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NHL Department Of Player Safety Fails Blues, NHL In Shaw Hit [Video]

By Kate Cimini

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The news broke yesterday per Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune that the NHL Department of Player Safety will not discipline Andrew Shaw for his hit on Barret Jackman during the St. Louis Blues-Chicago Blackhawks game Sunday evening.

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I want to preface my argument with the following facts: one, I actually enjoy watching Andrew Shaw play. He’s dogged, determined, and kind of stupid sometimes. He plays with his whole body, like an extremely talented, 6-foot tall little kid. The amount of joy he gets from hitting defenders and poking at goalies around the net is not to be underestimated; it often makes my day.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and, frankly, the other half of the time Shaw’s play annoys me. His enthusiasm is unmatched, but he can be sloppy and careless and his backcheck needs some serious work. But that enthusiasm is a big reason why he’s made it to the NHL, and it can be catching.

Two: as long as checking is permitted by the NHL I have no problem with that particular physical aspect of the game. Anyone who plays hockey, even on a recreational level like you or I, knows that it happens even in non-checking leagues of all levels. (CWHL, anyone?)

But there is a difference between checking and leaping on someone and Andrew Shaw seems to be confused as to what that difference is.

The hit Shaw leveled on Barret Jackman Sunday night was, from any perspective, a bad hit.

As you can see, Shaw has Jackman in his sights. Following the video, Shaw takes a few steps, lowers his right shoulder, crouches and lunges at Jackman, with his feet leaving the ground. Jackman is vulnerable, with a player behind him and no real avenue of escape, his body twisted up against the boards.

Not suspending or fining Shaw for the hit he leveled on Barret Jackman Sunday is not only irresponsible of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, it promotes that behavior

After Shaw lands on Jackman, taking him to the ground, he scrambles off him by essentially crawling up Jackman’s body, pulling his skates right past Jackman’s face. Shaw is incredibly lucky that he didn’t give Jackman a nice close shave after his hit. The NHL has already seen one skate-to-face accident in the past week with Drew Miller; it doesn’t need another one so soon.

On a side note, I firmly believe that visors should be mandatory in the NHL, but that is not the topic of discussion here.

What is on the table is this: not suspending or fining Shaw for the hit he leveled on Barret Jackman Sunday is not only irresponsible of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, it promotes that behavior.

Shaw and Jackman have a history of finding each other behind the Blues net, or up along the boards, as you can see in the photo below. There’s nothing wrong with a player-to-player rivalry; if there were, the league would be an awfully boring place. When that rivalry is taken a step too far, when hits become dangerous to the health and safety of individuals, that rivalry that was previously fun and attention-getting goes from enhancing the game to crossing a line.

Oct 25, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman (5) pins Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) on the ice during the first period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The fact that this resulted in annoyance on Jackman’s part and not serious injury is due to some serious luck. If Jackman had leaned a little to his left, his head would have bounced off the boards on the way down, perhaps resulting in concussion symptoms or strained muscles in his neck.

Instead, Shaw earned a two-minute penalty for charging Jackman.

This is not the only time something Shaw has done on the ice that caused an uproar in viewers went unremarked upon by the DoPS; he headbutted Islanders forward Brock Nelson in March of this season, earning himself an early exit from the game but no fine or suspension.

He was suspended three games during the 2012 playoffs for running into and knocking over Mike Smith. That, too, resulted in an in-game charging call. The video shows that the hit was not demonstrably different from the one he laid on Jackman Sunday, but for Smith’s position as a goalie, and the fact that the hit actually looks less premeditated.

Shaw’s history of on-ice offenses begs a closer eye by the Department of Player Safety going forward. He hasn’t gotten the message that while enthusiasm for the game is more than okay, reckless behavior is not.

Next: Blues Have Three Games To End On A High Note

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