[Antonmb]

I don’t know about criminal charges, I find it hard to make that call in a sport in which violence is inherent and part of every game. This was over the top and inexcusable, but it’s also inevitable that when you train and prepare men to be intensely passionate and commit acts of controlled violence on the field, that eventually the control will slip and someone will cross the line.

For sure I’d say ban him for life. It would send a clear message to all players that an act like this doesn’t just mean a time-out and a fine. I love hockey but I’ve never understood the hypocritical approach to fighting. So many talk about how the fighting needs to be curbed, yet it seems to me the league has a simple tool at its disposal to clean it up: 3 strikes, you’re out of the sport, would solve the problem.