Willie Mitchell, well-spoken and opinionated, has never been shy about expressing his feelings regarding NHL issues. Mitchell speaks with authority, particularly when it comes to the type of blindside hits and hits to the head that the league has been increasingly trying to eliminate in recent years. Mitchell lost nearly half of the 2009-10 season, and had his career put in jeopardy for a time, when he deal with severe concussion symptoms after a hit from Evgeni Malkin. In many cases, Mitchell has been critical of the league’s efforts — or lack thereof — to deal with player safety, but on Friday, Mitchell praised the league. Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s new executive in charge of player discipline, has drawn strong reviews in recent days for his clarity and aggressiveness in handing out suspensions for bad hits. Mitchell gave Shanahan a thumbs-up, and also praised a video –shown to Kings players on Tuesday — that outlined legal and illegal hits.
MITCHELL: “It was excellent. I’ve been, I wouldn’t say calling out anyone, but I’ve been saying what I think on things. I’m not saying it to be an ass toward anyone. I just think, a lot of times in life, you should stand up and be accounted for. I did think that they could have been more aggressive (in the past) with the things they’ve done. The first thing I’d like to say is that, from last year to this year, the videos that they sent out have been so professionally done. It’s hands down, night and day over what we saw last year. The stuff they had on there last year, the same check was on there for a legal hit and an illegal hit. Players were in that locker room saying, `Which ones were legal? Which ones were illegal?’ You couldn’t even tell. They did such a tremendous job with the video this year, defining the terms, the rules but also showing examples of that, slowing it down and talking about it. It was a good job. (Shanahan) and Matt Schneider did that, and I thought it was an excellent job.
“Obviously you can see early on, they’re saying, `We’re going to take care of our players. They’re important assets to this game.’ We all like to play the game hard and we all like to play physical and stuff. I love to do that, but I also want my peer to be healthy when he’s done playing hockey. We need to get to a point where we can keep it a physical game, but everyone can walk away from the game for the most part healthy. Early on, (the league is) saying, `This is how it’s going to be. Repeat offenders, we’re going to come after you.’ And I think that’s good. To me, if you miss hockey, you hurt your team. And if it’s money out of the pocketbook, you think twice about doing it. So I like it.”
I would have to agree but these lessons have to be learned at an early age. Kids playing hockey have to recognize dangerous areas on the ice and players in vulnerable positions. There’s no excuse for pros doing this.
[Reply]
Kings 4 Life Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@bonvivant1, Thats one of the first things that is taught to kids and they even
have stopsigns on the back of there jerseys.
It’s just certain idividuals who dont have any respect for their fellow hockey-players
and hit to injure. Some hits are hard to aviod, I just ment the ones whose intent is to injure someone.
[Reply]
Bonvivant1 Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@Kings 4 Life, Thanks for the reply. I sometimes feel invisible on this forum. So what you’re saying is that the culture needs to change where “clean” players put pressure on their team mates to discourage playing with reckless abandon.
[Reply]
Player-X Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:39 pm
@Bonvivant1, I read your stuff, like most of it, sorry if you feel invisible.
Player-X Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Bonvivant1, How about when the owner’s, like say Mario L. for example, sit silent on the Dennis Savard situation caused by his player, but when another of his player’s is the victim, he scolds the league as if he were never any part of the problem?
Cold, hard light is what each instance needs; the culture change will have to come from ALL angles, including players, coaches, owners and the League disciplinarian.
Player-X Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:43 pm
@Bonvivant1, *owners
jet Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 10:14 pm
@Bonvivant1, mostly real good stuff from you, dont feel .
tornado12 Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 11:03 am
@Bonvivant1, I think the league has been guilty in the past of not being consistent in dolling out punishments and demonstrating what is clean and what is not. The players sometimes dont know what is clean or not or they think they can get away with certain stuff because they saw the exact same thing go unpunished. Its buffoonery like that demonstrated by Trevor Gillies of the Isles last year, where the intent is clearly to hurt people and are only on the club to do such that need to be dealt with most severely.
I really am impressed by the video I saw from Shanny the other day. It was very clear and concise about what was illegal about the hit and also what mitigating circumstances contributed to the final punishment.
Listen, the bottom line is, in a game where hard hits that are clean are encouraged there are going to be inevitable injuries when two grown men are skating 20 MPH directly at each other.
Hey Rich, any news on if the Kings found video of the hit on Muzzin the other night to forward to the NHL for review? Last I heard there wasn’t video of the hit.
[Reply]
Pylon Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@CB14,
I did find a photo of the end result trolling on google images “boedker hit muzzin” (about 8 images in) – any status update on Muzzin? Realize Willie wasn’t at the LA game but it would have been nice to acknowledge the possibly suspendable hit on one their own.
[Reply]
It is good. Step 2 is doing a similar video explanation for questionable hits that he decides are not suspension worthy. “I’m Brendan Shanahan, and I’ve decided not to suspend Boedker because who the heck is Jack Muzzin? Anyone?”
[Reply]
Bill M. Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@Goon Squad, I believe he has stated that he intends to do this, although only in the high profile cases where there could be controversy over his decision. He used Chara-Pacioretty as an example of a hit for which he would not have suspended, and would have provided a video explaining why.
[Reply]
I agree with Mitch 200%. I think Shanny has done a tremendous job so far and is by far bar none taking care of it the right way and puts Campbell to shame!!! and thats being nice to Colin. The guy was inept and the NHL did it self and the players in this league a huge favor by not allowing him to continue with the duties of players discipline and suspensions.
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Colin C always said “we have made a decision” and was very vage as to why or why not. Shanny is getting praise for standing up and saying “i am or am not going to suspend someone and here is why”.Night and day better for the NHL and its fans.
“
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@rumpa#19, Agreed! The videos really help as well. To have the visual along with the explanation really does wonders with helping people understand the decision and why it was made. A big step in the right direction!
[Reply]
I like Shanny as an executive. He was very vocal in the rule changes process with a few other key veterans during the lockout, and those rules have helped open the game up compared to how it was before with all the hooking and holding that was going on. God knows I hated him as a player because of how tuff he was to play against. Ironic that the tough guy who would sometimes ride the line between tough, and dirty would ultimately become the enforcer on disciplinary actions. I think he will be a huge step up for years to come over that previous guy (whatever his name was).
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:37 pm
@Dominick, But who better to regulate than someone who is familiar?
[Reply]
Like me and many others have been saying, why waste Westgarth’s slot when we could have a quality player in that slot. I mean he is a nice guy and everything but what about a Hunter, Loktionov or Toffoli in his place; take a poll on that!! Enforcers are going by the wayside.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:40 pm
@Stang, Don’t think so, haven’t you heard many, many players say the dirtiest chep shot leagues they have played in were the one that don’t allow fighting?
[Reply]
In preseason a lot of marginal players are trying to earn roster spots by showing their “grit” in lieu of skill. That explains some of it. For NHL veterans, they should know better by now.
[Reply]
How about a 3 strikes rule? 3 suspensions in a season, you’re out for the year.
[Reply]
Great to see big willie back Shanny and his process. Both have a lot of respect around the league and that will only help. I think last season was finally the tipping point for myself and my expended family. I had nephews quit after opponets told him they were going to Chara him. Seven year olds follow theiw role models. Shanny will decide if that role model is Cooke or Crosby going forward. Bettmen has to be tired of my families emails, maybe this internet thing is useful.
Again hats off to big willie for taking a stand
[Reply]