Where do we go from here?

With Brendan Shanahan taking over the duties once the responsibility of Colin Campbell at the beginning of the 2011-2012 NHL season, many people were interested to see what direction Mr. Shanahan would take when it came down to the disciplinary actions that were required of him. Some people said that he would be more of the same old thing, just there to deal with the major incidents and review and debate the smaller issues with mixed results. Others said that he would be somewhat stricter and more forceful when it came to dealing with these issues. They couldn't have been more right.

2010 - 2011 NHL Suspensions List

Michael Cammalleri	MTL	10/4/2010	One game for slashing
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond	NJ	10/10/2010	One game for instigator
James Wisniewski	NYI	10/12/2010	Two games for obscene gesture
Niklas Hjalmarsson	CHI	10/13/2010	Two games for hit from behind
Shane Doan	PHX	10/18/2010	Three games for illegal head shot
Rick Rypien	VAN	10/20/2010	Six games for contact with fan
Stephane Robidas	DAL	10/27/2010	One game for check from behind
Danny Briere	PHI	11/1/2010	Three games for cross check
Joe Thornton	SJ	11/5/2010	Two games for illegal hit to head
Brent Burns	MIN	11/13/2010	Two games for use of stick
Olli Jokinen	CGY	11/18/2010	Three game for cross check
Mattis Ritola	TB	11/18/2010	Two games for charging
Jody Shelley	PHI	12/13/2010	Two games for check from behind
Matt Martin	NYI	12/20/2010	Two games for check to head
Jody Shelley	PHI	12/29/2010	Two games for punch to head
Ben Eager	ATL	1/8/2011	Four games for blow to head
Tom Kostopoulos	CGY	1/9/2011	Six games for hit to the head
Mike Brown	TOR	1/14/2011	Three games for hit to the head
Shane O'Brien	NAS	1/14/2011	Two games for high sticking
Scott Nichol	SJ	1/18/2011	Four games for blow to head
Dan Paille	BOS	2/4/2011	Four games for hit to head
Matt Cooke	PIT	2/9/2011	Four games for hit from behind
Anton Volchenkov	NJ	2/9/2011	Three games for blow to the head
Eric Godard	PIT	2/12/2011	10 games for leaving bench to engage in altercation
Trevor Gillies	NYI	2/12/2011	Nine games for blow to the head
Matt Martin	NYI	2/12/2011	Four games for blows to unsuspecting opponent
Scottie Upshall	PHX	2/23/2011	Two games for late hit
Trevor Gillies	NYI	3/4/2011	10 games for blow to the head
Pavel Kubina	TB	3/10/2011	Three games for hit to the head
Dany Heatley	SJ	3/16/2011	Two games for hit to the head
Brad Marchand	BOS	3/17/2011	Two games for hit to the head
Matt Cooke	PIT	3/21/2011	10 games plus first round of playoffs for elbow to the head
Jan Hejda	CLB	4/1/2011	Two games for elbow to the head
Raffi Torres	VAN	4/7/2011	Four games for elbow to the head
Jarret Stoll	LA	4/15/2011	One game for hit-from-behind
Bobby Ryan	ANA	4/16/2011	Two games for kicking incident
Aaron Rome	VAN	6/7/2011	Four games for late hit

Source: TSN - 2010-2011 Suspension List

In the 2010-2011 season the NHL began to more closely monitor hits to the head and direct attempts at injuring players. They were beginning to introduce "Rule 48".

• Rule 48 -  48.1 Illegal Check to the Head - A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit would have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.

The NHL and owners, after a long period of disapproval and debate, decided to institute this rule into the game and move towards protecting players more so than ever before. That season there were 37 total suspensions. Players, coaches and media sources became increasingly vocal about this new philosophy. Incidents that wouldn't require a second look in past years were being scrutinized and punished with suspensions and fines. 

2011 - 2012 NHL Suspensions List

Dane Byers	CBJ	01/16/2012	3 games for hit to the head
Jean-Francois Jacques	ANA	01/09/2012	3 games for elbowing
Brad Marchand	BOS	01/09/2012	5 games for clipping
Krys Barch	FLA	01/05/2012	1 game for comments made
Dan Carcillo	CHI	01/04/2012	7 games for boarding
Rene Bourque	CGY	01/04/2012	5 games for elbow to the head
Raffi Torres	PHX	01/02/2012	2 games for charging
Ian Cole	STL	01/01/2012	3 games for hit to the head
Deryk Engelland	PIT	12/22/2011	3 games for hit to the head
Rene Bourque	CGY	12/19/2011	2 games for hit from behind
Milan Lucic	BOS	12/19/2011	1 game for hit from behind
Andy Sutton	EDM	12/10/2011	8 games for charging
Ville Leino	BUF	12/08/2011	1 game for elbowing
Kevin Porter	COL	12/08/2011	4 games for kneeing
Mark Fistric	DAL	12/07/2011	3 games for charging
Jordin Tootoo	NSH	12/06/2011	2 games for running goaltender
Max Pacioretty	MTL	11/28/2011	3 games for hit to the head
Andre Deveaux	NYR	11/25/2011	3 games for hit to the head
Chris Stewart	STL	11/16/2011	3 games for hit from behind
Patrick Kaleta	BUF	11/3/2011	4 games for head-butting
Andy Sutton	EDM	11/1/2011	5 games for hit to the head
Dan Carcillo	CHI	10/29/2011	2 games for hit from behind
Kris Letang	PIT	10/18/2011	2 games for boarding
Pierre-Marc Bouchard	MIN	10/9/2011	2 games for high sticking
Clarke MacArthur	TOR	10/1/2011	1 pre-season game, 2 regular season games for hit to the head
Brendan Smith	DET	9/30/2011	3 pre-season games, 5 regular season games for hit to the head
Tom Sestito	PHI	9/28/2011	3 pre-season games, 3 regular season games for hit from behind
J-F Jacques	ANA	9/27/2011	4 pre-season games, 5 regular season games for instigating rule
Brad Boyes	BUF	9/25/2011	2 pre-season games for illegal hit to the head
Brad Staubitz	MIN	9/24/2011	3 pre-season games, 3 regular season games for illegal check
James Wisniewski	CLB	9/24/2011	3 pre-season games, 8 regular season games for check to the head
Jody Shelley	PHI	9/22/2011	5 pre-season games, 5 regular season games for hit from behind
PL Letourneau-Leblond	CAL	9/22/2011	4 pre-season games, 1 regular season games for boarding

Source: TSN - 2011-2012 Suspension List

Comparing the suspension list for the 2011-2012 NHL season to last seasons list we see that there are pre-season suspensions included. Shanahan made his statement to the league quickly by handing out suspensions to players who he felt were in violation of the rules. He came down hard on these players to show the rest of the league's players that all incidents will be reviewed and taken seriously. The NHL wanted to make the game safer for the players and Mr. Shanahan delivered. Some people were taken aback by just how fast he made his mark on the game and at the rate that these disciplinary actions were moving.

In my personal opinion, Shanahan is bringing the NHL into the future. With the recent string of concussions and injuries to some of the NHL's biggest stars, there is no doubt that the NHL will eventually push even harder to protect the players that draw their revenue and drive their business. I love the NHL as much as the next person, but if players are going to be out for long periods of time with injuries that can be somewhat prevented, then im all for it. The fact of the matter is that things change. There is no future without change and eventually everything will have to undergo it. The NHL will still be the same game at it's core and that is all I care about. If some simple rule changes and a move towards harsher discipline for offenders are what it takes to keep players playing longer and at their best, then so be it.

So my question is this, Where do we go from here? With 37 suspensions all of last season and 33 as of right now, even before the All-Star break, how does the NHL keep up this pace? Should they step back and ease off a bit or push harder? What are your thoughts on Shanahan's new regime?

Comment and leave your thoughts and feelings below. Open debate is welcomed and encouraged!