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There is not very much in life -- or hockey -- that shocks me. When the NHL's Department of Player Safety decided to essentially hands the car keys right back to serial reckless driver Zac Rinaldo, it did not shock me. Disappointed me, yes. Shocked, no.

Forgetting just for a moment about Rinaldo's recidivist rap sheet of dangerous hits in every league in which he's ever played and his attitude of casual -- even cavalier -- disregard for fellow players' safety, let's look at the play itself.

First of all, look at the game clock. The period is expiring.

Look at where the puck is. It is already about 10 feet away from the recipient of the hit, Sean Couturier.

Then look at Rinaldo's skates, slightly lifting upward in order to deliver a hit to the considerably taller player. Although Rinaldo's elbow is tucked and the main point of impact is Couturier's upper chest, the reason why the player's head snaps back so violently is that it bounces off the top of Rinaldo's shoulder pads (as I've written about several previous times, today's equipment is an unsafe-at-any-speed lethal weapon that is part of the problem, yet the tail continues to wag the dog in our sport).



In no way, shape or form is this a legitimate hockey play. It's far from the worst hit I have ever seen but it is still a despicable and suspension-worthy one. Even for a first-time offender with no history of such hits, I would have pegged it as worthy of three games.

Now we come to the issue of motivation and reputation. What we have is this case is a player who has already had multiple suspensions -- included several lengthy banishments -- in every single league in which he has ever played. There is no reforming this guy, but we owe it to the other players (including the safety of guys on his own team) to take away his privilege (not entitlement) to be part of this game for which he has so little respect.

The NHL also slapped its officials -- who 100 percent made the right call with the charging major and game misconduct -- right in face here. Patrick Burke disingenously said it supports the call that was made on the and then turns around and says the play did not constitute charging (nor was it a check to the head, interference, a check to the head or elbowing).

Well, no, this one wasn't an elbow. We will agree on that.

Not a charge? The NHL said there was not a "significant" lifting of the skates into the hit. Well, it was significant enough to play into the recipient getting hurt and having to leave the game.

Not interference? The puck is long gone and the recipient is no longer fair game for a body check.

Not an illegal check to the head? Maybe not in principle point point of contact but a player's head doesn't snap back that jarringly if there is no head contact in the follow-through.

Not excessive? Again, the period is expiring and it's a late hit on top of that.

We are not talking about a reptuation call here. We are talking about a clearly predatory, illegal and reckless action that seemed suspiciously close to being premeditated. This was the accused player's first game against his former team -- a classic motivating factor for trying to show the old team they made a mistake and show the new team they made the right decision -- and the time, place on the ice and opportunistic nature of the hit raises a red flag of being something the player was actively seeking to do.

Even if causing injury was not the explicit goal, the utter recklessness of it and the fact that the NHL Rule Book explicitly states that reckless plays that could reasonably be expected to inflict injury are worthy of supplemental discipline should have made this one a no-brainer.

The NHL obviously feels differently. Obviously, Patrick Burke prefers to wait until the next time Rinaldo runs an even more defenseless player -- ala the hit on Kris Letang that got Rinaldo eight games off last year -- and causes an even more serious injury.

Here ya go, Zac, here are the keys. We've refilled the tank for you and cleaned out the fuel injectors. Just drive safely next time, will ya buddy? Thanks.

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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.