Tuesday, October 12, 2010

NHL's Wheel of Justice Starts Rolling Early in the Season

Is it just me or does it seem like the NHL's Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, Colin Campbell, is having to spin the wheel of justice and do some serious hand slapping earlier than usual this season? I mean we're only one week into the official regular season and Campbell will already be considering two incidents that just occured yesterday. The first involves the Islanders' James Wisniewski, who may or may not be disciplined for making a crude hand gesture to super-pest Sean Avery in a scrum in front of the crease. As this blog is PG-13, I can't post the video but unfortunately I think most of the 13 to 14-year olds this day and age in a hockey locker room would know what the aforementioned gesture indicates. Hopefully, the younger kids do not but the fact is that the question will arise among younger fans of the game and wouldn't want to be in the hot seat having to explain that one.

The second incident involved a reckless hit from behind on Buffalo's Jason Pominville by Chicago's Niklas Hjalmarsson. After lying on the ice for 15 minutes, Pominville was taken off the ice on a stretcher. HM heard an interview with Hjalmarsson this morning where he expressed his remorse for the injury but said he thought it was a "shoulder to shoulder" hit. He may have been aiming for the shoulder but he could see those numbers plain as day as Pominville's back was clearly turned. I would be shocked if Campbell doesn't dole out further disciplinary action as Hjalmarsson was already cited with a game misconduct and tossed for this ugly contact.

Looks like Campbell may have to throw the book a little early this school year, huh?

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