NHL Department of Player Safety under pressure after vicious Shea Theodore slash on Kaiden Guhle
Photo credit: Screenshot
The Department of Player Safety absolutely has to wake up this morning after Shea Theodore’s action on Kaiden Guhle.
This wasn’t a battle for position in front of the net.
It was a free and dangerous “baseball-style swing,” straight into the Canadiens defenseman’s abdomen.
Shea Theodore completely lost control on that one. His stick struck a vulnerable area where there’s practically no protection.
The young 24-year-old blueliner doubled over in intense pain. It was painful to watch for any hockey fan.
Yet the officials on the ice only handed out a minor two-minute penalty. A complete joke.
Kaiden Guhle, a first-round pick (16th overall) in 2020, deserves better than that from the league.
Journalist François Gagnon didn’t mince words.
He called the play “vicious” and said a five-minute major was the bare minimum.
“Shea Theodore is assessed a two-minute penalty for a slash on Kaiden Guhle. The official could have handed out a five-minute major, and the Knights would have had a hard time complaining. A Vicious play!
Referees always have the discretion to call a major penalty when they believe there is intent to injure. In extreme cases, they can even issue a game misconduct or ejection.”
– Francois Gagnon
Yes, they had the option to give more.
Even Golden Knights fans would have struggled to defend the indefensible on that shameful sequence.
An exemplary punishment is necessary to protect the Montreal Canadiens’ players
George Parros now has the file on his desk. He doesn’t have the right to get it wrong this time.
A simple maximum fine allowed under the collective agreement would be an absolute minimum, and even that’s questionable.
We’re not talking about an accident, but a pure act of frustration that could have seriously injured a key piece of the defensive corps.
If the NHL truly wants to eliminate dirty plays, it has to send a message. Shea Theodore must sit out for one or several games.
That’s the only acceptable response. Gary Bettman has to send a clear message.
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NHL Department of Player Safety under pressure after vicious Shea Theodore slash on Kaiden Guhle
Should the NHL suspend Shea Theodore for his slash on Kaiden Guhle?
