I had a lot of good things to say about NHL discipline....

I'm beginning to retract more than a few of them, though...

We seem to be having a large-scale problem with the NHL, at this point, and it seems to be centering around stuff at the head.

Both Gary Bettman and the concussion stuff.

Bettman declined Wideman's direct appeal to him (Deadspin), and kept his suspension at 20 games.  He also announced he did not believe Wideman's statement he was concussed.

It was already noted on Calgary's first broadcast after the initial announcement of the suspension that Bettman could've increased Wideman's penalty -- so, if he does not believe Wideman was concussed, why did he not ban Wideman from the sport for an offense that, even for a first-timer, is a life ban offense?

If you don't believe Wideman, and you believe that he sent a text message stating he hated the refs on top of it (which opens up another can of worms, as the NHL basically was able to get their hands, supposedly, on such a text message), WHY THE HELL IS WIDEMAN NOT BANNED?

Look, I still agree that I believe that Wideman was concussed (and where the fuck was Player Safety on the hit which preceded this, which concussed him?), so this is only operating under Bettman's assumption that Wideman was not concussed and probably had a (again, in Bettman's mind) vendetta against the officials:

• He gets up from the hit.
• He slams his stick on the ground.
• He goes over.
• He puts two fists into the official's back, cross-checking the official down.

That's not 20 games.  And that's not even something that should be in the CBA or rule book -- that should be Best Interests of Hockey and the like.

This will go before the arbitrator, but someone needs to ask both sides of the question:  Was Wideman concussed?  If he wasn't, how do you justify keeping the suspension at 20 games?  The official involved is still not back with the league, to my understanding, as of this writing.

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And then another Deadspin gem from the NHL, showing that Brendan Shanahan and Player Safety are slipping, and badly.

Radku Gukas of Philadelphia was banned for three games in December for a check to the head.

Just in the month of February (and you can find all videos of the incidents on the Deadspin article):

• February 2:  Is tossed for a major for clipping Lucas Lessio of Montreal.  The refs completely botch the call, and probably had to call the penalty on orders from Toronto.  Replay shows not only a hip to the knee, but an official RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PLAY with no problem with the hit, or so it seemed.  Lessio had just been called up to the NHL (he was in his first NHL game), and only returned to play last night after the injury.
• February 11:  Another cheap shot, another injury, another rookie!  Daniel Catenacci of Buffalo.  Elbow to the side of the head.  Injured reserve on the 12th.  The Sabres demanded a hearing, and got none!
• February 16:  Bobby Farnham of New Jersey.  Third ejection in two weeks for Gudas.  Blindside interference cheap shot.  Match penalty for intent to injure.

Well, let's just say I have a few words for Brendan Shanahan:

@NHLPlayerSafety HEY! Radko Gudas... Three cheap shot ejections in two weeks. Suspension or explanation, please!! #FuckGudas

— Michael Falkner (@darkstar7646) February 18, 2016