The NHL's top secret flow chart for handing out suspensions
The NHL's discipline policy has been in the news again lately. We've seen various incidents involving Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Richards, Curtis Glencross, Colton Orr and others, not to mention the OHL's season-long ban to Mike Liambas.
And as always, the NHL's suspension decisions have been criticized. It's the usual refrain: discipline is handed out haphazardly, almost randomly, and there doesn't seem to be any sort of consistency.
Nonsense. The criticism is unfair and unfounded. The NHL has a clear policy when it comes to suspensions, and the policy is followed faithfully. The league just hasn't decided to share it. So I'm doing it for them.
Yes, I have a copy of the NHL's discipline policy. And given recent events, I think it's only fair that hockey fans everywhere get to see it.
So here, straight from the desk of Colin Campbell himself, is the super top secret policy for handing out suspensions:
By the way, it should go without saying that this policy applies only in the regular season. There's a separate policy for the post-season, which can be found here:There. So much for "random suspensions". Don't you all feel silly now?
