Controversial verdict delivered on Austin Watson’s dangerous slap shot to Jeremy Lauzon’s chest!

The NHL missed the chance to send a strong message to all of its players on Friday. They could have punished Tampa Bay Lightning fowrard Austin Watson for his actions in the dying seconds of last night’s game in Nashville when he appeared to purposefully fire a slap shot at Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. The play happened near center ice, well away from the Predators and goaltender Juuse Saros. Definitely looked like a pretty clear case of ‘attempt to injure’ on Watson’s part.

However, the NHL did very little to punish, announcing on Friday that Watson has only been fined $2,022.57, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct during last night’s game against Nashville.

That’ll show him…

At least, Lauzon did not appear to be injured on the dangerous as he left the ice on his own though he did react in frustration to Watson’s actions.

In any case, that’s a dangerous play by Watson. Credit to the Predators for going after him in defense of their teammate, and rightfully so, with the game ending in a scrum.

But Watson is left with just $2,022.57 less in his pockets… After the game, writer Alex Daugherty said he heard Watson tried to visit Lauzon to see if he was OK.

Which is the least he could do.

The NHL missed out on the chance to suspend Watson in order to make a point. We cannot have more of this in a game out of hand and the clock ticking down with players’ well-being being put in jeopardy just because a frustrated opponent won’t simply lift the puck and move on to the next contest.

This was unnecessary and dangerous, but I guess the NHL does not see it that way…

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