Montreal Canadiens: The Matt Niskanen suspension is another NHL inconsistency

Now let’s rewind to the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs where Nazem Kadri was suspended for the rest of the first round for cross-checking Jake DeBrusk in the face. As the Toronto Maple Leafs took their series against the Boston Bruins to seven games, that amounted to a five-game suspension. And that’s in the playoffs.

Many like to use the x2 multiplier when it comes to suspensions in the playoffs, where a suspension for one playoff game is equal to two regular-season games. That means Kadri was given a ten-game suspension while Niskanen is getting a two-game suspension!

Yes, Kadri, at the time, was a repeat offender, but let’s not pretend Niskanen is the cleanest player around. This is a player who was under fire for cross-checking a falling Sidney Crosby in the head and for elbowing Jeff Skinner.

The suspension should’ve at least been two games, otherwise what’s the point?

Suspensions are done to deter players from committing the same infraction, the same goes for penalties. If cross-checking someone to the face resulting in a broken jaw is only one game, then how is that holding other players back from doing the same thing. It’s the old, “I’ll waste one on ya,” concept.

And to make matters worse, there are other hits that we’ve seen in these Stanley Cup Playoffs that have gone unpunished and uncalled. Before Matt Niskanen, the only discipline we’ve seen from the Department of Player Safety was Max Pacioretty getting finned for slashing Alex DeBrincat on an empty-net play.

There is no consistency. Players don’t now what straddles the line and what is a penalty, the analysts don’t know, and the fans don’t know. If this is about keeping players safe, the Department of Player Safety needs a serious rehaul.