re: Chicago Blackhawks 2013 Stanley Cup Champions

I mean, linesmen get punched all the time breaking up fights, and we don't care. It's part of the job and that's what happened when you breakup fights. But to intentionally cross check an official? WTF?

A sports league really can't allow that kind of behvaior. The refs need to be untouchable (literally, not in the sense they are above criticism). If you accidentally hit a ref, hey, occupational hazard. We get it, no problems. But to intentionally hit a ref, to treat him like an adversarial player, is something no sports league should ever tolerate. Pro athletes cannot be allowed to physically intimidate the officials. They are not fair game.

Seriously, I think Morrow should get a call from the league for slamming an Islander's head into the ice repeatedly, but I don't expect he will. But that's not a systemic problem, other than the league doesn't honestly care about head injuries, despite its big talk. But hitting an official intentionally is beyond the pale. Letang needs to be suspended. Like, now. Maybe give him a "playoff discount" of some sort, but he's got to go. That is not acceptable behavior.

ETA: I'll also point out that gif comes from a Pens blog. Even Pens' fans think this is awful behavior. You can't justify this.