The hockey world couldn't believe Brown got fined instead of suspended for awful hit on Schultz

BarDown Staff

NHL on NBC

Hockey fans want the right calls and decisions to be made on and off the ice, and although things like video review are so controversial, the goal is to have that safeguard in place in order to make the correct calls.

Unfortunately consistency has been a big issue, whether it's video review or suspensions handed down and the lack of consistency has caused the hockey world to become upset when certain calls and decisions are made.

Rewording the rule to take out on/off ice distinction would reduce number of challenges by 30+ per cent. More importantly, the hardest, most difficult offside reviews would be greatly minimized.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 16, 2018

The offside review is an issue we're not going to focus on right now. Instead, we're going to give our full attention to suspensions. Andrew Cogliano was suspended two games last Sunday and not everyone agreed with it to say the least.

Wow just saw replay 👀
-Definitely not worth a suspension
-Definitely not worth breaking a record for a guy playing 830 games straight
-Definitely an important record that is important to acknowledge
-Definitely Andrew Cogliano gets respect from current & ex players
“830”👏 https://t.co/V8aWrECo8R
— Tie Domi (@thereal_tiedomi) January 15, 2018

The reason why we're bringing that suspension up is because Thursday night, Dustin Brown cross-checked Justin Schultz of the Penguins from behind into the boards and hockey fans were anxious to see how many games he would get.

As we found out on Friday, Brown didn't get any games and got a fine instead.

Los Angeles’ Dustin Brown fined $10,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking Pittsburgh’s Justin Schultz.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 19, 2018

Brown was assessed a major and a game misconduct on the play, but he avoided suspension and once the fine was announced, the hockey world shared their anger about the decision.

Ridiculous ruling. If ever a dangerous decision to check needed a suspension this was it! You suspended Cogliano for a less blatant offense, he had no history and you ended his consecutive game streak?
— Vince Gori (@vincepens) January 20, 2018

Isn't that worst than Cogliano hit?
— Sly (@slyv19) January 20, 2018

Player Safety is back to the bad old days of Campbell and his roulette wheel of completely arbitrary “justice”. 10K fine for a Pro Athlete is a joke and so is this absurd ruling.
— Duncan Fairweather (@duncfair) January 20, 2018

Brown was looking at Schultzies back as he was laid out and hit him again!!!
— Jennifer Waldeck (@jenniferwaldeck) January 20, 2018

This is a joke.
— Josh Schellenberg (@shells1922) January 20, 2018

Literally a textbook “dont hit this way” check and you do nothing? Lol good job. You guys looking for anyone to hire? ill take 50k to start and ill give you some shanahan explanations videos. #benders
— WhatsMcCracken (@mccrackengrant) January 20, 2018

How can you possibly justify Brown getting a fine and Cogliano a suspension?
— azondahi (@azo6871) January 19, 2018

And no suspension for checking his head into the boards? This continues to show your inconsistency in doing your job as "player safety". You guys are ridiculous.
— Jim Dabbelt (@JDabbs86) January 20, 2018

Giordano and Brown get a pass but Cogliano gets suspended? Joke.
— Ian Chin (@ianscottchin) January 19, 2018

Way to stay consistent 😒
— Cannibal Pizza (@Unlucky7s) January 19, 2018

When I saw Dustin Brown x-check, I had two immediate thoughts: 1. I’ll be curious if DoPS sees it as rising to level of SD; 2. If DoPS chooses to not suspend Brown, given Cogliano ruling, the flak will go viral. And it has. Bottom line: Brown should have been suspended. 🙄
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 19, 2018

Terrible play by Dustin Brown there. Vulnerable player. Plastered Justin Schultz. Especially scary considering that he's had his share of head injuries. #Pens #NHL
— Brian Metzer (@Brian_Metzer) January 19, 2018

Dustin Brown: "It's at most probably a two-minute penalty, I think."
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) January 19, 2018

RC brought up the Mark Giordano and Dustin Brown hits in talking about Cogliano. "I’d have a hard time saying that the Cogliano hit was the most severe or the most vicious of the three incidents. I think a lot of people would agree with that."
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) January 20, 2018

This isn’t even a bang bang play. He has plenty of time to not make a hit here. Dustin Brown continues to get off easy for all of his bad hits. https://t.co/gfW0tEQj4k
— 'T' NRB 'T' (@NicholasB40) January 20, 2018

Incredible streak ended because the @NHL still cant figure itself out
Dustin Brown fined while Cogs sits is all 2 familiar of the inconsistencies that drive fans mad & limit uptake of new fan base
Hardly a week goes by that people don't throw arms up in disbelief & confusion https://t.co/HSMaLPsZZh
— Gary Robbins (@gary_robbins) January 20, 2018

I would say it's unbelievable that @DustinBrown23 @LAKings wasn't suspended for his nasty hit to the @Penguins @6Schultz6 but this is the @NHL we are talking about where nothing is unbelievable and nasty hits are encouraged.
— Joe Yinzer (@Joe_Yinzer) January 20, 2018

Garbage that Brown gets fine and Cogliano 2 games ... ridiculous ... Brown has history, Cogliano doesn’t..
— Ray Ferraro (@rayferrarotsn) January 19, 2018

Wait wait wait. Hold up. I'm just now seeing this..

Dustin Brown delivers a cross check to the boards of someone with their KNEES ON THE ICE, into the dasher. Gets a $10K fine.

Cogliano, who never been disciplined and got an elbow up high to a player, gets two games? pic.twitter.com/KOZnETs4HW
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 20, 2018

At the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing, consistency and based on the reaction to the fine from the hockey world, they didn't get consistency in this ruling.

(H/T: Twitter)