Evgeny Kuznetsov’s suspension should’ve been 20 games, not one game

Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna(MikeMcKenna56)
Evgeny Kuznetsov’s suspension should’ve been 20 games, not one game

I don’t think Evgeny Kuznetsov should be allowed to play another game in the NHL until American Thanksgiving. But the NHL’s Department of Player Safety thinks otherwise.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Washington Capitals center was suspended one game for high-sticking Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kyle Burroughs in the face. And I think the punishment is far too lenient.

Watch the clip. That’s worth a one game suspension? I think it should have been closer to 20. Kuznetsov swung for the fences on Burroughs. It was a malicious and reckless slash aimed at the upper body of an opponent. Burroughs was defenseless on the play.

All of what I just mentioned was acknowledged by the Department of Player Safety. Kuznetsov clearly committed a high-sticking foul against Burroughs and deserved to be penalized.

But only one game? Because Kuznetsov has a relatively clean history of being fined just once during his 10-year NHL career? Come on. I think players need to be held to a higher standard than that.

There are situations in hockey where suspendable plays happen. And the injuries suffered can be devastating, regardless of intent.

Big, open-ice hits are a great example. Sometimes the offending player makes an early judgment to lay a hit on an opponent and simply cannot alter route in time. Once a player commits, anything can happen. And the consequences can be ugly when head contact occurs.

But those types of hits aren’t retaliatory. And they aren’t done with an intent to injure.

When Kuznetsov slashes Burroughs, it’s clearly with intent to cause pain. You don’t slash someone that far above the waist with any other plan. He wanted the slash to hurt. And it wasn’t the first time Kuznetsov has wielded his stick dangerously.

His previous supplemental discipline was a fine which occurred just six months ago during the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, when Kuznetsov put his stick in the face of then-Florida Panthers forward Noel Acciari. Kuznetsov was docked $5,000 for his actions.

What really sticks with me is how petty the entire play was. Sure, Burroughs gives Kuznetsov a few small shoves to keep him away from the crease. But the response was a joke.

Two-handing someone in the face for something so small shows a complete lack of self-control on Kuznetsov’s part. But it also shows that he doesn’t think there’s any chance of retribution. The Canucks don’t have anyone in their lineup that would strike fear into opponents.

Kuznetsov was frustrated that his scoring chance didn’t go as planned, and he took it out on his opponent. The extra shove when Burroughs was lying prone on the ice says it all. Kuznetsov knew he screwed up.

High sticking. Slashing. Take your pick. Both would be an appropriate call. But how different was the Kuznetsov-Burroughs incident from back in the year 2000 when Marty McSorley whacked Donald Brashaer in the temple? That play resulted in McSorley being suspended indefinitely and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

Think about it. If you’re walking down the street, and you decide to pick up a tree limb and hit someone in the face with it, you’re going to end up in jail. You simply can’t do that. But it’s only a two-minute penalty in the NHL.

Maybe I’m being an alarmist, but stick-swinging of any kind shouldn’t be tolerated.

And by giving out a one-game suspension, the message being sent is pretty clear. If a player has a relatively clean record, there isn’t much to worry about unless a serious injury occurs on the play.

I’m sure that was a factor in the Department of Player Safety’s decision to only suspend Kuznetsov for one game. Burroughs wasn’t seriously injured. But the Canucks defenseman is lucky that the impact he received to the face was blunted by the stick partially contacting his upper body.

Had Kuznetsov’s stick directly impacted Burroughs in the mouth, he could have easily lost an entire row of teeth. Or sustained a concussion. Or worse.

We all accept that hockey has risks. Injuries can and will occur. But I don’t want to see players get hurt due to impulsive, sophomoric behavior.

I did my fair share of dumb things during my career. I think every player can attest to that. And let’s be honest – it would have been harder for a goalie like myself to get suspended. We’re not as exposed during the course of play and typically not involved in scrums.

But here’s the thing: I understand why the Department of Player Safety didn’t slam Kuznetsov with a lengthy suspension. Doing so wouldn’t have fallen in line with past precedence. Which is why I expected three to five games to be handed out as punishment. Not that I agreed with it.

One game feels incredibly light. It’ll cost Kuznetsov a nice dinner out with friends. No big deal. It’s a drop in the bucket for almost every player.

If the NHL wanted to permanently shelf this kind of behavior, 20 games would send a message. The Capitals would be missing a star forward for an extended period due to a selfish, retaliatory act. And Kuznetsov would be out the equivalent of a Porsche, not a few ribeyes. Money talks.

There are so many what-about-isms that will come of this incident. But I think the focus needs to be this: Kuznetsov swung his stick at an opponent’s head and made contact. In what world is a one game suspension adequate? Not mine.

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