| | EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The NHL issued a zero-tolerance policy against irresponsible use of the stick on Tuesday, suspending New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer for 10 games for hitting Florida's Peter Worrell over the helmet with his stick.
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The ruling, which will sideline Niedermayer through the Devils' first playoff game, comes a month after Boston defenseman Marty McSorley was suspended for the final 23 games of the regular season for hitting Vancouver's Donald Brashear on the side of the head with a two-handed swing.
McSorley's punishment was the harshest in NHL history but even that could not repair the embarrassment the league suffered from the attack in which Brashear received a serious concussion that sidelined him for the season.
While Niedermayer's attack against Worrell late in Sunday's game against the Panthers didn't seem as vicious as McSorley's blindside hit on Brashear, he was assessed a match penalty for attempting to injure. The league then showed on Tuesday it was not going to tolerate it, even from a usually mild-mannered player.
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Tues, March 21
I thought it was about right. But I also thought, perhaps, he might have to sit
out the first round of the playoffs. I talked to Bryan Murray (Florida's general manager),
and he was satisfied with the suspension. I think part of the reason it wasn't more had to
do with the fact that Niedermayer had never done anything like this before.
The league is sending a message. Niedermayer's one of the league's best defensemen.
Missing 10 games means what he did is unacceptable, and he has to pay the price.
Worrell won't play Tuesday because of headaches. He got hit real hard, and it wasn't just
a tap.
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"Mr. Niedermayer is a first-time offender, a factor that was considered -- as were all the elements of the incident," said Colin Campbell, the NHL's executive vice president and director of hockey operations. "That consideration does not change the essential point here: A player has to be held accountable for striking an opponent on the head with his stick. We are determined to eliminate the irresponsible use of the stick from our game."
The suspension will cost Niedermayer $152,343.74, with the money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. He will miss the final nine games of the regular season and the opening playoff game.
The suspension didn't make much difference to Worrell.
"You know, I don't really care if he got suspended," Worrell told ESPN Radio on Tuesday. "I don't really go out hoping that will happen. I would prefer if this whole thing didn't happen in the first place.
"...I think these are isolated instances. ... You hope once guys see what happens, what occurs, that'll stop. You don't want to see someone's career put in jeopardy."
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello didn't expect Niedermayer to get 10 games, saying a similar stick incident earlier this season involving San Jose defenseman Jeff Norton against Devils forward Claude Lemieux resulted in a four-game suspension.
"As we all know, we had a recent incident," Lamoriello said. "It has caused a lot of attention. As to how much influence this had, I really can't answer."
Niedermayer, never previously suspended in eight NHL seasons, wasn't immediately available for comment. He had said on Monday that he deserved to be suspended for the incident late in the Devils' 5-2 victory.
Worrell and Niedermayer came together along the side boards with 1:45 left in the game.
Worrell, a 6-foot-6 enforcer for the Panthers, appeared to elbow Niedermayer in the face.
Niedermayer immediately retaliated, taking his stick and bopping Worrell off the top of the helmet.
Worrell, who did not appear to be injured after being hit, was held out of the Panthers' game against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night after complaining of a headache and nausea.
Florida general manager Bryan Murray said he was satisfied with the ruling.
"Colin Campbell and his staff are always put in an impossible position," Murray said in New York. "They have to clean up a mess after they've had no chance to control the mess."
Worrell created further controversy Sunday, making a throat-slashing gesture toward the Devils bench while leaving the ice.
"I regret doing that," Worrell said of the gesture during his ESPN Radio interview. "Not the best move I've ever done. It was an inappropriate thing for me to do."
Murray said the league has sent a memo to all teams addressing that issue, although he noted that Worrell was not penalized by the league.
Niedermayer and Lamoriello met with Campbell in New York at noon, but it took the league almost six hours to release its ruling.
Lamoriello said the hearing went as well as could be expected.
"There is not question Scott has to be responsible for his stick," Lamoriello said. "He has to take that responsibility. If the bar has been raised as to what the penalties are, and what the consistency will be, that's only my concern."
The suspension was not unexpected, although Niedermayer might have expected less than 10 games based on his history.
In 597 NHL games, the 26-year-old has received 320 minutes in penalties. Prior to Sunday's match penalty, the Cranbrook, British Columbia resident had been whistled for four major penalties, three misconducts and one game misconduct.
Florida assistant Bill Smith told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel that Niedermayer's chop over Worrell's head "was as bad as McSorley's."
While trying not to make excuses, Niedermayer and his teammates said Worrell played a dirty game. He elbowed Niedermayer and received a penalty early in the contest and later was sent off for charging defenseman Colin White.
The Devils also felt Worrell threw other elbows that did not receive penalties.
Besides the suspension, the 36-year-old McSorley was later charged by authorities in British Columbia with one count of assault with a weapon for striking Brashear. If convicted, he would face a maximum of 18 months in jail. He is to appear in court in Vancouver on April 4.
His suspension already will cost him an estimated $72,000 in salary.
McSorley, who had six previous suspensions, will also have to meet with commissioner Gary Bettman before a return to the ice is considered.
Brashear recently said McSorley should never play again. | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Scott Niedermayer hits Peter Worrell in the helmet with his stick.
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 Scott Niedermayer reacts to the NHL's decision.
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Scott Niedermayer discusses punishment for major infractions.
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Panthers VP/GM Bryan Murray comments on the suspension.
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