The latest suspension to be handed down from Brendan Shanahan will result in a one-game ban for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey.
In the Wings' 2-1 shootout win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, Quincey was called for charging, hitting Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky along the boards near the blue line. The result was the short suspension and this Shanahan explanation.
The obviously key point here is how Quincey launched himself for the hit and ended up delivering a high shot on Kopecky. At this point it's close to a guarantee that a player is going to face discipline from the league if they are jumping off the ice before a hit and there is contact made on the play.
I think a lot of people are going to call this too light, a slap on the wrist for Quincey. But it's one of those situations where Kopecky was OK and Quincey doesn't have a bad history, so the punishment isn't severe. Perhaps it could have been two games instead of one but I don't buy the idea that this isn't sending a message. Quincey is getting a message and you have to believe he knows another move like this will result in a lot more than one game.
I must admit, with the way the calls have diminished in the second half of the season, I'm just a little relieved that a hit like this was worthy of a suspension at all. I had begun to lose my grasp on what would constitute a suspension and what wouldn't.
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @BrianStubitsNHL on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
