Ian Cole suspended three games for hit on Justin Abdelkader

After blowing a bunch of calls against the Minnesota Wild since November 30th, 2011, but that's another story, Brendan Shanahan the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations has finally made the right call again. This suspension was a no-brainer and Cole had to suspended or Shannahan would have lost all of his credibility. The Blues General Managers didn't think the hit was a reckless hit.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said he respected the NHL's decision, but he disputed the notion that Cole's play was reckless.

"I don't think it was a reckless play...I think it was a hockey play that was legal 12 months ago that's not legal today," he said. "I understand the sensitivity on hits to the head and we respect that, but I support Ian in the sense that it was a play that (Abdelkader) coming across the middle has to be aware, and unfortunately he wasn't. [stltoday.com]

Here is the suspension video.

Related articles

• Blues Ian Cole Suspended For Three Games For Hit To Justin Abdelkader (stlouis.sbnation.com)
• Blues D Cole suspended three games for hit to the head (tsn.ca)
• Blues' Cole delivers head hit to Red Wings' Abdelkader (aol.sportingnews.com)
• Blues defenceman Cole suspended 3 games (cbc.ca)

The NHL throws the book at James Wisniewski

I must applaud NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan for suspending Columbus defenseman James Wisniewski, first, this is a senseless move because the game is officially over and there is no reason to make that gutless play. Second, Columbus is a conference opponent so Wisniewski will have ample opportunity to get another crack at Cal Clutterbuck and if he must challenge him to a fight. Third, Wisniewski needs to learn how to take a check and get over it, I am sick and tired of this mentality that if you get hit by someone with a legal check that you need to fight them. Take their number and get them back later. There is no room for these kind of hits in the NHL and they are being dealt with. In reading the Columbus Blue Jackets beat writer blog and the comments of the Columbus fans it would appear that the Columbus Blue Jacket nation does not agree with the ruling.

Related articles

• Wisniewski Suspended For Remainder Of Preseason, Eight Regular Season Games - NHL.com - News (thefrozenpondreport.wordpress.com)
• Wisniewski out preseason, 1st 8 games (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Brendan Shanahan - It's About Time (chrisross91.wordpress.com)
• NHL suspends Staubitz, Wisniewski indefinitely (espn.go.com)