Willie Mitchell has been a strong, intelligent voice in regard to issues involving concussions in the NHL, and Mitchell speaks from experience. He missed half of last season, while playing for Vancouver, because of a serious concussion, and spent approximately six months off the ice before he was able to start skating in the summer and return with the Kings this season. Mitchell was an early adopter of the M11 helmet, that is touted as helping protect NHL players from concussions. So, in that vein, Mitchell gave some interesting comments to ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun yesterday, regarding the one-game suspension given to teammate Jarret Stoll for his hit on San Jose’s Ian White. The quote is below, and can be found in this story.
“I believe you can’t preach stuff and when it’s not in your favor or best interest change your tune on it,” Mitchell told ESPN.com. “I know Jarret as a person, he’s a good guy and that’s the thing in this game, people are going to get suspended even when their intentions aren’t to hurt someone. That just comes with competing hard, and we accept that as players. Suspensions are the things that will deter us in the moment to not do those things. … To be honest with you, I think the league has done an excellent job in the second half of the season coming down with harder suspensions on it. You ask all the guys getting injuries from it, they’re happy about it. No one wants to see their peers hurt from head injuries.”
A clear hea on the issue. Thank you Mitchell.
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jonsey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 10:57 am
@jonsey, *head
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Would be interesting to see Willie’s thoughts on Demers hit on Smyth.
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Carey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:05 am
@John, Exactly what I came here to post.
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USHA#1 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:38 am
@John,
Most like the same except perhaps the Demers hit was more likely a nasty charging penalty…At least that’s how the league (and I) saw it.
Would want to stop open ice hits…now would we?
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John Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:49 am
@USHA#1,
Yeah, except that’s NOT how the league saw it – no penalty on the ice & no supplemental discipline. Are we even sure the league DID, in fact, see it?!
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just my opinion Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
@USHA#1, Actually, it was not an open ice hit. If you watch it again you will see that as he is falling backwards, (with a forearm in his face), Smith’s head hits the glass and dasher. Also, from one of the articles written I got the distinct inpression that the Kings had requested this hit be reviewed. That said, they may have ignored the request, it wouldn’t surprise me since they have overlooked every hit to Kings players’ heads this year (about six, I think).
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Sorry if this has already been asked and answered:
Does the league automatically review all “suspect” hits even when a penalty is not called, or is it the responsibility of the team that suffered what they feel is an injustice to send tape to the league office?
If it turns out that the responsibility falls on the team, then perhaps the issues we all have with the no-penalty/punishment calls on both the Handzus and Smyth hits recently is really a reflection on the Kings’ inability to make a good case for fines/suspensions.
Again, not sure how it works.
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NoDoughty Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:13 am
@Kings of Pedro, as far as I know all hits are reviewed by the league regardless if there was or wasn’t a penalty on the play. And as far as the Demers “tackle” (as he likes to call it) the Kings specifically asked the league to take a look at it and they found NOTHING wrong with it. That’s what has so many of us riled up!
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Kings of Pedro Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:16 am
@NoDoughty, Thanks for the quick clarification. Wow, difficult to understand how the league saw nothing on the Demers hit. He left his feet and finished with an elbow. Great WWF move but not so much for the NHL.
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USHA#17 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:39 am
@Kings of Pedro,
Yes
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the league has done a much better job in addressing the issue – yes…
but i do think that there are some very, very difficult decisions that the powers that be are going to have to make in the off-season…if safety is the first and foremost priority on the slate, the call to ban all fighting could gain more vocal support and we could see a different nhl product…
even though most of these head injuries occur as the result of illegal player conduct – not fighting – there is a perception, however justified, that the league is not really serious in going down this road…
and i think that’s why nothing will drastically be done to augment the game, at least immediately, because of all the walls that have to be broken down throughout all levels of the league…
it’s an extremely controversial issue, much like in the nfl…it has divided many peeps inside the sport as to what the next adjustment should be…
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jonsey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:37 am
@variable, As long as they are consistent it does not matter. Controversey would be avoided completely if they just did the same thing each time each criterion were met.
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Hey Rich,
is there any news about Robert Czarnik?
His OHL team was eliminated from the playoffs and I was wondering if management will bring him up to the AHL for the playoffs
Thanks
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speaking of punishment…
the wedwings are making a meal of the coyotes…
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jonsey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:38 am
@variable, I actually thought PHX had a chance
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variable Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@jonsey,
yr hunch might be taking shape late…
4-3 now….
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Slim Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
@jonsey, It’s 4- 3 for wings..
1/2 period left..
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The only reason the the Demers hit wasn’t even reviewed is because Smyth was able to skate away from it. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t as vicious or worthy of a severe punishment. This is where the system breaks down.
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variable Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 11:56 am
@Krusher,
agreed…
i think “the aftermath” is a huge consideration that factors into whether or not punishment is levied…it also often determines the length of the suspension one receives as well…
i think we all want consistency if we can’t get perfection…
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I have a feeling that tonight’s game will get rough, especially if the score is lopsided one way or the other. Look for the Sharks to try to prove their toughness, not only to the Kings but to the rest of the league. If the Kings can keep their heads cool then they might be the ones who benefit with powerplays which they had better take advantage of. Hopefully nobody else gets too hurt…but I expect that Westgarth will definitely be in this game…and for once I will be glad to see it….
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Rich,
Is there a morning skate/practice today?
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How about Parse laces em up? If he doesn’t he won’t be here next year anyway.
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Darrell Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
@jonsey, Throwing him to the Sharks, eh?
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Impressive that Willie would be honest even though it supported Stolly’s suspension. When we rail on DL for not getting that key scorer, we should remember what a great job of getting quality people Kopi DB WM J
Stollie Zeus Greener JW Scuds.
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number 6 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
@Bruin18,
Just to give credit where credit is due, he didn’t get Kopi, nor DB, nor Quick. They were all drafted while Dave Taylor was the GM.
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Bruin18 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
@number 6, You are correct. And there was never better stand up guy than Dave Taylor so I would expect nothing less. But I give credit to DL for keeping hard working guys too. On the other hand he looks pretty bad for trading for Penner with his reputation for laziness which has repeated itself in LA. Even today with all past cajoling TM is still complaining about a lack of intensity. Mike Fisher sure would have helped out now.
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Those comments make me believe that Willie is still suffering from post concussion symptoms. If you’re not with us you’re against us…lol just kidding…kind of
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Kudos to Mitchell.
i LOVE anybody who calls it fairly & not just b/c it does or doesn’t hurt you. Too bad 99/9% of fans aren’t as fair minded.
Stoll & the Kings deserved this suspension. Demers & SJ deserved a suspension also. I think the NHL did not act on Demers b/c Smyth was not injured, but that should play no part in it. So, in fact, the NHL isn’t even fair or consistent, & until they, and everyone are, this kinda crap will continue.
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number 6 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@dahack11,
agreed that both deserved the suspension
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edwood2 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
@dahack11, I agree with everything except that the NHL did not act because Smyth was not injured. Raffi Torres got four games for his hit on Eberle, who was back on his feet right away (can you believe some bloggers on other sites called that a legal hit?). Maybe it was Demers name? It is kind of iconic in hockey! Haha.
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Did anyone ask Willie what he thought of Ribero’s non punished hit on Handzus? That was way more brutal and with intent than the Stoll one and nothing. That’s the aggrivating part as a fan. Call it for everyone the same guys.
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Suspension seems just. It was an ugly hit caused by Stoll being careless and not respecting the position White was putting himself in. One game hurts the Kings and Stoll but isn’t TOO harse. But I whole-heartedly agree with Coach Murray. Stoll’s hit was simply careless. Demer’s intended hit was deliberate and vicious. And intend is as import or more so than actual effect. If the league genuinely wants to get rid of hits to the head they need to full prosecute players who are clearly attacking the head -which Demers was, whether the hit lands or not. I would say Demer’s hit was comparable to Downie’s hit on McAmmond in every way but the injury to the player hit.
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Only thing the league cares about is filling seats and sponsers. Protecting players is not their priority, protecting players that fill seats is.
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