Alex Burrows

Punishing the Victim

It is evident to anyone who watches the game that the heart of the NHL’s player conduct apparatus is ridiculous. Crimes are punished strictly on the basis of outcome rather than intent, creating spacious grays that players often find themselves lost within. For a game stepping into an uncharted world, where the public and its pool of gladiators are aware of the immediate and lingering risks of traumatic and sub-traumatic brain injuries, the NHL is lagging behind in properly evaluating the dangers of its sport, running the risk of compromising its future. As a counterpoint, consider the NFL, long derided…

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