No further discipline for Jordan Staal

written by Kody Kobik
 
We have reviewed the play and have communicated to Ray Shero that Jordan Staal is available to play tonight.”  These are the words from Colin Campbell himself.  The no further discipline is referring to the punch that Jordan Staal connected to Brandon Prust.  Prust should be receiving an Oscar for his embellishment to the punch.



There has been some criticism on all sides involved from Staal, Prust, and the Refs. Prust went down in a heap after being punched and rolled around.  After he got up he was laughing and joking on the bench and didn’t miss a shift.  Should Prust have gotten an Unsportsmanlike penalty? Yes, but hindsight is 20/20.  Staal received a 5 minute major and a match penalty for the punch:

“21.1 Match Penalty - A match penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game and the offender shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately.

A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure or who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner.

21.2 Short-handed - A substitute player is permitted to replace the penalized player after five (5) minutes playing time has elapsed.

The match penalty, plus any additional penalties, shall be served by a player (excluding a goalkeeper) to be designated by the Manager or Coach of the offending team through the playing Captain, such player to take his place in the penalty box immediately.

For all match penalties, regardless of when imposed, or prescribed additional penalties, a total of ten minutes shall be charged in the records against the offending player.

In addition to the match penalty, the player shall be automatically suspended from further competition until the Commissioner has ruled on the issue. See also Rule 29 – Supplementary Discipline.”

Staal received this match penalty due to precedence. On January 7th Ben Eager of the Thrashers punched Colby Armstrong of the Leafs twice.

As you can tell these two acts are completely different, but due to precedence the call needed to be made. Eager’s two punches were against someone was not expecting, and he received a four game suspension.  Staal was coming in to stand up for a teammate, got elbowed in the face, and retaliated to the elbow. 

All and all the NHL made the right call for a match penalty, but no further discipline.

written by Kody Kobik