Quenneville thinks suspensions are getting softer
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and captain Jonathan Toews spoke out strongly on Wednesday about what’s happening in the NHL regarding suspensions and head shots, issues that are leading to a rash of concussions.
Quenneville thinks the league is becoming more lenient with the length of suspensions being handed out compared to earlier in the season while Toews would like to see the elimination of the instigator rule so players can police themselves more on the ice.
“You’ve got to look at the way they were looking at these type of instances at the start of the season, the severity of the suspensions, whether it’s gotten to a different level of how that’s enforced,” Quenneville said. “Definitely the number of games have been cut down, yeah.”
Other than Edmonton’s Andy Sutten getting eight games last week, the recent suspensions handed out, such as the one Calgary’s Rene Bourque (two games) got for hitting Brent Seabrook high on Sunday, have been shorter in length.
“There’s got to be a deterrent in place, whether you start losing your salary, a major in a game,” Quenneville said. “That’s got to be pretty severe in it’s own right in the mentality of a guy looking to take a hit like that.”
Toews was responding to the instigator penalty John Scott got on Tuesday in Pittsburgh coming to the defense of teammate Marcus Kruger, who missed Wednesday’s game against Montreal after suffering a suspected concussion as the result of a blow to the head by Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland.
Engelland will have a hearing with the NHL on Thursday for possible supplementary discipline.
Scott received a minor penalty and 10-minute misconduct for instigating and the Penguins scored on the power play.
Toews is among those who’d like to see the instigator penalty gone.
“I think that’s what it comes down to, that’s why there’s been fighting in hockey for a long time,” Toews said. “Guys aren’t going to do stupid things like that if they’re going to have to answer the bell.
“Every guy in that locker room stood up for what John did yesterday. If people want to look at the penalty we didn’t kill, that’s a team penalty that we’ll take any time when he stands up for a teammate.”
Quenneville supported what Scott did as well.
“He did what he had to do,” Quenneville said. “I think sticking up for your teammates is what it’s all about, Johnny did exactly what you want him to do.”
Engelland wasn’t penalized on the play other than the major for fighting Scott, which Quenneville thought was a mistake by the referees.
With Kruger unable to play, center Brandon Pirri was recalled from Rockford and in the lineup against Montreal. Pirri, seventh in scoring in the American Hockey League with 31 points, skated between Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.
Carcillo update:
Daniel Carcillo was placed on injured reserve retroactive to last week when he suffered an upper body injury, possibly a concussion, at Minnesota.
Carcillo is eligible to return Monday when the Hawks return from Christmas break against Columbus.
“He’s doing much better,” Joel Quenneville said. “After these four days here we’re hoping he can come back and be ready.”