The Blackhawks Marian Hossa leaves on a stretcher thanks to a headshot delivered by the Coyotes Raffi Torres

When is it going to end? What is it going to take for reckless shots to the head of defenseless players to stop?

We’ve seen the NHL attempt to crack down on such plays. Since Brendan Shanahan was appointed the new “Czar of Discipline”, he has been handing out suspensions and fines at an alarming rate. But what has it done?

Maybe some players have thought twice about targeting an opponents head, but until there is a black and white, no discretion rule, players are going to continue to act like idiots. If one day you hand out a $2500 fine for a star player smashing another star player’s face into the glass like he’s in the WWE, but then give a non star player a 3 game suspension for an elbow to the side of the head, what kind of message are you sending? Read the rest of this entry »