Department of Player Safety Explains Reasoning Behind Ryan Reaves Five Game Suspension
The NHL Department of Player Safety explained their reasoning today after handing Leafs forward Ryan Reaves a suspension for his hit on Darnell Nurse.
The Leafs enforcer found himself in hot water last night after he made an ill-advised hit on the Oilers defenseman. He was given five and a game for the hit, earning himself a quick trip back to the locker room.
That was not the only thing he earned on the play either. This morning, the Department of Player Safety announced a five-game suspension for Reaves. Given the severity of the play, the punishment seems reasonable.
Unfortunately, Nurse would not return to the game. That is not a surprise considering how rough he looked going off. Before he went to the locker room, we could see his visor covered in blood.
In their explanation of the decision, the DoPS cited several facts about the play. First, the head was the principle point of contact.
Second, they noted that the head contact was avoidable, and finally, they noted that Nurse did not significantly change directions just before the blow.
In a rare feat, it seems as though the DoPS actually got this one correct. Fans polled online overwhelming reported that they felt the five-game suspension was the appropriate response.
Typically, fan reaction to DoPS rulings is far less united. More often than not, fans are left arguing with the league as punishments are very frequently seen as too little and sometimes, too much.
Hopefully this will be the beginning of a new era for the league. One where we can expect some kind of consistency from the DoPS and one where it is safer for the players. We probably should not count on it though, knowing the history of the league.
