In lieu of tonight’s NHL All-Star game, it’s only appropriate that one of the most ridiculous rules in sports be brought to light.Detroit Red Wings’ All-Stars Nikalas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk were each suspended one game by the league for skipping this weekend’s festivities.
The ruling – handed down by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell – was implemented last season and serves to keep the biggest stars in the game…in the game for the biggest stars. While it makes sense on the surface, especially considering the problem sports like Major League Baseball and the NFL have getting their stars to their sports’ premier exhibition, having the penalty be a suspension is a bit too harsh. After all, why punish the team and the fans of that team for the actions of the player?
A fine is one thing, but a suspension? It may mean very little for a team like Detroit, but what if it were a middling team fighting for a playoff spot? Suspending one or two of its best players, even just for one game, could potentially have a huge effect on that team’s playoff chances. In a league were making the playoffs could come down to winning or losing in a shootout, the effect of one game in the second half the season cannot be understated.
A fine would be a far more appropriate action. And not some $10,000 slap on the hand, but something like a $100,000 fine. Any player regardless of their contract status should think twice before skipping the game and forfeiting the cash equivalent of small lake house.
If you think a fine of that size would be unfair to younger players and old vets not making much, you’re really missing the point. Those are the type of players who, presumably, would be thrilled to make an All-Star game and therefore wouldn’t even consider not attending. The fine is more for veteran players, the type of Lidstrom and Datsyuk’s stature, who have the money to spend if they choose to skip.
And if they skipped with the knowledge of a pending suspension, maybe they’d still skip with a looming fine. But at least in this case, the player would be punished and not the team.
---Nick
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Cooool, both of those dudes are my fantasy sqauad...
ReplyDeleteYeah, that rule is a little ridiculous but atleast they are trying somthing to make the best players play. Overall, I think the whole weeekend was a success. The youngstars game and the skills comp were awesome w/ Blake Wheeler and captain Zedeno representing the B's very well. And the game tonight was one of the best all stars games in recent memory.
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