Senior VP of player safety Brendan Shanahan has announced the suspension of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Clarke MacArthur for the remainder of pre-season, and two regular season games. MacArthur’s suspension stems from an illegal hit to the head on Justin Abdelkader in Friday night’s pre-season matchup of the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement MacArthur will forfeit $35,135.14 in lost wages, which will be given to the NHL’s Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Shanahan has released his usual video explanation of the hit and the impending suspension, courtesy of he, and the NHL’s transparent approach to eliminate these types of hits.
Shanahan’s last suspension was doled out to a player directly related to Toronto’s opponents just days prior as rookie prospect defenseman Brendan Smith laid a hit to the head of Chicago’s Ben Smith, reviewed in my recent article; A Tale Of Two Smiths.
"The upsetting part is not being able to skate with the guys in the first two games.” MacArthur said to the media in disagreeance with the league’s decision. “It couldn’t be at a worse time,” he went on. “It’s not just two games – it’s two weeks,” he added. “I barley hit him, it’s just one of those things, it’s disappointing.”
“There isn’t going to be any hitting,” MacArthur said. “Not if there is going to be five or 10 game suspensions.”
The real oddity is that MacArthur didn’t receive near the punishment that (Brendan) Smith did as he was suspended for the remainder of the pre-season, and five NHL regular season games. Both players have no history in terms of suspensions as pointed out by Shanahan in his assessment of the two suspensions, yet somehow MacArthur escaped further suspension on a not-so-similar hit to the head.
As Abdelkader took off along the boards, MacArthur lined up his opponent and delivered a high hit directly to the head. Abdelkader made no change in direction with his body, nor did his head change in height or angle prior to the hit.
It is apparent that Ben Smith’s (of Chicago) concussion played a part in his decision to make the suspension longer, but I’m not sure this is the right approach at all.
If hits to the head are illegal, the suspensions should be hard and heavy on every occasion. Though it isn’t to say that MacArthur meant to hit his opponent in the head, the onus is on the player to keep the hits lower than in years’ past.
It will certainly take time to filter illegal hits to the head out of the game, but the onus is on Shanahan as the NHL’s principal dean to keep things consistent.
Toronto will miss MacArthur greatly in their first two regular season games as they match up against two divisional rivals in the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators. He is eligible to return October 15th against the Calgary Flames.
MacArthur has looked strong through the pre-season posting 1 goal and 3 points with a +1 rating in his 5 games played. He re-signed with the Leafs in July for two years after an impressive debut season with the Maples Leafs as he obliterated his previous NHL accomplishments. In a full 82 games he notched 21 goals and 41 assists for 62 points and a n impressive -3 rating.
Now for the first two very important games of 2011-2012, it’s up to his teammates to start the oft week starting Maple Leafs out right as he watches from above.
- Kendall Grubbs
photo courtesy of REUTERS
No comments:
Post a Comment