Canadiens Maxim Lapierre

There will be no additional discipline for Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre, after his hit on Patrick Kaleta Saturday.  The Sabres were not happy about the hit, with captain Craig Rivet calling it “dirty.”  Lapierre earned a two minute penalty for a blatant hit from behind.  So why not a longer penalty, or some supplemental discipline from the NHL?  You wonder if there’s two reasons why, both of which I think are ridiculous. 

1.  Kaleta was not seriously hurt. 

2.  Kaleta is a pest, an agitator. Does someone think he deserved it?

This is where the NHL drives me nuts.  A guy luckily isn’t hurt on an illegal hit, so they don’t penalize the player.  What?  If Kaleta was unlucky and was hurt, would Lapierre have been suspended?  Why should that matter.  A dangerous hit should be ruled on just that alone.

If Lapierre had boarded Connolly, Roy or Pominville, would the penalty have been worse?  Why should it matter?  Do the NHL officials really believe that some form of payback, even if potentially dangerous, is OK within a game?  Because Kaleta is a pest and agitator who riles up opponents, does he deserve to take that kind of hit?  Apparently, the NHL says yes.  What do you think?