Dec. 23: Making the time fit the crime
On Feb. 1, 1998, during a game between Anaheim and Chicago, Ducks forward Paul Kariya suffered a concussion after a blow to the head from then-Hawks defenseman Gary Suter.
In the aftermath, the NHL issued a rather lenient four-game suspension to Suter. Unfortunately, at the time the suspension was handed down, the league didn't know the extent of the injury suffered by Kariya, who'd been violently crosschecked across the head. You see, no one can ever be certain when it comes to head injuries.
As it turned out, Kariya missed the rest of the season (and the Olympics) due to post-concussion syndrome. For a time, Kariya wasn't so sure he'd even be able to continue his career. In the interim, media outlets throughout North America replayed the incident. With each viewing, many wondered why the league hadn't been tougher on Suter.
Which brings us to friendly Flyer Jeremy Roenick, who returns to action on Monday after serving a two-game suspension when his team travels to Ottawa for an Eastern Conference showdown against the red-hot Senators. Last Tuesday, during the first period of the Stars-Flyers game in Philadelphia, Roenick earned his time off by launching Mike Modano into the sideboards with a hit from behind. Modano left the game with a concussion.
The following day, when Colin Campbell issued the two-game ban, no one was quite sure about Modano's health. At first, Stars' doctors and training staff projected that Modano could return to action almost immediately. That optimistic injury report was almost certainly the report that league taskmaster Colin Campbell received just prior to making his decision.
Unfortunately, that report -- like many that deal with head traumas -- wasn't quite accurate. The Stars' best player later was found to be suffering from post-concussion symptoms. He hasn't played in any of the club's three games since the hit. In that time, without Modano, the Stars are 0-2-1.
This incident (and the Kariya hit) calls to mind the need for a change in the current system of supplementary discipline.
Roenick's final punishment should have been delayed until a more accurate assessment of Modano's injury could be determined. Until that time, Roenick should have been suspended, indefinitely.
Also, the suspension should correspond to time lost due to the injury the victim suffered. This way, Roenick wouldn't be eligible to return until Modano also can get back on the ice. That seems only fair, doesn't it?
This policy would only apply to cases involving supplemental discipline
Almost five years ago, due to the Kariya-Suter incident, the league had to wash a lot of egg off its black and orange logo. If Modano's concussion forces him to stay on the sidelines for any length of time, Bettman & Co. again will have to get out the scrub brushes.
A change to the system would offer Campbell and his crew some time to better determine the proper punishment. And, it would be a way for the league to avoid some unnecessary negative attention. Most importantly, though, it's a better way to conduct business. And, this league could always find new ways to do that.
FOR THE RECORD... Many colleagues (and some of you) have expressed their belief that Roenick's hit on Modano was just a case of "old-time" hockey. Well, I thought "old-time" hockey meant face-to-face, toe-to-toe confrontations. I didn't think the term embraced unnecessary (and gutless) hitting from behind.
By my definition, in a game of "old-time" hockey, Roenick's hit would have sparked a full-scale brawl. And, at some point, J.R. would have been held responsible (physically) for his actions.
These days, whether we like it or not, the league office is responsible for making things right. This time, in my opinion, they failed to do so.
Dec. 26: Putting the Mighty back in Ducks
Last season, the Mighty Ducks played pretty good team defense and -- on most nights -- they received excellent goalkeeping from up-and-comer J.S. Giguere. But those Ducks didn't have much quack when it came to scoring goals. During the 82-game campaign, they netted just 175 goals, the second-lowest total in the league (only the Blue Jackets tallied fewer).
At the heart of the scoring problem was their pitiful power-play unit, which finished dead last with a 11.5 percent success rate.
In the offseason, new GM (and last season's coach) Bryan Murray addressed the club's scoring problem by adding center Adam Oates, right wing Petr Sykora and defenseman Fredrik Olausson.
The changes, along with a healthy Steve Rucchin, seem to have worked.
This season, under new coach Mike Babcock, the Ducks still are defending well. In goal, the maturing Giguere continues to stifle opposing shooters. But now, the Ducks are scoring more. In fact, they're averaging 2.65 goals per game, more than half a goal more per game than last season.
Believe it or not, Anaheim's once-dismal power play now is ranked fifth in the league with a 20.1 precent conversion rate. Sykora and longtime Duck Paul Kariya have keyed the rejuvenated unit, each netting eight power-play goals. Kariya and Rucchin each have contributed 11 power-play assists.
More goals have meant more wins for the Ducks, who bring a surprising 15-10-6-3 record to San Jose on Thursday, their first stop on a four-game road swing. The Ducks, looking to earn a playoff spot for the first time since 1999, sit in second place in the Pacific Division and seventh overall in the Western Conference.
Against the Sharks, the Ducks might be able to improve their power-play numbers. The Sharks, who've been struggling for most of the season and are 4-3-1-1 under new coach Ron Wilson, are swimming at the bottom of the penalty-killing pool. In their 34 games, San Jose has killed off just 77.8 percent of its opponent's chances. To put that number in perspective, the league-leading Blue Jackets are killing penalties at a 89.5 success rate.
In San Jose, the Ducks' will look to take advantage of this apparent mismatch. As the Ducks have learned in the past two seasons, the power play can be the difference between winning and losing.
Dec. 27: Weekend lap
While 17-year-old Russian phenom Alexander Ovechkin (who isn't draft eligible until 2004) wows an army of amateur scouts at the World Junior Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the NHL season continues its march toward the halfway mark.
So, with an eye on the next Russian star, here's a hat trick of notes to take you through the final weekend of 2002.
Storm front brewing
If Thrashers GM/interim coach Don Waddell wanted to get off on the right foot, he might have waited one more game to fire Curt Fraser, who was canned on Thursday. You see, Waddell's first game will be against the Hurricanes on Friday. Since entering the league in 1999, the Thrashers have never beaten their Southeast Division rival. Carolina is 14-0-3 against Atlanta, including two wins this season. In those 17 games, the Hurricanes have outscored the Thrashers, 60-34. If Waddell can steer the Thrashers clear of the Hurricanes, he might want to think about taking a permanent spot behind the bench.
Sharks have teeth ... finally
Is Sharks' center Patrick Marleau finally maturing into the player most thought he would be when he was selected second overall (behind Joe Thornton) in 1997? Judging by his recent play, the answer just might be yes. After failing to score a single goal (recording just four assists) in October, Marleau has chalked up 15 goals and 14 assists in his last 25 games. It's not inconceivable to think that had Marleau been a bit more productive in the first month of the season, Darryl Sutter could still be standing behind the Sharks' bench. (Of course, Darryl could be standing behind the Flames' bench before the weekend is out.) On Saturday, when Chicago visits San Jose, Hawks' coach Brian Sutter -- Darryl's older brother -- will be looking to stop Marleau. If he needs any ideas, he knows who to call.
Tiebreaker
On Sunday (ESPN2, 9 p.m. ET) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the Stars and Red Wings will faceoff in their final meeting of the regular season with each team looking for its first win. Each team has scored seven goals in their three ties this season, with the Stars holding a slight edge in shots, 100-94. If these two evenly matched Western powers find one another during the postseason, we could be in for a bunch of long games.
See you Monday.
E.J. Hradek writes hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.
