Evolution of an NHL suspension

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NHL Player Safety, whether you agree or disagree with the decisions handed down, has done an excellent job since introducing the video element into its midst.

Evolution of a Suspension explains exactly that, step-by-step. I don't think the video itself is new, but it does have updated stats from the past season and it includes the current hierarchy sans Brendan Shanahan.

Step 1: Identify/review the incident

One of the game-watchers will clip all possible angles of the video of any questionable incident, including some that never make it onto the broadcast.

The Senior VP of Player Safety then emails the clips to Department of Player Safety Staff, as well as some people in Hockey Operations, to get their take on the severity of the infraction.

Those people then respond directly to the Senior VP of Player Safety with preliminary assessments, so no one opinion in the group is influenced by another.

If the incident is ruled legal at that point, regardless of injury or history, the review process ends there.

If the incident is ruled illegal, it becomes a question of to what degree and whether or not it can be sufficiently penalized by on-ice officials.

Step 2: Conduct hearing

Hearings are conducted by phone, although possible suspensions which might fall in the realm of six or more games mean a player has the right to have an in-person hearing.

Hearing participants: offending player, GM of offending player's club, NHLPA reps, offending player's agent. Comments are then heard from player, GM, agent, and NHLPA - usually in that order.

After the hearing, senior department members Stephane Quintal, Damian Echevarrieta, and Patrick Burke decide which course of action to take.

Step 3: Determine severity of supplemental discipline

If a suspension is deemed necessary, prior history and injuries involved may impact the length of the suspension. History carries the most weight; more precisely, the specific nature and timeline of that player's history.

Step 4: Release video explaining supplemental discipline