These slashes happen all the time, and there are never any suspensions.
Cool anything to make the leafs win the NHL will do.
I actually thought that the stick to the face/throat was worse.
That's my line of thought too - and I'm guessing that's what the actual suspension was for. The slash is pretty much covered with the 5 & a game.
As a side note, I hate the "no prior record" argument used. I'm just going to use Cammy as an example, not as the only case (I am well aware that Chris pronger is on my team).
Go back to the Havlat incident; if he had a prior record, he probably would have gotten a suspension. However, he didn't, so he got no suspension. So he still has no prior record.
Then this incident occurs; since he got nothing from the Havlat incident, he gets off with 1 game (not saying it should have been more/less, just a point) where as, had he gotten even 1 game for the Havlat incident, he probably would have gotten 3-4 since he'd have a prior record.
Obviously, from this point onward, he doesn't have a clean record, and that will be looked at should a future incident happen. And I totally agree that if a player keeps doing things that are endangering safety over and over that the penalty should increase. However, the NHL is also saying that if you get let off the hook without a suspension for previous questionable acts, you can get away with a pretty severe play and you'll be dealt with leniently.
Well, I'll be the "outsider" on this one..... He's not quite the biggest guy in the world yet he brings it each and every night - even in exhibition (there is no doubt he is on the starting roster). He gets run by a guy trying to make his respective team and takes exception to it (it was a "high" hit). Should he of just let it slide? Should the stars of the league just let the rookies and prospects run them?
What's wrong with dropping the gloves? Or having Lapierre drop the gloves? Or have Lapierre do what Craig Berube did; go to their best player and say, "If your guy doesn't stop running at our players, it won't be him who pays, it will be you." There is never ever an excuse to use your stick like a weapon, whether it's to the face or legs or anywhere. I don't care if it's the Flyers, the Canadiens, or the Manitoba Moose, there is never a reason to do it.