“The hit was deliberate, dangerous and has no place in our league. He crossed a line in a wholehearted way.
Colin Campbell on the Downie/ McAmmond hit

“His 20 game suspension he led with his head.”
Disagree. He led with his shoulder both times. They are the exact same hits.
The difference is the damage done. One is preseason, the other a playoff game.
Check it out below.

Downie hit on McAmmond

Downie hit on Lovejoy

I would have made an example of Downie.
Yes, history should always count not wipe clean.
He happen to hit a taller/ “heavier” player this time which thankfully limited the damage.
He intent/ actions was the same as his previous history.

Just because a player is smaller in height doesn’t mean launching yourself like a missile is acceptable.
Considering how big of a problem concussion are, the NHL has to adapt more with the research.
If not they actually will open themselves up to litigation from a retired player that they knew concussions are a problem and have not done enough to protect the players.

I would have given him the same 20 game suspension he previously received with a stern warning to him and all other players.
“Launching yourself will not occur in the game.”

Other attempted head shots would receive similar non tolerance suspensions.

The lack of consistency in upholding the rules has haunted the NHL. Sometime you feel like one is watching boxing or WWE. Sometimes it even reminds me of a battered woman making excuses for the act.
You question the legitimacy of the sport when their is not a consistent playing field one it comes to enforcing rules.
The reactionary measure of calling penalties and suspensions has to change. (ie. Stick to face 2 min. Draw blood 5 min) Stick to the face is a stick to the face. It’s passive.

By nature penalties and suspensions are PREVENTIVE measures?
You want to reduce injury you enforce the rules firmly.
You want to get rid of it come down hard on it.

As for the current rules… its not the rules that are the problem, its their enforcment thats broken.

First of all the Kunitz hit: How the hell does the NHL get away with a one game suspension for this hit? If this was last year, then it wouldn’t be an issue. However, this year there is suppose to be a huge effort to crack down on blind side shots to the head of an opponent, especially when they are intentional. What else could you call this? It was an intentional effort to deliver an elbow to the head of an unsuspecting player, from the blind side. Not to mention it was a VERY late hit. That screams “throw the book at him”… yet the league only gave one game? What the hell is that about? I know Bettman cheers for Pittsburgh every year but this is a huge joke.

Second the Downie hit: I don’t think there was anything worth of a suspension here. It wasn’t a headshot (despite the fact the league claims it was), and you see hits like this all the time… and as was pointed out the Torres hit was a lot worse, yet Torres recieved no suspension. Yes, Downie left his feel and has a history so I guess the league is justified in giving a suspension, but Torres was playing in his first game back from a 4 game suspension and again, walked without punishment. Then, even if you accept Downie deserved a one game suspension because of his past… Kunitz hit was far worse, yet he was given the same length suspension.

Im dizzy just thinking about all this. There is clearly something REALLY wrong with the NHL and how it decides suspensions. None of their last three calls make any sense when compared with eachother, and then when compared with other punishments form the rest of the year make even less sense. If the NHL is actually serious when it comes to doing something about headshots, and wants to get its credability back there needs to be a massive overhaul in how suspensions are handed out. You can’t talk tough on headhots and then balk when it comes to a hit like the one Kunitz delivered. I think a shakeup in NHL management is needed.

Part A:

1. If you leave your feet to deliver a hit: in season, 10 game suspension; in playoffs, suspension for rest of series.

2. Intentional elbow or shoulder shots to the head: same punishment.

Part B:

1. If your hit is responsible for injury to opponent to where opponent misses more games than the above punishment, you are out just as long as they are. If you end a career, start polishing up your resume for a new line of work.