The Problem with Tom Wilson

 Tom Wilson has been suspended, and rightfully so.  Sadly, the damage that is too late to repair will not be stopped by this suspension.  While Tom Wilson bears responsibility for his own actions, I can't help but think that if the NHL is really serious about preventing this behavior, they might take a more proactive approach.

The Bruins intentionally summoned the demons from Hades, while the NHL watched and allowed it to happen.  Then, when the results became horrific, punished the demons.  Suspensions should be handed out for hits to the head, but the NHL not taking things a few steps further to prevent such things demonstrates an ignorance in their role.

As a lifeguard for 22 years, every time I had to make a save was a failure on our part as a team of lifeguards.  Our number one job was prevention.  With time, seeing the gutter crawler, sensing someone under the tower, or the kid trying to sneak around to the deep end without taking the test became second nature.  The NHL could have seen this coming.  The NHL did see this coming.  They are around hockey more than I am, and I saw it coming.

Frist we have to ask, how many times we have seen Alex Ovechkin intentionally use his stick as a weapon?  It isn't very often.  when he did the other night the penalty was correctly called, and he was fined an amount of money, that he won't ever miss (text book definition of impotence).  The problem is, that the referees could have and should have prevented the entire situation.  

Trent Frederick should have been called for several penalties along the way.  He wasn't.  Hockey players are tough, and should handle their own issues, right?  Well Mr. Ovechkin isn't exactly a common everyday player.  He honestly could probably beat the tar out of Trent Frederick, but he has ascended to a point in his career that people would get fired if he ever did.  

My first thought when seeing the treatment Trent Frederick and the Bruins gave Ovy was, where is Tom Wilson?  Then after the stick incident and the subsequent fine, we knew we would see him.  Of course, the next night, the fight did happen, twice.  However, we all know that the Bruins relished this as much as the Caps.  No message was sent.  By this point, the demons inside Wilson had been turned loose, and everyone should have correctly anticipated further retribution.  The retribution came, and Wilson sent the message to everyone in hockey, that if anyone goes after Ovy, people are going to pay, and pay dearly.

Is this what hockey wants?  They seem to not think so.  They suspended Wilson, and rightly so, but why did it ever get to that point?  While I hate to compare a sport that teaches it's grown men athletes to behave like five year old princesses, maybe the NHL can take something from soccer.

In soccer, one of the few things they get right is how to police borderline infractions.  No referee wants the game to constantly stop due to whistles or penalties.  In Soccer, if a player is engaging in borderline fouls, he gets a warning, and then if it continues, the referee might give him a card.  The NHL could handle Essa Tikkanen like behavior in much the same manner.  We want players to play, but if one player is specifically targeting another with antagonistic type behavior, a warning or two, and then a penalty could be called.  Nip it in the bud.

It's simple, preventative, and keeps the Oggie Oglethorpe like behavior tucked deep inside players like Wilson.  Hockey is a rough game, and should always be played by those tough enough to do so, but intentionally injuring other players isn't good for anyone.  If the NHL doesn't protect players, then teams and individuals will take it upon themselves to send a message.  Teams don't forget; fans don't forget.  I can almost guarantee that a similar situation will come up again involving one Mathew Tkachuk.