In its first real test of how tough it will be in the wake of the Marty
McSorley incident, the NHL made a clear statement that stick fouls
will be dealt
with harshly, as New Jersey defenseman Scott Niedermayer was suspended for 10
games
for hitting Florida's Peter Worrell with his stick.
The suspension will include the final nine games of the regular season,
plus the
Devils' first playoff game. The consensus opinion of several NHL general managers, canvassed just
before the announcement, was that the suspension would land somewhere between seven and 12 games.
|  | | Scott Niedermayer's hit on Peter Worrell brought an early end to the Devils defenseman's regular season. |
The decision, handed down by league VP Colin Campbell, is a stern reaffirmation of the league's stance against stick fouls. However, it is also a reminder that, at least under Campbell's watch as the "dean of discipline," the context of the game action will be taken into account, as well as a player's past history of violations.
There will be those who criticize the NHL for being too lenient in the ruling, arguing that this is less than half the 23 games given McSorley for hitting
Donald Brashear. However, a couple of factors came into play.
In addition to Niedermayer's clean slate, it is quite clear that this was not the sort of premeditated attack which McSorley put on Brashear which was well out of the context of the immediate play of the game. This was more reaction to what had just happened.
Also, Peter Worrell was not injured as severely as Brashear. Although Campbell made a point that he was not setting any new precedent when he wanted to see the extent of Brashear's injuries before making the decision of McSorley, it is very evident that the degree of injury plays at least some role in handing out discipline.
What should be avoided here is any feelings that this is not a severe suspension merely by virtue of its relationship to the McSorley punishment. The wobbling Devils will be losing their top scoring defenseman and a key element of their team over the final few weeks of the regular season, and then into the playoffs.
It will also take Niedermayer some time to get back into game shape when he gets back into the lineup. So, rather than simply compare this to the McSorley suspension, view it on its own merits and it should be obvious that both Niedermayer and the Devils have been dealt with harshly.
Al Morganti covers the NHL for ESPN.
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