Daniel Carcillo Suspension Shines Light on NHL

With the announcement of Blackhawks player Daniel Carcillo’s 6-game suspension for one of the nastiest hits I have had the misfortune to watch, the NHL set fire to Twitter yesterday.

These kinds of hits are exactly what is wrong in professional hockey.

They are nasty, petty, and done out of a vague thought of “justice,” which is flavored more like “revenge.” The trouble is, if Carcillo weren’t on the ice during that hit, if it happened in a dressing room, a bar, or on the street, he’d have had the cops called on him so quickly there would be no time for him to wipe his nose.

Watch the NHL’s Department of Player Safety evaluation on Carcillo’s hit below:

I am generally against fighting, as the inclusion of fighting tends to lead people to the idea that playing dirty is somehow okay, and that is where I draw the line. However, I appreciate that the NHL still has fighting. It’s fun to watch my guy kick someone else’s tuchus, and if it’s particularly ridiculous, it can be even more fun to watch my guy go down in flames. Heck, I’ve been known to get into a fight or two on the ice myself, and all I play is rec league where the only trophy at the end of the night is who has the biggest pucks.

And while you could argue Carcillo is still measuring who has the biggest pucks, and protecting his boys, there is a fundamental difference between getting into a back-and-forth and hitting an unsuspecting player from behind. That’s the difference between stepping into a boxing ring with someone and knocking an elderly person down because they ticked you off. One demonstrates an odd kind of respect and a willingness to suffer injury yourself, the other, simply an intent to harm.

The fact that Carcillo has received a 6-game suspension and a fine of more than $40,000 is a good start, but I question the validity of such a punishment.

As a teacher, one of the things I know well is discipline. When a student is disciplined for an infraction, that punishment has to do two things: 1) fit the crime and 2) deter future misbehavior. While I’m not going to throw a kid out of class for breaking a pencil, I’m going to reach that point if he continues to do so over, and over, and over again because there is clearly a deeper problem at work. In this case, however, I would argue that Pereault’s arm is much more important than a No. 2 Ticonderoga.

This is what Carcillo has been doing for the past nine seasons, earning himself the same number of suspensions. While some of them are suspensions any face-buster would rack up over the course of a career, the sheer number of them paints a different picture.

Dec 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Daniel Carcillo (13) and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jay Harrison (23) fight during the first period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Carcillo appears to be interrupting the game not solely to do his job and protect his teammates, but rather because he sees his job as meting out punishment, be it legal or not.

So we come to the question many are asking: why does Carcillo still have a position in the NHL? In fact, why does he keep ending up as the goon for truly high-level Cup winners? Puck Daddy covers Carcillo’s history in this aptly-named article that lists not only Carcillo’s repeated offenses, but the issues he’s had controlling himself on the ice throughout his career.

At a certain point you have to say enough is enough. At a certain point you have to take the pencils away. (Here the pencil metaphor falls apart, because students still need to be able to write. But Carcillo doesn’t need to be allowed to play.)

A 6-game suspension might fit the individual infraction, but it doesn’t fit the overall pattern. Carcillo is considered a repeat offender under the new CBA, and has shown himself either unwilling or unable to control himself when he gets heated. This should be Carcillo’s last chance with the NHL. Part of the game or not, the NHL has to draw a line surrounding number of suspensions allowable as a repeat offender.

As that is not currently part of the CBA and the DoPS has already released its ruling and is unlikely to change it retrospectively, my only hope remains that Carcillo turns over a brand-new leaf and dedicates himself to being a great fourth-line checker. That that being terribly likely, perhaps the clubs will decide he’s too risky to take a chance on next year.

However this plays out, one thing is for certain: the NHL needs change when it comes to player safety. And Daniel Carcillo is doing a bang-up job of illustrating that.

Daniel Carcillo Suspension Shines A Light On The NHL

By Kate Cimini | Jan 20, 2015