Am I the only one that thinks the NHL should look at both incidents that Witkowski was involved with tonight? For sure, coming back onto the ice is a textbook 10 game suspension.
The other incident I am referring to is right at the 14second mark:
Anyone else think that this should be looked at? After seeing Engelland, McGrattan, etc., take the trouble to try and prevent their opponent from smashing their head on the ice, this just seems totally despicable to me. Kulak - a non-fighter and a rookie to boot - gets KO'd, is obviously dazed, and Witkowski picks him up and smashes him to the ice? Then he tries to do it again, but thankfully the linesmen step in.
Outright goon. Not an 'enforcer' in my book. Just an outright goon. The NHL needs to get these guys out of the league. I thought that they were all gone long ago, even before the 'enforcers' (yes, I make that distinction) were gone.
Well, these incidents are what makes NHL teams sign these types of players. You don't need (or want one) until suddenly you do. If this was a team that Calgary would meet again this year, you could bet that Treliving would have recalled Gazdic up. Heck, I almost think that someone like Darryl Sutter would have seen Witkowski on the roster, remembered Brouwer's fight the previous game, and recalled Gazdic 'just in case'. Not saying Gulutzan dropped the ball or anything like that, but it sure seemed to me like suddenly Detroit weren't just interested in winning the game any longer. They seemed to want a pound of flesh.
Anyway, I just thought that was the most disgusting incident that was at least visible from the camera angles. I really hate seeing that, even as a fan who really enjoys games that are chippy and fight-filled (so much emotion in those games). Hope the NHL throws the book at him, and it is the last we see of the Witkowski-types. I really believe in 'the code', especially when you see enforcers take it to heart (like Engelland and McGrattan who try and prevent their opponents from hitting their heads on the ice). Witkowski should know better - that is his living. To see him purposefully do something that disgusting really gets to me.
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