Mike Richards is my favorite Flyer. He is my favorite Flyer since Keith Primeau, and before that probably John LeClair and Brian Propp (I still hate Chris Chelios). I'm usually pretty quick to defend the team, even though I've seen three cup finals, all losses, in my life.Should Richie have been suspended for his hit on David Booth on Saturday? In a word, probably. Richards had his elbow down and tucked, and he wasn't taking any additional strides, but it appeared he left his feet and ended up hitting a guy in the jaw with his shoulder, knocking Booth out before he even hit the ice.
Richards probably should have been suspended, but only in a world where the NHL knew what they were doing (see Phoenix/Hamilton Coyotes).
The reason they can't suspend Richards is because they didn't suspend Dion Phaneuf for his hit on Kyle Okposo, and because of Scott Stevens making a HOF career out of head hunting. The link is from Sportcenter's "Top 10 Scott Stevens Hits." All but #10 are hits very similar, some worse than Richards' or Phaneuf's hits. Of course we (Flyer Fans) remember #1 vividly, when he basically ended Lindros' career.
There have been countless other hits all over the NHL that were "legal" but incredibly dangerous. The league had a chance to make a rule against hits to the head, much like the OHL did, but they didn't. SO....they can't have it both ways. It's not the NHL's fault for not suspending these guys, but they do hold the blame for not taking the reigns and trying to protect its players' health.
I played hockey, and I loved to hit hard. I took my share of shots too. I was made to look like Sami Kapanan once, stumbling all over the ice trying to get to the bench after being caught with my head down crossing the blue line with the puck in my skates. I'm not one of these "Penguin/New NHL fans" that like the touch fouls called like it is the last 2 minutes of an NBA game. I love seeing guys rocked into the boards with hard shoulder checks, but there is nothing fun about seeing a player laid out motionless on the ice like David Booth was, no matter what team you cheer for.
However, until the NHL wants to put it in writing, they can't suspend some and glorify others. That is what we in the world outside of NHL league office like to call arbitrary.
Until then, keep your head up.
