NHL's punch drunk again

By Mark Madden
Beaver County Times
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/
February 14, 2011

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Travis Hamonic #36 of the New York Islanders fights Michael Rupp #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins as teammates Josh Bailey #12 duels Pascal Dupuis #9 during the second period on February 11, 2011 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Does anybody still like fighting in hockey?

If you do, especially after the events on Long Island this past Friday night, you should have "Neanderthal" stamped on your passport. Or "Canadian."

That's where the mentality in question comes from. It's imported from Canada. Toughness is just as important as talent. A plugger is just as meaningful as a star.

You can't find any other sport that thinks the same, especially on the corporate or administrative levels.

Now, as Mario Lemieux says he's reconsidering his involvement in a glorious game gone sour - remember, he was clutched-and-grabbed out the door in 1997 - the question is: What will the NHL do?

The answer: Nothing. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly's dismissive response to Lemieux's statement said it all. "We are entirely comfortable with how Friday night's events were handled," Daly said. Entirely comfortable? In no way should those two words be applied to that travesty.

But the NHL is staffed to be run precisely as it is. The commissioner. Gary Bettman, is a lawyer who knows little about hockey. The dean of discipline, Colin Campbell, is a profane, low-rent hack sympathetic to the like-minded. In the NHL offices, a good scrap is a good thing. There's no desire to ditch fighting.

But that's what must be done. Not only that, but physicality must be reduced. All hits to the head must be punished. Rules must be revised to remove malice. The idea of bodychecking is to separate the opponent from the puck, not the opponent from his senses. Minimize hitting.

Tough to do? Sure, especially at first. So err on the side of calling too much. That's what the NFL did.

The NFL realized Tom Brady generates a lot more dough that Rodney Harrison ever could. This isn't about protecting stars. It's about protecting revenue streams.

Start by eliminating fighting. No gray areas. Ejection, plus suspension. Recidivism equals lengthier suspensions. Reduce the roster by one, to 17 skaters. Sayonara, goons. You've got to be able to play.

This would mean the end of the NHL road for Eric Godard and possibly Deryk Engelland, two men I respect very much for their work ethic and locker-room impact.

Too bad. To work as a professional hockey player, your primary job skill should be hockey ability.

There is simply no way to justify Friday night on Long Island. There is simply no way to justify exchanging bare-knuckled punches in the middle of any legitimate sporting event not directly linked thereof.

I'm not sure involving a former star in league administration would serve any great purpose, but it couldn't hurt. Set up a panel for discipline. End Campbell's dictatorship. Hire Mike Bossy. The ex-Islander was among the ultimate when it came to skill and finesse, scoring 573 goals in 10 seasons. Bossy would provide a credible counterpoint to thug life.

The Penguins weren't totally blameless Friday. They had enjoyed Brent Johnson's Feb. 2 knockout of Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro a little too long and loud, and they certainly have their share of tough guys and dirty players.

But Lemieux's employ of Matt Cooke, or the fact that his team leads the NHL in fighting majors, does not diminish Mario's criticism. The NHL won't protect the Penguins' stars. So the Penguins do it themselves. Necessary evil.

What happened Friday night on Long Island was evil, but not necessary. The Islanders dressed every goon under contract, management laid it out, and the players played it out. It was premeditated, organized assault and battery, violence used as a tactic.

It's said Lemieux was deeply angered by the mere four-game suspension given Matt Martin for sucker-punching Max Talbot from behind. If Talbot hadn't seen Martin at the last moment, Talbot could have been badly hurt.

Lemieux was also upset by the Islanders being fined a meager $100,000 when their management conceived this mockery.

Two decades later, the NHL is still a garage league.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).