Bettman addresses teams' complaints about suspensions
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stood by league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan on Friday in light of criticism coming from teams during the playoffs.
Several teams have complained that the league has been too harsh in doing suspensions during the postseason.
The New York Times' Naila-Jean Meyers reported that Bettman characterized the criticism as "gamesmanship."
The first round of the playoffs has been marred by fights, illegal hits and suspensions.
Nine players have been suspended since the playoffs began April 11, highlighted by Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres getting disciplined indefinitely on Wednesday for a hit on Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bettman said the playoffs have been intense but not unusual in terms of violence.
"I think the officials have adjusted to it; I think the players have adjusted to it," he said. "I think we're seeing it settle down. And you're seeing us review things and punishing things in order to protect the players that in previous seasons weren't penalties."
Bettman said the league is trying to change the sport's culture by implementing stronger rules to curb violence.
"This is a game in which physical contact is encouraged, provided it's done in the right way, in the legal way," he said. "And we've changed over time the rules relevant to that. For example, 10 years ago, a shoulder check to the head was legal. It's not legal anymore."
Shanahan is expected to announce Saturday whether Torres will be further disciplined for the hit, which hospitalized Hossa but was not penalized for it.
