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Yesterday evening, the NHL tagged Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo with a four-game suspension for his needless and gratuitous hit that concussed Buffalo Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel. Words can barely describe the stupidity of what Rinaldo did.
With his team leading 4-0 in the third period, Rinaldo came at Ruhwedel with speed and launched himself at the Buffalo player. Rinaldo left his feet and led with his elbow.
For his actions, Rinaldo got a five-minute match penalty and the ensuing four-game suspension. He will be back for the playoffs. Ruhwedel? He'll be lucky if the concussion symptoms subside soon, but concussion recovery is unpredictable.
Here's the thing about Rinaldo: This is a guy who had a half-dozen suspensions for similar incidents before he ever set foot in the NHL. As a matter of fact, in his rookie AHL season in 2010-11, Rinaldo had more suspensions (four) than he did goals (three).
In the NHL, Rinaldo has been suspended once previously and also fined once. He has said all the right things about wanting and needing to get away from the reputation he created for himself. This year, I was hopeful -- but still suspicious -- when Rinaldo said that he wanted to remake himself in the image of Ian Laperriere.
Laperriere, now a Philadelphia assistant coach, was a player I always respected. He played a very tough and physical style but he was an honorable player on the ice. Lappy played over 1,000 games in the NHL because of his work ethic and sacrifice. Rinaldo talked about how he wanted to follow in Laperriere's footsteps and become someone who could kill penalties, protect leads and be trusted by his team in any game situation.
For awhile, Rinaldo acted like he was serious. But here's the thing. A snake may shed its skin but it's still liable to bite you.
Rinaldo's actions the other night -- in a game where he'd even scored a goal and his team was way ahead on the scoreboard, no less -- once again show the hockey world that he can't be trusted.
Talk is cheap. Rinaldo can say all the right things about being committed to being a more honorable player. He can be as personable and nice off the ice as he wants.
To me, it doesn't matter. Anyone can be a "good kid" away from the ice. A player's actions on his ice show his real character. When he repeatedly shows reckless disregard for fellow players -- and don't fool yourself, there can be life and death power in delivering a check at full speed -- you find out that all the off-ice smiles and seemingly sincere promises to reform are worthless. The guy means it until the next time a similar opportunity presents itself.
One night before the Rinaldo hit, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas got a match penalty for delivering a head shot to Dallas Stars forward Antoine Roussel (himself a player cut from the same cloth as Rinaldo). Gudas, yet another player with a reputation for questionable hits, got off the hook with no suspension.
The NHL gave some rigmarole about the Gudas play looking worse than it actually was. What they really meant was that Roussel was lucky enough not to be injured on the play so, therefore, Gudas walks.
This was another no-win head shot. What are these players thinking and who are they trying to impress? It's a blight on our game, and there is not a team -- or league -- around that is entirely innocent of tacitly condoning it.
Hey, fancy stats crowd, I have an assignment for you: If you really want a deeper understanding of what really goes on in today's game, may I suggest a new stat? Perhaps you can create one for games lost to head shots.
One more head-shot related pet peeve for today: With an elbow leading and a haf-visor and the cement elbow pads players wear, no wonder these guys have "their bell rung."
This is just another aspect of the tail wagging the dog. Equipment companies sell what's easy to produce and don't care nor does the League (s) consult and look for player safety first instead of the hard plastic, oversized equipment that the companies easily produce in China.
Will the NHL -- and the NHLPA -- ever get serious about looking at all the different things that contribute to concussions? Sadly, I think the answer is no.
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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.
Today, Stewart is an officiating and league discipline consultant for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and serves as director of hockey officiating for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
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.
Stewart is currently working with a co-author on an autobiography.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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