Connolly suspension highlights inconsistency from the NHL's Department of Player Safety
The NHL's Department or Player Safety handed down a 4-game suspension to Chicago's Brett Connolly for his hit on Dallas Stars forward Tanner Kero today. The hit left Kero unconscious and he had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Kero had not, and was not about to play the puck, which was flying along the glass 5 feet in the air when the hit was delivered. Kero was neither prepared or eligible to be hit. Frankly, it was a disgusting hit that has no place in the game of hockey.
Thankfully, early reports from Dallas were that Kero did regain consciousness and was responding to questions. With brain injuries like this, the road to recovery is always uncertain.
Connolly hit:
Just a couple weeks ago, it was Jason Spezza who was called in front of George Parros for a hearing. Spezza had taken a run at Winnipeg's Neal Pionk in retaliation for a knee on Rasmus Sandin. Unfortunately as Spezza lined up the stickless Pionk, the Jets defenseman dove to play the puck with his hand. What would have been a clean hit became a knee to the upper body with head contact. A dangerous hit in its own right, and definitely worthy of attention from the DOPS.
Spezza was absolutely hammered by the DOPS with a 6-game ban, the first suspension of his career. That suspension was successfully appealed and reduced to 4 games by Gary Bettman.
Spezza Hit:
Anyone who watched both hits with an objective eye would say that the hit by Connolly deserved a harsher penalty than Spezza's. First, Kero was not eligible to be hit at all, he didn't have possession of the puck and had not played it within a second of the hit. Kero's head was the primary point of contact, which led to him being out cold before he hit the ice. Lastly, Connolly had plenty of time to abandon the hit, he chose to throw it anyway regardless of Kero playing the puck or not.
In comparison, Spezza's offence was much milder. Pionk was in the process of playing the puck, even the DOPS agreed that was the case. The primary point of contact was Ponk's chest area, although head contact did follow. The real kicker is that Pionk put himself in a vulnerable position unexpectedly. Spezza didn't have time to avoid hitting Pionk once he dove for the puck. As much as we should avoid blaming the victim in these situations, we need to acknowledge that Pionk could not have put himself in a worse position to receive a hit.
Prior to these suspensions neither player had been disciplined by the DOPS. Spezza's 1203 games without incident more than double Connolly's 529, but both should be considered NHL veterans. The DOPS has been known to go easy on players for a first offence, unless it seems, that player is Jason Spezza.
The fact that the Connolly hit was given 2 fewer games is a glaring indictment of George Parros' ability to consistently and fairly discipline players. It's not the first time a Leafs player has fallen victim to this either. Nazem Kadri was the first and only player who's suspension was simply «the rest of the series» after his hit on Boston's Jake Debrusk in the 2019 NHL playoffs. A suspension that led to him being shipped to Colorado during the subsequent offseason.
At some point we have to question whether the DOPS is inconsistent, or whether there is an element of bias in George Parros' rulings. Otherwise why throw the book at Spezza while letting Connolly off the hook? Because Connolly said he was sorry and acted like it was an accident? Or because his hit got him ejected and Spezza's didn't? Either way, it's long past time for Parros to be replaced. He is clearly not fit for the position he's been given.
The writers and staff of LetsGoLeafs.com would like to take this opportunity to wish Tanner Kero all the best, and a speedy recovery.
