Penalties in the NHL

As Wings Coach Mike Babcock pointed out after game 3 of the Western Conference finals, everyone has a bad day. Coaches have bad days. Players have bad days. But according to the NHL, officials never have a bad day. That came during the postgame presser after the Blackhawks beat the Wings 4-3 in overtime. The Wings played much of the game without defenseman Niklas Kronwall after he picked up a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a hit on Martin Havlat just past the midway point of the first period. The Blackhawks scored on that powerplay. Hawks Coach Joel Quennville thought the call was correct and the there possibly should have been a suspension. How can two people, who see things similarly a lot of the time, view this so differently? That isn't what the issue is here, and I'll address viewpoints in another blog on another day.


What is up for debate is what is and isn't being called in the NHL playoffs. Some think their is a conspiracy theory, but that doesn't make any sense when it comes to what the NHL wants...bottom line is they want higher ratings and sold out buildings, that is how they make money. Who doesn't think a Wings-Penguins rematch wouldn't do that? If they do, they are nuts. The calls from the beginning of the playoffs, in all the series, have been inconsistant. In one game a referee may call high sticking and in another, he may let it go unless he sees blood.


Wings defenseman Brad Stuart addressed that issue after practice on Saturday. Stuart admitted he's confused as to what his being called as he sat in front of his locker with a cut next to his right eye from a high stick he took on Friday.

"A lot of times, if you hit a guy too hard, they call a penalty," Stuart added. "That is what has been happening to us."

I am sure it doesn't help that since entering the league 5 years ago, Kronwall is known for his big hits. He's a six-foot defenseman who weighs 189 pounds, most of it muscle. Over the last 3 seasons, the defenseman has averaged just 49 penalty minutes. He continues to play the way he's played since being drafted in 2000 because the league lets him play that way. Unless it isn't convenient for them. Like Friday night.

Fans of the Big Ten know that every week during football season they issue at least one apology on Sunday or Monday about a blown call. Every week! They admit their errors, which in today's world says a lot. Why is it so hard for the professional leagues to do the same. All Babcock wants is accountability. If a mistake is made, admit it.

But was it a mistake? Did they call something because a player lay injured on the ice? If Havlat would have bounced back up, would the call have been made at all? These are all questions that not only the coaches and players want answered, the fans do, too. Why can't they be consistant? High sticking is high sticking, as is interference. For Havlat, the puck was in his feet and he was looking down. The puck in his feet meant no interference. They called it anyway.

People who are trying to become hockey fans have an issue with the way games are called. They can't follow it because they don't know what is right or wrong because the calls are so inconsistant.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman wants more fans. He wants the league to be successful. Here's one way to do it - streamline the calls. And if there is a mistake, just admit it.