be the time he stands up and takes on the toughest job.

There will always be those who will say he isn't a hockey man, never played in the league.

Well Stern didn't dunk in the NBA and Goodell never played left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bettman didn't skate anywhere for anyone. But since everyone seems happy to criticize the every move of Campbell, who played and coached in the NHL for years, it's hard to imagine it could be worse for the NHL commissioner.

Comments

[Chuck]

Quick . . . grab a stopwatch and time yourself naming five GOOD things Bettman has done for hockey during his tenure.

Now . . . do the same only this time, name five BAD things Bettman has done for hockey during his tenure.

Guess which one takes less time.

Your answer tells you precisely why Bettman should keep his teensie tiny hands THE HELL OFF the game in general.

[Ron Buettner]

The NHL can end the hits to the head with a simple rule change: hit anyone in the head, get suspended 10 games. Hurt them doing it, get 10 games more than what the injured player is out. End his season, and you get your season ended plus the first 10 games of next season. I'll bet a blue line ticket this would work as the league headhunters would get the message quick.

[nugentmania]

Actually, I agree with this sentiment in principle. But, for better or for worse....worse, actually.....hockey will always have the mentality that those who haven't played the game will never understand it. And Bettman has always been perceived that way, even though he'd have the same resources and advisement that Campbell gets so the decisions wouldn't vary. Apparently, you can never understand how serious or not serious, or how justified or not justified, something that happens on the ice actually is...unless you've "played the game." And you'll never understand "the code." The flaw in this? To make this a valid argument, you need to be able to discredit opposing arguments. Who would you rather copy your homework from? Dr. Karen Johnston discussing violence in ice hockey? Or Mike Milbury giving a lecture on neurological brain function? Well....Milbury did in fact play the game. His career is most famous for climbing into the stands at MSG and beating a fan with a shoe. And playing the game never helped him as a General Manager. He destroyed that franchise. Matthew Barnaby also "played the game", and I mute TSN every time he opens his mouth. I'm still waiting for the premises that will make me accept this argument.

[Fionavar]

God I hate it when I agree with you! Step one is to step up, step two is to make some sort of sense out of the rules that protect players. Step One is never going to happen since Bettman is a back room thug with no public grace whatsoever; so we likely won't see step two either. I'm as sorry as you are Damien.

[Dennis Regan]

The Buttman's kind of busy these days. With the ongoing job of keeping hockey out of Canada and dispersing the teams among the beaches and the deserts, he has little other time. We need a commisioner who can get his mind into the game and make drastic changes. All players of the future to have IQ's above 70, a limited ammount of meat allowed per head, no intent to kill, interest in occasionally touching the puck, and no knowledge of "da code". What a dream! Stars allowed to star. Players allowed to play. No more stretcher time holding up the game. Wake me up!

[DM]

Good point Damien - I am 100% in agreement. I've never been a fan of Bettman and I don't know why he's been around so long.

[Peter531]

How about this for a novel approach. If Mr Colie Campbell has no autonomy but has some integrity then he should say so and quit so we can all know the charade for what it is i.e. the Owners/Managers running the show and he is their conduit. People apologize for Campbell all the time (like even Bob Mcowan who’s usually calling people out) and I don’t get it. If he’s just collecting a paycheque then say so and move on and let’s stop believing there is any integrity involved in this. People's health is on the line.

[Jeff M]

Great post nugentmania ...

Who would you rather copy your homework from? Dr. Karen Johnston discussing violence in ice hockey? Or Mike Milbury giving a lecture on neurological brain function?

One of the best lines ever!

[Neil]

"In fact, when it came to Dale Hunter's hit on Pierre Turgeon years ago, Bettman did make the decision."

I believe he emulated his mentor Stern and got tough with Hunter and suspended him for 20 games. The hockey people didn't like that and he was not allowed to do it anymore.

[theoldrot]

Bettman? Decisions by Gary? What are you smoking?

If a decision ever came out of Bettman, it would be driven by the money aspect. Forget it.

If the person who held Colon Campbell's current job were independent of NHL management and the club owners, we might see some consistent decisions.

[Randy Arnold]

C'mon Coxie...this last blurb was tongue in cheek, right? Come clean Damien...or are you convinced that Mr. Bettman has done such a fine job with everything else he has touched in the NHL that he can do such a great job with Discipline? You are joking, right?

[B. M.]

Apparently, I'm in the minority now. Meatheads unite for the good of the game!!

Cooke on Savard - yep, get that out of the game & deserved a suspension (that's a dinosaur or knuckle-dragger sayin' that...whatever term you prefer)

Ovie on Campbell - stop calling it a hit! Wasn't even close, it was a light shove...sigh. Campbell knew he was there - looked twice before touching the puck. And then collapses into the boards at the first touch? He just assumed Kovie wouldn't hit him. At least brace yourself a little bit, like your coaches taught in Novice! C'mon folks - this is getting out of control.

Traditionally, all responsibility has rested with the puck carrier (keep your head up). Now, all responsibility rests with the hitter to make sure the opponent isn't vulnerable.

So what prevents me from getting the puck behind my net, winding up full speed through the neutral zone, with my head glued to the ice? Nobody can hit me & I get a clear path to the net.

[Sophus]

The hockey games during the Olympics were exciting and fast with plenty of body checks but no hits to anyone's head nor did any players stop the flow of the game to fight each other.

The time has come to rescue hockey from poor management. Automatic and stiff, very stiff, penalties, may do the trick. If not, then penalize the owners and managers.

As an aside, that idiotic old dinosaur Don Cherry is way past 'best before' date.

[Alan Gee]

Unfortunately Gary Bettman is no Clarence Campbell and as a result the NHL is becoming a farce of a league. And the owners are no great help either. After two weeks of some great Olympic hockey, the NHL looks more and more bush league every day.

[koholeaf]

Damien while I realize you cannot be too critical of NHL honchos in light of your job. How in dawgs name can you say with a straight face that Campbell gets "somewhat un-fairly trashed"? That is entirely ludicrous, as a fan of NHL hockey for most of my 56 years, I have never seen the league quite this dirty nor mean mean-spirited. the sad part is of course is that the league has the means to stop it, but as all can see the man in that job is obviously not man enough to do it. He could of course bring the gavel down hard on all this non-sense including the Downie on Crosby thing, or last nights reprehesible actions by Alfredsson, but he won't, deserving the criticism he gets.

[James Jack]

I just saw replays of Steve Downies "takedown" of Sidney Crosby and while I am no fan of Crosby, I am absolutely disgusted that this guy Downie continues to play in the league. This incident was a deliberate attempt to take a guy's knee out if I ever saw one and Downie has a litany of like infractions on his record and no doubt enjoys a price on his head by other goons in the league. I predict another Steve Moore type incident if Downie's dirty play is allowed to continue.

[Joe L]

Thank God that Bettman and the Boys only have a say in the NHL.. This way they can only screw up only the NHL and not all of hockey..

[other mark]

Bettman, Campbell, the Easter Bunny. It doesn't really matter. As long as you have a bunch of dopes with their own agenda (the GM's/Board of Governors) really calling the shots, the guy in front of the camera is just a figure head. The real solution to this is not to have 'supplementary dicipline' at all. Put it right in the rule book in black and white: first time offender:5 games, second time:20 games, 3rd time: 1 full season, 4th time:your gone for good. Allow the right to appeal. Apply this to rule 41 (intent to injure) and the new rule specifically about head shots from the side or behind. Doling out adhoc justice simply does not work.

[Ron Gillespie]

I will echo earlier sentiments....you always go so easy on Coli Campbell yet are constantly telling us how inane most of these suspensions are. How can you defend the man who makes the decisions yet are constantly disagreeing with those same decisions?

I think the problem lies at the feet of Coli Campbell. Maybe the NHL just needs to get someone in that role with a little more smarts. I mean, really, how hard is it? You do this, you get this. Yet Coli can't seem to figure that out.

[John]

I just teed up and watched in order the Cook hit on Savard; Ovechkin on Campbel and Alfredson on Beauchemin. The worst hit got no penalty. The second worst got two minutes. The least onerous although still from the blind side got a misconduct and two games. Could Bettman do any worse!

[Smack]

It makes my skin crawl when I read or hear members of the media call Colin Campbell "Colie". Altogether to chummy for my liking.