Ken Holland has decisions to make this summer.
Over the last 2 years he’s seen players go down with debilitating brain injuries in his line-up. In 2009 after a fight Andreas Lilja was forced out of the line-up due to bleeding in his brain, this year Johan Franzen was on the wrong end of a Mark Fistric hit that left concussed.
When asked at the time if Fistric should be suspended Franzen’s words were
‘’ Whenever someone puts his elbow to your face you expect a suspension, I got his elbow right on the jaw, those are the rules right? ‘’
Sounds familiar Habs fans?
During the preseason Franzen had also been targeted by Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik ( the same Brooks Orpik that broke Erik Cole’s neck in 2006 ) in a hit that referees had judged warranted a game misconduct
Franzen missed time with a Charlie-Horse.
In both cases no suspensions were given.
‘’ I can’t believe it, I’m surprised ‘’
Said Franzen each time he was confronted with the league’s decision making process when it came to evaluating the incidents
Franzen has been an important part of the Red Wings organization, at 6’3 and stats that make him an important power-forward on the team; he is also a player who is now stamped with the ‘’ injury prone ‘’ moniker.
And as Ken Holland sits at his desk this summer, staring down the free agent list, he’ll probably reflect on a year that saw another player almost lose his life to a vicious and unpunished hit.
Max Pacioretty.
A player that his scouts had once compared to Franzen.
For Ken, like allot of other GMs this summer, the free agent decision making process will undoubtedly be tainted by a league incapable of protecting it’s own stars.
Marc Savard and league poster boy Sidney Crosby, both victims of vicious hits are looking at difficult moments ahead with insiders even hinting at career ending after effects.
A league insider hinted at what the league may look like come October 2011.
‘’ GMs won’t have a choice and take my word for it, we might see record numbers since the lockout when it comes to fights, team will have to do their own protection work ‘’
‘’ Goons might be making a big return for 2011 ‘’
A new NHL that sponsors promised they would turn away from.
‘’ All it took was a clear signal from the league office, something that insures we won’t be looking at a fatality on NHL ice, because trust me, the backlash of a fatality due to a hit might be so big that it might spell the end of many things for the NHL including massive desertions of kids from minor programs, and then where does your NHL talent come from? ‘’
‘’ Who wants to see their kid, brother, father dead on the ice ‘’
