Winter Classic 2012: John Tortorella Deserves Jumbo-Sized Suspension

New York Rangers coach John Tortorella deserves a huge suspension, even after his recent apology.

He crossed a sacred line and needs to be punished accordingly.

After his team’s 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2012 Winter Classic, Tortorella suggested that there was some sort of conspiracy with the refs:

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I’m not sure if NBC got together with the refs and wanted to turn this into an overtime game. For two good referees, I thought that game was reffed horribly.I’m not sure if they had meetings about that or what.

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You just can’t say that. You can’t be making suggestions like that after the biggest game the league hosts for the entire season. Some of the calls may have been questionable, but you address that in private. Anytime you suggest there is some sort of scheme within the league, a swift punishment must follow. Nobody is allowed to question the integrity of the league.

If this was the NBA, David Stern would have already fined him $100,000 and suspended for five to 10 games. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman needs to act now.

Despite an exciting game between two hated rivals behind a beautiful scene at Citizens Bank Park, the hottest topic of conversation is the postgame comments. This is not what the NHL wants, and Tortorella deserves to be suspended for at least two to three games and fined $50,000.

The punishment needs to be especially strong because Tortorella is a repeat offender. As the coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was fined $10,000 by the NHL for comments he made after a 2007 loss to Atlanta, and $1,000 for criticizing a referee in a Lightning-Flyers game in 2002. He needs to learn his lesson.

As the NHL fades back into obscurity until the playoffs, this is the lasting memory fans have, and it’s a shame. The sport deserves better.