As expected, Dan Hamhuis wasn’t exactly enthralled with the NHL’s decision not to suspend Marian Hossa, telling ESPNChicago.com that the NHL should focus on the hit itself and not on any other factors:
“I just personally think it was a little bit light,” Hamhius said on Monday. “It was a dangerous play, and my injuries and his prior past shouldn’t have anything to do with it. It doesn’t change the action.”
“It was very similar [to the Ovechkin hit],” Hamhuis said. “There were some minor differences about the play, but in both cases it’s a very dangerous place to be hit. And in both cases me and Brian Campbell weren’t expecting it.”
That being said, I’m all with Hamhuis on this one. I could have told you Hossa wouldn’t be suspended. After all, Hamhuis escaped injury. If he had suffered a concussion, we’d be discussing a possible game suspension today. This is why standardized punishments are warranted now more than ever.