NHL Player Safety makes another awful mistake with Habs' Gallagher suspension

Last night, Brendan Gallagher threw one of the worst hits hockey fans have seen in the NHL this year against Islanders' defenceman Adam Pelech. Gallagher clearly skated across the ice to line up the hit, stopped up to make the hit, but then stuck out his elbow to make full contact with Pelech's head.

Overall, the hit looks absolutely awful and is the exact kind of hit that needs to be out of hockey, but Player Safety doesn't seem to agree. According to new reports this morning, Gallagher will have a hearing with Player Safety over the phone, which means the suspension will be under 5 games.




This is the exact kind of hit that should be made an example of, and actually warrants a suspension of over five games. The primary point of contact is the head, and Gallagher's actions on the play show an intent to injure. Yet, because the rulings include a players history, Gallagher's 700 game career with no infractions is likely reducing his suspension greatly.

However, now the rule to give the benefit of the doubt on first time offenders is coming into question. Even though Gallagher hasn't been suspended in his career, what kind of leniency should Gallagher be allowed? As a veteran of the game, Gallagher himself would know this to be an atrocious hit. This hit should've been made an example of by the NHL DoPS, and instead, they're continuing with their seemingly random decisions that puzzle hockey fans every time.