It is absolutely mind boggling that after more than ten years in the league, the Sedins STILL do not have the respect that they deserve from the NHL, their peers, the media or the fans. The twins are constantly breaking records, defying odds and acting as pillars in the community while never letting it show if or when the outside negativity bothers them in any way. That is until recently as they have started to stand up for themselves on the ice and show this league that they are NOT soft but fierce competitors with determination in their every stride.
Beyond the question of their toughness or their character, more recently the question has become is the league willing to protect it’s star players? The obvious answer should be yes, BUT sadly that is not always the case. This season alone has seen many players be on the receiving end of questionable elbows, knees, and hits from behind and many of those same hits go unpunished.
The latest hit in question came when Henrik Sedin was hit from behind by Grabvoski late in the first period versus the New York Islanders. Grabvoski was given a five minute major and kicked out of the game while Henrik did not return to the game. It has yet to be determined how long he will be out of the lineup. Time will tell if the NHL will add this play to their review file or whether it will even warrant a suspension as the department of player safety has yet to be consistent in their dispensing of discipline league wide.
If the player injured on the play in question was Toews, Crosby or Ovechkin, the league would not hesitate to review the play that injured a star player. So what will it take for the league to review a play that injured a Sedin? A shoulder injury as is rumoured to have sidelined Henrik or the next hit that could end his career? I guess we will find out in the next twenty-four hours or so how this situation unfolds.
As always, until next time, nuck said.
Sarah E.L.
UPDATE: It appears that the NHL has once again decided to look the other way with no supplementary discipline rather than to protect one it’s players. All I can say is that I hope that it does not take a player’s career being ended due to a bad hit before the league decides to actually protect it’s players every single day no matter which name is on their jersey.
nucksaid 