Well, the unsurprising verdict is in.  Montreal Canadiens forward Tom Kostopolous has been suspended three games for his hit from behind on Mike Van Ryn during the first period of the Montreal-Toronto game on Saturday night.  The moderate suspension was to be expected.  The best comparison, although Colin Campbell claims to be loathe to compare incidents, is Randy Jones’ hit on Patrice Bergeron last season which led to a 2 game suspension for Jones.   Saturday night’s hit was no more dirty than any other of the same ilk, and I don’t want to single out Kostopolous as being particularly dirty or more guilty than others.  In fact Tom has been remorseful, and deserves respect for his willingness to accept responsibility for his actions.  Sadly these hits, and the weak discipline put forward subsequently is simply part of a larger problem the NHL has failed to address for years.

Certain things are seen as “part of the game”.  Take a high elbow? Cheap, but an occupational hazard. Fighting? Well that’s a big part of the game, get hurt then and it’s by your own volition.  Broken wrists or ankles from slashing and hacking? Dirty, and unfortunate, but once again “part of the game”.  Then there are the others.  Incidents that are viewed as abhorrent.  The Bertuzzi’s, Mcsorley’s and Simon’s of the world are rightly vilified for their actions, both within and outside the hockey community.  Their actions are seen as being completely unacceptable and outside any action that is seen as being “part of the game”

Unfortunately, the hits from behind we’ve seen and continue to see are part of the former, or “part of the game”. This is the case both in theory and in practice.  Whatever light goes on in someone’s head that stops them from swinging their stick, or sucker punching someone from behind or kicking at someone with their skate (Martin Havlat notwithstanding) doesn’t go on in someone’s head when they see someone’s numbers.  Kostopolous claimed, and fairly so, that Van Ryn turned late.  Indeed he did, but was Van Ryn ever facing the incoming Habs? No, he was on an angle.  Kostopolous may never have seen the middle of his back, but there’s he would have seen part of his back.  But, as like any player, he kept going full tilt.  Why? Because it’s part of the game, and it shouldn’t be.

It’s time to send a message.  Hit someone like that? First, time have a seat for 20 games.  Next time? 40.  3rd time? Thats your third strike. Take a seat for a season.  It is, in my opinion, the only way you’ll stop it.  Treat it as if it’s abhorrent. Treat it the way you’d treat someone swinging at an opponent’s head with their stick.  Until it’s treated as something that belongs nowhere near the game, it will continue to pervade the game.  Unfortunately, with the NHL, it seems as if it may take a broken neck, or perhaps worse, for this message to be sent.