Shea Weber Hit: Why the NHL Dropped the Ball Not Suspending Him

Nashville Predator Shea Weber’s hit on the Detroit Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg was a chance for the NHL to protect player safety, but the league failed miserably.

A $2,500 fine and a slap on the wrist does not bring the postgame hit to justice. Weber’s actions were reckless. They were uncalled for. They happened when the final buzzer sounded.

The NHL should have borrowed a page out of Roger Goodell’s playbook and dropped the hammer.

Player safety has been a topic of discussion in not only the NHL, but at the apex of the sports world. With new research suggesting that blows to the head can be detrimental to a player’s health after his playing career, it seems obvious the NHL should step in and take necessary action.

It’s not just necessary action. It’s the right thing to do. Gary Bettman and Brendan Shanahan blew one worse than the Pittsburgh Penguins did last night.

Let's take a step back and break down the play. Zetterberg and Weber are tangled in the corner. Shoving occurs and both players know the game is over. Only then does Weber put on his best Mike Tyson imitation and hits Zetterberg in the kisser. Then Weber goes for more, slamming the Red Wing player’s head with full force against the glass.

Did that sound as ridiculous as it did when I wrote it?

The NHL needs to punish hotheads and award consummate professionals like Zetterberg. Instead, they protected the violence of the game rather than the well being of its players.

Also, didn’t Weber’s team win the game last night? Shouldn’t it have been Zetterberg releasing his frustrations on his opponent after a disappointing loss?

That’s why the whole incident seems so screwed up. Only in the NHL can a player slam their opponent's head into glass and play in the next game. In baseball, basketball and soccer, a hit like that would result in an immediate ejection. The NFL has begun to do its part, banning helmet-to-helmet hits and teaching players about concussions.

The NHL will always be highly regarded as a tough league. Fighting, hitting against the glass and players losing teeth are commonplace and accepted in the sport.

The league, however, continues to avoid drawing a line in the sand. Without setting a precedent for its players, soon enough the violence will be impossible to control.