TSN analyst takes shots at the NHL for "secretly" loving dirty players
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Arber Xhekaj received no suspensions for his actions on Cedric Pare and Tim Stutzle, and now, TSN broadcaster Bryan Hayes is taking aim at the league.
In a clip from That's Hockey with Gino Reda, Hayes went off on the NHL for condoning the actions of goons. He believes that the Department of Player Safety is letting players off easily. Moreover, he notes how players used to feat the NHL DoPS but now, they don't care as much.
Hayes even theorized that the NHL secretly loves all of the dirty hits and fights that are happening. The league knows this brings attention, and Hayes believes it is all some sort of marketing tactic. It is a cynical approach, but with Xhekaj getting a slap on the wrist, it is easy to see how he came to this conclusion.
"I think the league probably secretly, behind closed doors, loves this kind of stuff," Hayes said. "They love the Xhekaj stuff, they love the Rempe stuff because it gets people buzzing, and that's why they don't act on it. I think it's wrong not to act on it."
This is certainly an interesting take and from a marketing perspective, it does make at least a little bit of sense. However, it is concerning that the league is taking a softer stance on dirty hits these days. You would want the league to care more about player safety and eliminating cheap shots from the game. After all, Todd Bertuzzi received a 20-game suspension for what he did to Steve Moore.
Do you believe that the NHL secretly likes dirty players like Arber Xhekaj? Let us know in the poll down below and stay tuned to Hockey Unplugged for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite players and teams.
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