As Bad As It Gets

The perfect storm. That's about what this week has been for Gary Bettman.

The NHL's two areas of greatest vulnerability, the two issues that attract the most public scrutiny and open the league to charges of being structurally unsound and run by outlaws, have been played out in some of North America's largest media centres this week.

In one corner, you have the league-owned Phoenix Coyotes, quite possibly headed to Winnipeg because a public watchdog smells lies and deceit and law-breaking with the process being used to transfer the hockey club to a new, Chicago-based owner.

In the other, you have the violence issue, which this week was played out in an entirely different, nearly unprecendented fashion, with Montreal forward Max Pacioretty badly injured when run into a glass partition by giant Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara. Chara was penalized on the play, but not subjected to a suspension or fine. That left hockey fans in Montreal screaming bloody murder, and even had Montreal-based Air Canada complaining to the league and seemingly threatening to pull it's financial support.

While each of these situations - Phoenix and the Chara hit - can be logically argued in different ways, the overall impression for the league is instability and mayhem. The Coyotes mess has been hanging around for months and months, defying resolution, and leaving observers wondering if the league even remembers why it went down this pointless path in the first place. Now, the league looks even worse as it tries to intimidate the pro-taxpayer group called the Goldwater Institute into withdrawing its objections against putting millions more into the money pit that is the Coyotes in a deal that seems bizarre at the very least. By fighting Goldwater the NHL seems to be fighting the sheriff on behalf of the shady characters in the black hats.

With Chara, the decision not to suspend him is clearly defensible, although many disagree. Less defensible is that neither the NHL nor the NHLPA seems inclined to investigate why the dangerous area into which Pacioretty was driven is allowed to exist. But within the larger context of what has gone on this season, from Colin Campbell's email trail to Sidney Crosby's concussion to all the headshots and cheapshots and goon tactics and league-promoted fighting, for many this is a new extreme of a league that seems to want blood and more blood.

The NHL general managers will meet next week in Boca Raton, and it was at this time last year they were forced to deal with a similar storm. Phoenix was still in play, but then the hockey world was reeling over a blind side head shot by Matt Cooke on Marc Savard that may have destroyed Savard's career and forced the league to acknowledge an enormous, yawning crater in its rule book for the first time.

Yet a year later, the GMs will convene at a time when the Coyotes debacle won't go away and the violence in the league seems worse, not better.

There seems to have been a corporate decision made that keeping the Desert Dogs in place somehow is absolutely critical to the future of the league, possibly because with a new TV negotiation ongoing with U.S. networks Bettman and Co. aren't in the mood to be going to meetings armed with a map to show American executives exactly where Manitoba is. If Washington and Pittsburgh are the only franchises the league really seems interested in promoting, it's Phoenix that seems to be the third most-discussed franchise, and that's just strange.

On the violence front, the New York Islanders turned the league into a gong show several weeks ago and seem prepared to do so again if necessary. Boston and Montreal had a fight filled contest several weeks ago that the league seemed to celebrate. The league has taken a turn over the past two years, moving from considering whether fighting is worth keeping in the wake of the Don Sanderson tragedy to embracing fisticuffs and all forms of vigilante justice as part of the entertainment package it wants to sell. The players seem to be dedicated to raising the bar on violence every night, with their union still in disarry and seemingly unable to assert itself effectively on any of these important issues despite the hiring on Don Fehr. It's interesting that Mike Milbury, who once railed against the "pansification" of hockey, seems to have taken a sharp turn and now recognizes the utter nonsense that is at the heart of the NHL's goon mentality, nonsense propagated every Saturday night on Canada's national broadcaster.

If this is a perfect storm, it's important to note that Bettman has weathered such events time and time again. This won't bring him down. But it is remarkable that at a time when the other North American leagues should be attracting gobs of negative publicity over their impending labour troubles and potential stoppages in competition, it's the NHL that's getting all the bad ink and being widely described as a league in turmoil.

 

 

Comments

[O.Boy]

"GM meetings",,,,,,,,we always talk about these as if the world will change as a result.
The game is where it is today because of decisions made at previous "GM meetings".
Just a bunch of "old schoolers" getting together for a little golf and fine dining,,,,or some more fine dining.

The league is sad. Is it just me, or does it seem that nobody really cares it's best player may be done for the season, and only one more hit away from being done for good? The face of your league is gone, and the Commish is still in the desert trying to generate revenue from a parking lot that nobody parks in.

[Johnny Canucklehead]

To most fans the amount of Web space dedicated to the Phx situation seems a media thing. It just seems more an issue for the business pages than sports. Personally, other than in passing I've yet to find any fan to care beyond saying "move the team already anywhere and please stop talking about it."

[TP]

I wonder if the Islanders Gillies put that hit on Pacioretty how many games would he have been suspended for ?

[Vsem Yenovkian]

I think most of these complainers should just start watching ping pong if they want to avoid watching any injuries whatsoever. It's a fast game with hitting involved, of course you're going to have players get injured. No one was happy to see Pacioretty get injured but the fact is that it was a clean hit. People in Montreal complain because it was one of their players that went down. If it was a Habs player doing the same to a Bruins player, it would be the Boston fans complaining. None of which changes the fact that 1) hockey is a fast sport, 2) it was a clean hit, 3) it was a freak accident that happened when you combine speed with hitting and a poorly designed rink.

Fact is that the NHL has never been healthier or in a better position to make a jump on the sports stage. The NFL and NBA have major labour issues, and the NBA in particular keeps alienating fans who are sick of seeing their star players leave to go to one of 4 teams to win a championship. Let's see how long the NBA fan base lasts in Cleveland, Denver, Minnesota, Utah, etc. NHL ratings are at an all-time best. There's nothing wrong with the game and all the overreaction and panic isn't going to change any of that.

[you know me as koho]

Everybody keeps saying this "fans in Montreal" thing. Holy smokes Damien I'm a dyed in the wool Leaf fan and I thought they should've thrown the book at Chara, his act wasn't just dangerous and reckless it was out and out cowardly and has zero place in the game. I've been a fan of the game for over 50 years and very much like in the mid 70's the game is spinning completely out of control. The league tolerates one violent act after another and then purports to the world that it's just business as usual and part of the game. Well it isn't, I'm not a take the fighting out kind of a guy and love the game played with the physicality it needs, but too much is always too much

[Steve MacLellan]

Thanks Damien - you are the first journalist I have heard even mention the issue of accountability of arena construction regarding the Chara hit on Pacioretty. I have seen the hit many times now, and as a 40+ year hockey player and fan, I do not think the hit was a deliberate attempt to injure. The puck had JUST been played through that area along the boards, Chara followed through on his check (with Chara's back turned, how is he to know his defence partner was in position or not), and the intangibles of coaching directives and emotional residue from the previous Bruins - Canadiens meetings was probably a factor. But....... if there was no stanchion located there, the injury would not have occured. What responsibility / accountability do the teams and the NHL have to ensure arena safety standards, to include Health and Safety risk analysis, is completed accurately? Rinks should be safe for players to play the game, not just safe for the fans. I believe that if this goes to court, there will be other issues to deal with legally - not just whether Chara hit another player with malice. Good call by the on-ice officals and later by Murphy. Regards to all Leaf and hockey fans......

[Wade]

Forget buying a team, Balsillie should in all seriousness start a league. The NHL is not hockey, it's just one (American-run) form of it. In the mean time I wish Setanta or some network would start showing KHL or Swedish or Swiss elite games here. Anything to have an option to this gong show.

[Ostrich_Lover]

Its a fake storm. While I feel bad for Max P. Chara did nothing illegal and it is the fault of whoever put that thing there. But it has to be there what are you going to do, glass over the players bench? I guess you could pad it, but I dont know that that would even make a ton of difference it will still be an imovable object.

As for fighting, yawn. I want more fights not less- take the instigator rule out and this crap -headshots- goes away. No one likes to admit it, but its true.

And the Clark Gilles suspension was B,S the guy didnt deserve a suspention for what wasnt even anything but a late hit. Now, the same night as Chara, Smid of the Oilers made a way, way worse hit no one is talking about, because luckily the guy he hit is fine. However, it was a dirtier play than either Chara or Gilles.

[Ostrich_Lover]

Nothing made me laugh worse than the Air Canada sponsership threat. Hey idiots, a lot more people die on planes that at hockey games.

[Rob Cowan]

Mr Cox ,
I think reporting that hockey fans in Montreal are outraged or that 'Montreal based' Air Canada complaining to the league minimizes the scope of the issue.Fans and non fans across the country have been disturbed by this incident to a degree not seen since Todd Bertuzzi.
I also find it curious that someone who has spent as much time around rinks as you have would give Chara his mea culpa so quickly. Glass and boards have distinct sounds when a human body makes contact with them.
The only person in the rink that didn't turn and look towards the sound of Max Pacioretty's head hitting the stantion was Zdeno Chara ....almost like he was expecting it.

Rob Cowan
Barrie, ON

[R Hawes]

You ask why the League is "promoting" violence as part of its' entertainment package to the TV networks in the US ... you need not look any further than the enormously popular WWE and MMA to find your answer. Doesn't say a lot about American society, does it?

[Tree]

I need someone to explain the concept of 'hockey play gone bad'. It makes no sense, especially with respect to this incident.

Pacioretty did not have the puck, and there was a significant enough delay between the time the puck left his stick and the time he was hit. What Chara did was a clear interference (which the refs obviously agreed with) and thus a penalty. How can a play that's specifically deemed illegal in the rule book constitute a 'hockey play'? The way I look at it is simple: Chara injured someone while committing an illegal play. Intent does not matter; all that matters is that while committing an act that is against the rules, he caused a severe injury. This is the disconnect between fans (and Damien, I'm not a Habs fan at all - I think you're over-simplifying things by claiming that 'Montreal fans are screaming bloody murder' ... I'd say most fans are, regardless of team affiliation) and the NHL.

I look at it like this: if one player is skating fast to touch a puck for an icing, and another trailing player trips him - causing the player to fall into the boards and suffer a serious injury - would there be a suspension? Precedent says yes. What's the difference in this case? In my scenario - as in the Pacioretty hit - a player suffers a terrible injury by a player committing a penalty. In both cases, the offender should know better. It's not up to Pacioretty to be prepared to be smashed into the stanchion while NOT carrying the puck; it's up to Chara to not commit a penalty in a place that leaves his opponent vulnerable.

What's so hard to understand about this? If a severe injury happens as the result of a penalty, there must be a suspension. Old school hockey is driving fans away from the game, and by-and-large, I'm extremely disappointed in the NHL (that's not new, though) and the media for justifying the non-action. Someone will die as a result of a 'hockey play gone bad' ... but the offender will get off with nothing. That's the precedence that's been established.

[Tree]

@Vsem Yenovkian: It was NOT a clean hit, it was interference. Clean hits don't result in penalties as Chara's did. I would say it wasn't a dirty hit, but it was not a clean hit. It was a dangerous hit that was against the rules.

[Ross Landoof]

The current "perfect storm" has been brewing for a long time with Bettman, like the little Dutch boy, trying to plug holes in a dam that is bursting. For that matter you can add to Gary's woes the fact that the NBC overnight for last Sunday's PHI at NYR game was a whopping 0.9, tied for the lowest rating of the year. I guess New York and Philly aren't good markets. That can't be helping the push towards the fabulous new US TV contract that Bettman has promised. The Phoenix deal is a scam and a scandal that the Goldwater Institute is trying to impose sanity upon. As for the Chara and Pacioretty situation, it is ludicrous that lack of intent can figure in a high-sticking penalty or a delay of game, but not in an "interference" penalty that results in a severe concussion and cracked vertebra. Did Bertuzzi "intend" to break Steve Moore's neck? Did Chara "intend" to break Pacioretty's neck? It's getting very ugly indeed. Bad ratings, bad injuries, bad oversight and leadership -- that's the NHL picture today.

[Jay]

Damien – 

a note from a Torontonian born and bred. the hit on Pacioretty was a penalty; the injury was nearly life threatening; the NHL has ZERO defense for not imposing a major suspension on Chara.

your attitude condones an intentional (ie Chara knew where he was, who he was playing against, and what the effect of raising his forearm – see the replay) would do) and illegal hit; it helps kill our game.

[Sam]

Arguments in defense of Chara seem to center on:

1. It was a clean hockey hit.
2. The rink design.
3. There was no intent.

The problem with each argument:

1. Chara received an interference penalty, therefore it was not a clean hockey hit.

2. The rink design is known to every player and Chara is a veteran who has played numerous games at the Bell Centre. A player is expected to act accordingly to where he is on the ice e.g. checking a player from behind in open ice is vastly different that doing it in the boards.

3. Intent is not necessary for an infraction or suspension. Even if you forget that Chara has been targeting Pacioretty since he was shoved after the OT goal. Even if you forget the bad blood between them. Intent is not necessary if shoot the puck over the boards in your zone, or if you highstick a player. A player is expected to know where he is and control his actions within the rules of the sport.

[don]

clearly defensible? on what planet.

you're talking to a Torontonian who is pissed that hockey has once again abdicated responsibility. count on one less fan – many 'one less fan's – until the game cleans itself up. also, count on a lot less respect for that cowardly position.

[prize maple]

Towards the end of his or her reign, every despot leader thrashes about madly trying to keep their failing projects or initiatives going. This, to me is what we are seeing in Gary Bettman. He is not, nor ever was, a hockey man. He does not understand the game, its nuances, or its rich history. It seems that nearly every initiative he has put in place has offended some portion of the fan base, whether it's been OT, shootouts, promotion of excess violence, etc. With his seemingly fanatical obsession with "growing the game" in non-traditional hockey markets, i.e. the deep south, he has finally gone too far. If something is clearly not working and there is truly no reason to believe it EVER WILL, a good executive would pull the plug on it and move on. I think in Bettman's case, the NHL board of governers will have to pull the plug on HIM and find someone more suited to his position.

[Peter Campbell]

Campbell and Murphy should have resigned rather than release such blatantly ridiculous statements. Weasels to Bettman.
We all knew hockey was is trouble when Stevens was glorified for his brutal attack on LIndros who at the time was one of hockeys best.
It amazes me how many people defend and tolerate this crap.

[mimo70]

That Chara hit on Pacioretty was ugly. There is no doubt about that. Was Chara deliberately trying to run him into the glass partition between the benches? I don't know. A case could be made either way. But, it was ugly and scary and, if the "careless use of stick rule" were adapted to hits to the head, it would definitely deserve a hefty suspension. The fact that there was some history between the two players doesn't help Chara's defense that he didn't mean to hurt Pacioretty.

But, the reason it is receiving the type of reaction, now, that it has (from Air Canada threatening to pull its' sponsorship and investigations being threatened to be opened) is because the NHL has failed in putting its' foot down on previous, vicious and deliberate hits to the head. They have shown weakness in changing the head shot rule to ban all hits to the head and weakness in the length of suspensions they've been handing out to players like Trevor Gillies and Matt Cooke.

They have, rightly, been accused of not only not carrying about their own players, but, of actively desiring more and more violence in the game. I don't think they want more head shots in the league, though, one has to wonder why it is still legal to deliver one straight on. That seems to suggest that the NHL is okay with some vicious, potentially career ending head hunting. The NHLPA is also cool with that. Try and figure that one out.

As for the Phoenix situation, again, it's a problem of the NHL's own making. Gary Bettman has shown a stubbornness that would make a third grader having a sugar fit proud. He should've bailed on the Coyotes a long, long time ago. I understand why he didn't - part ego, part not wanting to set a precedent showing weakness or signal to other cities that when the going gets tough, he bails. Bettman is a proud man, no doubt, but pride can be a weight that pulls you under. Admit defeat, Mr. Bettman, admit that your plans to grow the league in the south have been a miserable failure and you will, at least, get points for coming to your senses. Failure is a fact of life and need not be necessarily seen as a catastrophic event. Sometimes, failure, and the recognition of it, leads to growth of a different sort.

[Leaf Fan in Van]

As a Leaf fan all I have to say is this: has anyone on the Leafs even missed for one shift Colton Orr? Take a look at their record without him over the past 3 weeks! I know this is a small sampling, but the numbers don't lie, and the Leafs are not being manhandled in every game without him.

[TS]

If you give someone a minor shove in the middle of an open field...no harm, no foul.
If you're on a subway platform and you shove someone into the path of a train ...it could range all the way up to murder.
Chara knew exactly where he was when he gave Paccioretty the shove.
The Lemony Snicket league acts like it was just a series of unfortunate events.
MMA is starting to look like a more controlled environment.

[Alain]

Move the embarrassment that is hockey in the desert to Winnipeg immediately

[johnnyk]

Players don't learn to fight and goon it up once they are in the NHL. Someone should take a look at where this is coming from. The NHL: has become a parody, Slapshot and the Hansons for real. Thanks, Buttman.

[moe green]

What is your take on the infraction Damien? Should Chara have been suspended and why?