Brendan Shanahan: 5 Reasons He Has to Continue to Hand out Tough Suspensions

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If it seems that NHL Senior VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan is doling out a lot of suspensions this preseason, well, that's because he is. 

From September 22 through September 28, Shanahan has meted out a total of seven suspensions.  Some, like the New Jersey Devils' Bryce Salvador, have come out in support of the way that Shanahan has handled his new role as lead NHL disciplinarian.

Salvador speaking to The Star-Ledger:

Shanny is doing a great job. They're going on past history. They're being very professional about it, so I think it has a chance of making sure it's standardized. It looks like they really want to send a message that those hits are not acceptable.

Others, like Salvador's teammate Martin Brodeur, think Shanahan may be going too far. Speaking to the NY Post, the future Hall of Fame goaltender offered:

Not everybody is following preseason, and when it's over, the only thing people are going to hear about is, 'Twelve suspensions for 37 games or whatever it turns out.' That's not good for the game. No other sport does anything like that to itself.

The Toronto Star's Damien Cox reported that an unnamed NHL executive also seemed a bit shocked by how harsh the suspensions have been:

We voted for stiffer suspensions, and we meant it, but not doubling and tripling.

If (Shanahan) gets too far in front, he won’t last long in the job.

What follows are five reasons Shanahan has to stay the course he has set this early in his tenure as the NHL's Sheriff.

It's Good for the Players

To remark that NHL rules were interpreted somewhat "liberally" in the past would be an understatement.

Shanahan's hardline stance helps the players immensely.  As the league adapts to Shanahan's policies and procedures, fewer players will be hurt as offenders will fear the possible suspension and hit to the wallet that comes with it. 

A defensive player who is about to line up a hit to the numbers of an offensive player against the boards, will think twice about finishing that check when it could cost them a nice chunk of change—like the $67,000 the above hit cost the Flyers' Jody Shelley.

Fewer dirty hits equals fewer injuries.

It Sets Standards

Before Shanahan rolled into town, it was unclear what was or wasn't a suspendable offense. In a few short days, Shanahan has drawn the line deeply in the sand.  Hits to the head, you're going to be suspended. Hits from behind, you're going to be suspended. If you were suspended in the past for the same infraction...yeah, get ready to take a big hit.

Shanahan is making it very clear what is and isn't a suspendable offense, removing all the shades of grey that surrounded those who came before him.

It won't be long before the players will know, before Shanahan ever drops his video response, what kind of suspension they will receive and that is a great thing for the game.

It's Good for the Fans

Once the players adjust, the fans will benefit—how, you ask?  Less injuries to players. In the past, "liberties" could be taken against certain players because the repercussions, if any, were minimal.  A player, knowing that he can lose a significant part of his paycheck by finishing what will now be a clearly illegal hit, will lay off or cost himself and his team.

Fans don't want to see a player carted off the ice on a stretcher—once the players adjust, there will be fewer injuries and fewer man-games lost due to illegal hits. 

It's a Great Starting Point

Shanahan's job has player safety in the title, and he needs to use the suspensions and fines and education as a starting point for changes in player safety.

Once the NHL gets the disciplinary part of their house under control and running smoothly, they need to move on to the next step, increasing player safety by looking at the equipment, and basically everything else outside the players' control.

Shanahan is doing a fine job getting things right now, but if the NHL does not expand his role going forward, they are misusing a great asset.

He's Doing the Right Thing

Shanahan told the NY Times, "I wouldn’t want to be sitting across from me at a hearing." As he begins to hear the criticism of players and NHL executives, he needs to keep that attitude in mind. 

Shanahan is doing the right thing and he must be his own man as the season progresses. If an NHL superstar delivers an illegal hit, he must react to it the same way he would if the two-minute-a-night fourth-liner delivered the illegal blow.  He can't allow the fans, the executives or the players influence his decisions.

In the past, Shanahan was never afraid to speak his mind or stand up for what he believed in—he must continue to do so for the good of the game. Anyone who attempts to criticize the way Shanahan is doing things needs to ask themselves where their priorities are. Are they selfish or are they for the good of the game?  If they are for the good of the game, they need to let Shanahan run his department as he sees fit.