What in the world is going on in Philadelphia? For the third time in six weeks the Flyers are in the news for a hit that would have made 'The Broad Street Bullies" proud, but the hockey world is horrified. Randy Jones slammed a vulnerable Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins into the end boards on Saturday, and it appeared originally that Bergeron had suffered a catastrophic spinal injury. The training staff and doctors spent 15 minutes stabilizing Bergeron and he was carted off on a stretcher. Thank goodness the injuries weren't as severe as thought, but Bergeron still suffered a broken nose and a concussion. This injury, on the heels of the Flyers Steve Downie's hit to the head of Dean McAmmond, and Jesse Boulerice crosschecking Vancouver's Ryan Kesler in the jaw, deserves to be punished severely and the NHL must hit the Flyers with financial penalties as well.
Downie received 20 games as a punishment and Boulerice got 25 games. While both of these players play the game, let's say like goons for a lack of a better term, this is not the style of Randy Jones. Nevertheless, three times in six weeks by the same team, leaves the NHL little choice in that they must punish the organization. Give Jones 10-15 games and fine the organization $1 million, and tell the Flyers that a repeat episode this season by any member of their team will result in doubling the fine.
The NHL should also not allow a team to replace a player suspended by the league. If this were the case, once Jones was suspended, the Flyers would be down to 20 players (teams are allowed to carry 23) and any injuries would result in the Flyers playing with a shorter bench.
It's time the NHL took back control of the game. It's not the 1970's where the Flyers ran roughshod over everyone. It is the 21st Century.