On Tuesday, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was said to be disappointed over a two game suspension.
Ovechkin, who hit Chicago Blackhawks defensman Brian Campbell is being forced to serve a two game suspension after NHL officials claimed the hit was too careless and violent. Campbell is diagnosed to miss 7-8 weeks of action.
Campbell will be recovering from a fractured clavicle and a fractured rib.
"He will likely avoid surgery, and we anticipate a full recovery," Blackhawks physician Michael Terry said in a statement. "He should be ready to play in approximately seven to eight weeks."
Ovechkin, who had a routine apology after Campbell was diagnosed and the league decided to take action, but has expressed that he did not intentionally try to make someone become injured.
Ovechkin drove Campbell into the boards from behind. The penalty resulted in a major penalty and game misconduct resulting in Ovechkin's dismissal from the game and his eventual suspension.
Players in the league, coached, and expert analysts have argued whether this suspension for the NHL's best player is necessary."I just know there was no malice intended," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreauin said response to the hit. "He didn't go to hurt him. He went to hit him, and he hit him, but the hit didn't cause the damage. The boards caused the damage."
Adam Burish, a Blackhawk winger disagreed with the Capitals' coach's comment. Burish sensitive comments seemed out of place for he is known to have a "tough guy" persona around the NHL.
"I know he didn't smoke him from behind," Burish said. "But when a guy is turning and he's not in the play anymore, as a hockey player you know that you're a little bit vulnerable in that position. And Ovechkin knows it ... You don't need to give a guy a big shot to knock him down in that situation."
Ovechkin missed the first game of his two game suspension on Tuesday night. His Capitals were able to defeat the Panthers for the sixth team this season. Ovechkin will also sit out Thursday night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"It's always tough to lose your best player," Boudreau said. "But we're a very good team. He is the MVP and all of those things ... and we can't replace him, but we've still got three good offensive lines, because we're an offensive team, and we're playing well. I'm hoping the guys will pick it up for him again."
As a person who likes to see hard hits and energetic play in NHL games, I think Ovechkin being charged with a major penalty was accurate, but no need for a two game suspension for a player who works harder and plays above all his competition.
What do you think? Is the NHL taking too drastic of measures for players or do they have it right? Lets hear some opinions!