The National Hockey League in recent years has had numerous incidents that have involved shots to the head of players. Unfortunately no matter how hard the league punishes these players, these incidents will never completely end.  We can all just hope that they become few and far between.  How should a player who commits these vicious hits react?  Should they admit guilt and take their punishment?  Should they run from the event and not comment?  Should they say that it was an accident and take no fault?  The latter is the route that Toronto Maple Leafs player Joffery Lupul took last night after his hit on Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman.

I can’t help but think that the better route to take is the come clean approach.  Hockey is a fast paced game that is played with a great deal of emotion.  Lupul raised up and went at Hedmans head.  It was a text book head shot.  My advice is to take your punishment, and move on.  Unfortunately these types of hits will always happen in hockey.  Lupul should have just plead guilty took his punishment.  Don’t treat fans, media, and players like fools, and claim that it was not intentional.  I understand the situation, and I believe that he did not want to hurt him after the fact.  The fact is we often think differently during the heat of the moment.

This looks like a clear cut three game suspension in my mind, but the league decided on two games.  This suspension will cost Lupul a total of $45,945.94.  He is not a repeat offender, and this fact may have help him out with the disciplinary process.  Just when his season was back on track, and the Leafs were winning.  Bad timing!