October 16, 2010, Column (with notes) for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Insults, injuries call for a double standard

Atlantic

Written by Denis Gorman

Saturday, October 16, 2010 00:00

James Wisniewski and Niklas Hjalmarsson's offenses were related only in the severity of their punishment: two games. In situations that called for a strong statement, the NHL seemed to be guessing. Inside the visitor’s dressing room at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, sitting at his stall, was an infuriated Sean Avery. In a reversal of roles, the Rangers’ agitator was angry because of what an opponent did to him. New York Islanders defenseman James Wisniewski made a crude hand gesture pantomiming oral sex towards Avery in the first period of what would be a 6-4 Rangers loss Monday. Avery noted the irony in his own unique way. AROUND THE ATLANTIC “I mean, it's pretty obvious what the guy was doing. S—t. But I'm sure nothing will happen," Avery told Metro Newspaper in New York City. "Because nothing ever happens. It's pretty obvious what happened here. It's interesting that you get a warning for something like that. Could you imagine (if) I did that? Well, I ... s—t … they sent me to rehab the last time I did something. It's crazy.” It also raises questions about league protocol. Where exactly is the line of decorum? What's worse, insult or injury? Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Boynton was suspended for two games after making a throat slashing gesture in the preseason. But are what Boynton and Wisniewski did equal to Niklas Hjalmarsson’s check from behind on Buffalo forward Jason Pominville Monday night? Pominville had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher, needed stitches to close a facial laceration and is out indefinitely with post-concussion syndrome. If you’re waiting for a strong message from the league, don’t hold your breath. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was at the Nassau Coliseum Monday afternoon and when provided the opportunity to make a strong statement, the commissioner absconded his responsibility by testifying that “I didn’t see it – I heard about it – and my guess is hockey operations will do what they think needs to be done.” A little more than 24 hours later, the league followed Bettman’s spinelessness by announcing that both Wisniewski and Hjalmarsson were suspended for two games. Bettman and the league were not alone in abandoning accountability. Islanders coach Scott Gordon truncated his post-game press conference following a heated exchange with reporters. The only adult to rear his head in the aftermath of the Le Affair De Wisniewski was Wisniewski. The defenseman did not talk following Monday’s win. But after the league announced the suspension, Wisniewski said “a lot of actions on the ice are regrettable. I’ve been given a suspension from the league and I’m going to accept it and move on from there,” in a statement released by the Islanders Tuesday afternoon. Let's be clear. What Boynton and Wisniewski did were distasteful and the two-game suspensions were probably the right decisions. But to equate those gesticulations – mere insults – to Hjalmarsson’s injuring of Pominville is idiotic at best and unconscionable at worst. For Bettman, NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell, and Gordon to avoid taking a stand is simply a disgrace. Especially when recognizing that the trio has been bestowed positions of responsibility with the league and the franchise. Bettman was adverse to speaking about what took place as it was not part of his and the league's talking points, specifically the need for a new building in Nassau County (see notes). Campbell was derelict in his duty as Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. Simply, he equated gestures, as distasteful as they may have been, with devastating physical injuries caused by opponents' recklessness. Gordon did not want to discuss Wisniewski's actions because they overshadowed the strong 60-minute against the Rangers. And a league that longs for strong leadership keeps looking. Notes One of the consequences of Lou Lamoriello’s Summer Spending Spree is that the Devils are virtually devoid of cap room. It is a hard lesson that the Devils are learning in the early season; the reigning Atlantic Division champions were limited to 15 skaters and two goaltenders in Monday afternoon’s 3-1 home loss to division rival Pittsburgh. The lack of on-ice personnel has become a topic of discussion as it pertains to whether or not the Devils are circumventing the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The controversy is seconded by the Devils' uncharacteristically slow start to the season. The Devils were 0-2-1 before Wednesday’s game in Buffalo and had been outscored 13-7. Frustration boiled over at HSBC Arena during the Devils’ early skate as head coach John MacLean yelled at his charges for not performing a drill up to his standards, including shouting “don’t shake your head” at an unidentified player, according to The Record of Hackensack’s Fire and Ice blog. ... Bettman met with the media between the second and third periods Monday at the Nassau Coliseum and restated his, the NHL’s and Charles Wang’s plea for a new building for the Islanders. “The lease will expire at some point. The team will not stay in this building,” Metro Newspaper in New York City quoted Bettman as saying. “At some point the club is going to have to explore its options.” HPT.com explored this story three weeks ago, in which Wang said “We have a lease until 2015. We’re going to be here until 2015. We pursue every option. We certainly would love to entertain whatever it is that (Nassau) County or (Town of Hempstead Supervisor) Kate Murray propose; we’ll look at it. At the same point, there’s been no progress. 2015 is the date when our lease is up,” Wang said. “We’d love to stay on Long Island. This is our home. We want to be here.” … Players, coaches and executives spend a great deal of time talking about “overcoming adversity.” The Flyers received an early dose when the organization learned that ostensible No. 1 goaltender Michael Leighton will miss a one and a half to two months with a herniated disc. The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted Leighton as saying he initially hurt his back during last spring’s playoff run. … It was an up-and-down week for Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Brooks Orpik and Zbynek Michalek missed Wednesday’s home game against Toronto with a strained groin and injured shoulder respectively. Paul Martin told the newspaper that “I think I just had one thing on my mind, being in New Jersey. I'm not the type of guy who's concerned too much about my goals and assists [but] my emotions took over, and I wanted to put the puck in the net,” after his empty-net goal sealed the Penguins' 3-1 win. Martin played his entire career with the Devils but passed on re-signing in Newark, instead opting for Pittsburgh. … John Tavares suffered a mild concussion in the Islanders' season (and home) opener last Saturday. Dallas Stars forward Adam Burish slammed into the back of Tavares and it appeared as the second-year Islanders star was shouldered or elbowed in the back of the head. “Our guy, I knew, was going to dump it. Just as he dumped it, Tavares turned around as I was skating that way. I think it was an unfortunate thing. I sure didn't mean to go after him in open ice. I hope that means he's back next game,” Burish told The New York Daily News. Twitter: @DenisGorman Photos by Getty Images

Last Updated on Saturday, October 16, 2010 05:46

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