This one hurts: Kris Letang injury has repercussions, as Shane Doan knows

Ray Slover

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This one hurts: Kris Letang injury has repercussions, as Shane Doan knows image

Pittsburgh Penguins fans are outraged that the man who concussed star defenseman Kris Letang won't face NHL discipline.

They should be … and they should except the league's decision because it was right.

MORE: Letang out | Playoff matchups of the moment | Video highlights you must see

Here's why the NHL Department of Player Safety declined to issue supplemental discipline to Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan.

"After reviewing the play carefully and from all angles, we have determined that this was an unfortunate result from a hockey play. It is not boarding, it is not charging, he doesn't hit him in the head. He finishes his check by shoving Letang and unfortunately he falls awkwardly. It wasn't really even a violent hit, although resulted in an unfortunate injury."

Doan wasn't penalized on the play. So the only punishment he received was from the fists of the Penguins' Steve Downie.


Shane Down takes a punch from Steve Downie (Getty Images)

But for Letang, there were serious consequences. After several minutes on the ice, he needed help getting to the trainer's room. Letang went to a hospital for observation, and upon release Sunday the team said he has a concussion.

Coach Mike Johnston told media members there was no timetable for Letang's return. But with two weeks left before the playoffs, any time out is a severe blow for the Pens.

They entered Sunday's game against the San Jose Sharks tied with the New York Islanders for second in the Metropolitan Division. Those teams are three points ahead of the Washington Capitals, who hold a wild-card berth. It's doubtful the Pens will finish so poorly they won't make the playoffs. So their concerns are more about what happens once they get there.

And the Penguins' problems on defense are serious. Olli Maatta won't play again this season because of a January shoulder injury. Christian Ehrhoff remains out after getting smacked into the boards last week. And now Letang, who was having a season worthy of Norris Trophy consideration, might not return before the playoffs.

It could be worse. Given his concussion history, with two in 2012 and now two this season, plus a stroke 14 months ago, Letang's career could be over at age 27. There is no indication that's the case. But Letang and the Pens must evaluate his future.

The Penguins don't have a full complement of three defense pairs because of injuries, salary cap problems that prevent the recall of a fill-in and inability under league rules to put Letang and/or Ehrhoff on injured reserve. Forward Daniel Winnik will get work as a defenseman in case he is needed.

"If it happens, I'd be more than happy to go back," Winnik said Sunday. "I don't think anyone has doubted our abilities as a team. We were banged up and we're banged up again now, but guys have stepped up and played well, and we have the confidence that we can do well in the playoffs and I think it's better timing now to have a slump than in a couple of weeks."

Doan was both sorry and realistic.

"When it happened, I could tell the way he went into the boards was awkward," Doan told The Arizona Republic. "He's so good we talk about we gotta make sure we don't let him jump by. I just went to make sure I got a piece of him so he couldn't jump by me. Obviously, he went into the boards awkward.

"We have to finish our checks on him. I hit him just to stop him from jumping by. You never ever want to see anybody like that, especially a guy of his caliber and obviously everything he's went through in the last couple of years, you never want to see that. You feel awful as a player when something like that happens."

Downie fought Doan because it was the responsible thing to do. It fit the hockey code.

"I have nothing but respect for (Doan)," Downie told media members after the game. "That's hockey right there. "(Doan) is not like that. I don't think that was dirty. I think (Letang) fell the wrong way and the distance from the boards and everything. We talked about it and I said, 'Hey, it's kind of got to be done,' and he's not going to shy away from that."

The sooner Letang returns, the better everyone will feel — including Shane Doan, a stand-up hockey player.

Ray Slover