Ovechkin Hit All Too Familiar, NHL Needs To Send Him a Message

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

By now NHL fans are all too familiar with Alexander Ovechkin’s hit on the unsuspecting Brian Campbell. Question is: Was it dirty or clean?

Needless to say NHL fans can debate Ovechkin’s hit on Campbell from both perspectives and, in all likelihood, make a strong case either way.

The play in which Ovechkin and Campbell went full-throttle for the puck on Sunday afternoon happens about a dozen times a game, the end result usually being that nobody gets hurt. Unfortunately, due to Ovechkin’s carelessness, Campbell is now faced with season-ending injuries including a broken Clavical and perhaps a concussion to boot.

For Ovechkin, the Campbell incident marked the third time that he was awarded a game misconduct. The first time was for the hit against the Buffalo Sabres' Patrick Kaleta, the second, a hit against Carolina Hurricane Tim Gleason.

Ovechkin was suspended for two games for his hit on Gleason, which amounts to a slap on the wrist, especially when you consider his past infractions.

While we all acknowledge that Ovechkin is one of the poster boys for the NHL and his participation in the game is extremely important, I believe the NHL got it wrong all three times.

Let’s not forget, Ovechkin has a history of questionable hits, including a knee-on-knee hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar, amongst others.

With that in mind, Ovechkin should have been suspended long before this incident, the fact that he was not is both suspicious and a slap in the face to the rest of the NHL players who are held to a much higher level of accountability.

Just to be clear, I love the way Ovechkin plays the game. One could argue that we have never witnessed a player with the type of skill set Ovi brings to the game. His offensive prowess, skating ability, fiery compete level and physical game, all add up to one of the most impressive combinations of skill and hurt that we have ever seen.

All of those attributes are all well and good, but when you put another player’s career at risk due to your actions, well, you need to pay the piper, no matter what the name on the back of the jersey is.

With all the negative media attention focused on the NHL right now and with the Campbell incident front and center the NHL should throw the book at Ovechkin, sending a message that reckless/careless play will not be tolerated.

The time is now for the NHL to step up and send a clear message to all other NHL players that this type of crap will not be tolerated. Failure to do so only perpetuates the NHL’s reputation as a goon-league, one that would rather protect its shaky market share than its players.

Ovechkin will meet with the NHL today to review his hit on Brian Campbell. The question is, will it be a “disciplinary hearing” as it is so aptly named, or just another slap on the wrist for a player that clearly hasn’t got the message yet?

To read more NHL news and notes check out my website at

www.theslapshot.com

Until next time,

Peace!