Andrew Shaw: 3-Game Suspension Shows Need for Consistent Punishments in NHL

The suspension that Brendan Shanahan handed out to Andrew Shaw makes no sense in any way, shape or form.

The Chicago Blackhawks forward received a three-game suspension after making physical contact with Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith in Game 2 of their playoff series.

Check out Shanahan's explanation here:

What's most striking about Shanahan's explanation is when he states that he deemed that Shaw made no effort to get out of the way. However, when looking at replays, it looks like when Shaw turned the corner behind the net, he had nowhere else to go but to run into the goalie, and he did swerve to the right.

And it also seems like Smith's head gets in the way of Shaw's progress when he tries to clear the puck. That's not Shaw's fault. It really looks like he makes some effort to get out of the way. There is gray area in this situation, and it definitely doesn't warrant a three-game suspension, or any kind of ban.

The NHL has seen much worse happen this season, and the punishments have been less dire in those situations. This only exemplifies Shanahan's inconsistencies in handing out punishments. Suspending players is a fantastic way to prevent players from engaging in malicious plays on the ice, but Shanahan is doing it all wrong.

There's nothing wrong with long suspensions. But if Shaw is going to get three games for what he did, then illegal blows to the head should warrant more games. If the NHL really wants to send a message against undisciplined behavior, they must bring the hammer down and punish players more severely for plays that actually deserve punishments.

It's also interesting that Shaw is a first-time offender and there was no injury to Mike Smith and it still brought three games. So if Shaw was a multiple-time offender and Smith missed the next game due to injury, Shaw would've received six games?

More?

For that hit?

The Shaw suspension is the king of the crop of Shanahan's lackluster decisions, mainly because it really didn't look all that serious. It definitely was not as severe as Shea Weber's brutal hit earlier this week, and Weber only got a slap on the wrist and a $2,500 fine.

Even Shaw said that he attempted to get out of the way. This is from the Chicago Tribune:

"

(I told Shanahan) that I tried getting out of the way. It wasn't the intent of hitting him, it was more of I didn't have enough time to get out of the way. I let (Shanahan) know next time I'll go in there with a little bit more control.

I watched the replay (Monday). I did make contact but it was just the intent. I didn't mean to do it. 

"

Once again, not only is the length of this suspension too long compared to what we've seen before, but he didn't even deserve to get suspended because nobody was hurt, Shaw is a first-time "offender" and he really didn't do much on the "charge" either.

Assuming the NHL was consistent with suspensions, though, making suspensions long is the right way for players to learn from their mistakes and correct their behavior. It's worked with Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who has altered his habits on the ice and has turned into an valuable piece for the Pens.

The Cooke situation is probably the only example of an ordeal that Shanahan has handled properly. Cooke is now scared to death to do anything wrong because he knows if he does, his career may end. Establishing that sort of fear in players is the only way to get rid of this everlasting problem in the NHL, and the only way to do that is to punish players severely on malicious hits.

Other than Cooke, the NHL hasn't been consistent at all with any other situation. Shaw's hit is a great example. There's no doubt that if Shaw was a star player, his suspension wouldn't have been as long.

If Shanahan is all about correcting player behavior, then he would hand out tough and rigid suspensions for major hits to repeat offenders; not a guy who had no other place to go but to ram the goaltender in the head because of his momentum.

It just doesn't make sense.

Then again, not much has made any sense ever since Shanahan took over NHL player safety.