The NHL Department of Player Safety issued Leon Draisaitl a fine, but did not suspend the Edmonton center, for spearing Chris Tierney during game four of the Sharks and Oilers first round series. The spear, which earned Draisaitl a five-minute major and a game misconduct, is the forward’s first offense.
Draisaitl almost certainly got off the hook because he’s not a repeat offender which, as Jeremy Roenick put it, is a joke. Whether it’s consistent with what the Department of Player Safety has done in the past isn’t particularly relevant to me because, you know, the department is a joke.
Draisaitl goes after Tierney multiple times with an intent to injure and a game misconduct, even in the playoffs, isn’t enough. If the league is serious about sending a message about these sorts of plays (it isn’t) it should be handing out suspensions. A one-game ban would have been enough. Instead, it’s a fine and Draisaitl will return to the lineup on Thursday.
The Oilers got off easy here.
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