The NHL Embarrassed Themselves By Suspending Timo Meier

Timo Meier showed a Nashville twerp a little old time hockey and the NHL made a mockery of the game by suspending Meier.

I’m not one for bench clearing brawls, I think staged fights are played out, and I think jumping guys after clean hits is ridiculous. That being said, hockey is still a contact sport and I think “the code” if you will, still has a place in the game. Last night, the first place Devils were dominating the under achieving, sub .500, Nashville Predators. In the third period, Zachary L’Heureux started running around, going at the Devils, presumably trying to spark his lifeless teammates. Timo Meier gave L’Heureux a taste of his own medicine and the NHL didn’t like that one bit apparently.

Now, what the above video conveniently leaves out is L’Heureux interfering with Paul Cotter at center ice moments before this. Cotter did not have the puck and L’Heureux stuck his backside out to hit Cotter in the midsection/upper thighs, causing Cotter to go to the bench doubled over. L’Heureux has also gone at Nico Hischier a little bit earlier in the period. Then, the incident in question begins with L’Heureux shoving Meier in the back after a whistle and grabbing Meier’s stick as the two went at it. Meier gave L’Heureux exactly what he was asking for with his antics leading up to the cross-check. L’Heureux wanted to be a tough guy and try to intimidate the Devils and this team won’t be pushed around, especially not by a nobody like Zach L’Heureux. This clown had almost 200 penalty minutes in the AHL two years ago so he should have known the consequences for his antics. Meier got his stick a little high, while L’Heureux was holding onto it, but still, a penalty was warranted. Meier was given a major penalty and a game misconduct, which I think was a little steep, but understandable. The refs didn’t want the game to get out of control, fine. The Devils, being the incredible team they are, killed the penalty off no problem, allowing only 1 shot on goal in five minutes on the kill. Beautiful stuff.

Suspending Timo Meier, after he got a major penalty and a game misconduct is absolute foolishness. Let’s not forget what sport we are talking about here. This is still hockey, its a highly physical sport that requires a good deal of aggression to be played at its best, or at least it should. Players like L’Heureux can’t be allowed to run around and take liberties against the opponent with impunity. Timo Meier did the right thing by giving L’Heureux a shot. He got a little high and was penalized for it in the moment. That should have been the end of it. The NHL giving extra discipline for that “incident” is an absolute joke. Not to mention it brings up an inconsistency problem with the NHL player safety department…

In above video, you see New York Ranger “forward” Matt Rempe just absolutely blasting jake Neighbours well away from the play for absolutely no reason. Of course, the NHL saw no need for supplemental discipline here. Now, in the past I would use this as proof that the NHL favors their most pathetic franchise that happens to play in the world’s most overrated arena, in the league’s largest media market. However, I’m not sure that’s the case. The Rangers are in absolute free fall, losing three in a row after being beat by the Blues last night, so suspending one of the worst players in the league may have helped them. Of course, the Rangers would need that help because that “organization” seems to think this knuckle dragging ogre brings something positive to their lineup. Why do they think that? Literally zero people with a brain can figure that one out, but thankfully the powers that be in MSG don’t know hockey. They sent him back down to the the AHL today, but I have no doubt he’ll be back soon. Maybe that’s why the most pathetic franchise in the original six only has one championship since FDR was in the White House and it was won mainly by the Edmonton Oilers.

Anyway, the Devils have the Blues at home on Wednesday night. With or without Timo Meier, the Devils are a better team than the Blues. The Devils should be ok for one game without Meier. I expect the Devils win streak to stretch to four games and the Devils to win their 11th game in 14 attempts. Things are looking great in the Garden State right now and one game with Meier in the press box won’t change that.