Connect with us

BHN Daily

BHN Daily: Classic NHL Troll Job With Rangers Buchnevich Suspension

Published

on

Who doesn’t love a good troll job like the NHL does?

That appears to be the case after Pavel Buchnevich was suspended for a game after cross-checking Anthony Mantha in the face. Sure, by the letter of the law the suspension was earned based on his actions and the aftermath.

But this was also the NHL Player Safety Department clearly lobbing a bomb back at the New York Rangers organization for the massive overreaction decrying Tom Wilson’s “horrifying act of violence” whole violently clutching their pearls at the same time. The call for George Parros to be removed as the head of the NHL Player Safety Department was just icing on the embarrassing cake, so I’m sure there was a little extra joy in cutting the Buchnevich suspension video.

Some fans and media decry it as double-standard proof that the league’s disciplinarians can’t be consistent with their supplemental discipline. I think it’s a message from them to some hockey fans and media that they need to toughen up a little bit. Hockey is a violent, contact sport that doesn’t really need or want the safe space treatment.

It’s not a good look for an NHL team to softly play the victim while looking to cancel the league’s player safety department because they disagreed with a decision. Perhaps they have learned their lesson after a turbulent, embarrassing week, but somehow, I doubt it.

Now on to the BHN puck links:

*Boston Bruins rookie goaltender Jeremy Swayman is off to a phenomenal, historic start to his career in Boston with another shutout on Thursday night. (Boston Hockey Now)

*Words can’t describe how hilarious that it is Pavel Buchnevich got suspended by the Department of Player Safety after they cried about the Tom Wilson incident. Womp womp. (NHL.com)

*Count Chicago Blackhawks players among those excited that the NHL is making the move to ESPN and Turner Networks next season. (Chicago Sun-Times)

*Speaking of ESPN and the NHL, I love that they are taking a run at landing Wayne Gretzky as an analyst for their broadcasts. The reports that Kevin Weekes and Ray Ferraro are in line for roles are very smart hires as well. (The Athletic)

*Many of the Vancouver Canucks fans, media folks and sports page readers have been remembering the late Jason Botchford, so here’s a nice tribute to the hockey writer gone way too soon with some great information about the excellent Botchford project as well. (Canucks Army)

*Everybody crows the Boston Bruins as the winners at the trade deadline after landing Taylor Hall, Mike Reilly and Curtis Lazar, but don’t sleep on the Penguins getting Jeff Carter. The veteran forward had four goals on Thursday night and has been great for the Pens since his arrival. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

*For something completely different: Enjoy this awesome Camera Guys interview with Doug Flutie, who apparently has the Adam West Batman costume and Batmobile ready to go down in Florida at a moment’s notice.

Copyright ©2023 National Hockey Now and Boston Hockey Now. Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the NHL.