I heard this just before I took off for rehearsal earlier this afternoon and honestly I'm having a hard time getting upset about it, not because it makes sense or it was the right decision but because I already expected it. All you can really do is just shrug and shake your head I guess.
Does anybody remember Sean Avery and his sloppy seconds comment last year? He got 7 games (if I remember right) and was essentially fired from the Dallas Stars for that little comment, I don't think it needs pointing out how ridiculous that really is when compared to hits that could potentially kill somebody going completely unpunished.
Its funny when Campbell finally gets somewhat consistent in his rulings he does so in the most ass backwards way possible, its really quite amazing.
What I'd like to know is what is the NHL doing to protect its players? The instigator rule takes away the players ability to police the ice themselves and in turn the NHL is almost refusing to hand out punishment to discourage dangerous hits and other monkey business. Their position encourages these kinds of hits by default, especially out of revenge. Like I said before somebody is going to have to wind up dead, paralyzed or left a vegetable before they take any serious action and that's a pretty sad commentary on the leadership of the NHL. Personally Jay I like your idea about Campbell being subjected to these hits, maybe if the hit doesn't do it it will jar that lump of shit he calls a brain loose and he might start using it.
I read that about the Lightening players just before I came here Jay and I'm glad to see some actual players speaking up about this kind of stuff. It made me think that maybe the players and not just those who are teammates of the victim, but all the players in NHL will finally get fed up and take action as one large group. Imagine if every single time Cooke (or any idiot that does something this stupid) steps out on the ice, in every game he plays, he has a target on his back. I bet he'd shape up pretty quick.