Since taking over from Colin Campbell (left) as NHL discipline czar, Brendan Shanahan has caught more than a few players, and one anonymous executive, by surprise with his tough rulings. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Here are some things I don’t understand:

1) Why NHL players continue to commit suspendable acts in preseason while knowing that Brendan Shanahan is executing the toughest standard of discipline the NHL has ever seen. The suspension of Jody Shelley for 10 games should have been enough to send the message. But thus far, including the Flyers Tom Sesito’s punishment on Wednesday, Shanahan has had to suspended seven players for a total of 46 games — 24 of them in the regular season — and they’ve been fined $642,897, which is salary lost. Think that’s enough warning?

2) Why an unnamed NHL executive told Damien Cox of The Toronto Star that Shanny may be exceeding his authority. “We voted for stiffer suspensions, and we meant it,” said this veteran executive. “But not doubling and tripling. If (Shanahan) gets too far in front, he won’t last long in the job.”
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When the NHL resumes its deliberations on what will constitute an illegal hit to the head next season, the one above by Toronto’s 6-foot-4, 243-pound defenseman Mike Komisarek on Colorado’s 5-foot-10, 170-pound rookie Mark Olver will be among the most contentious types of blows. It left Olver trying to crawl off the ice, weakened and apparently dazed, unable to make it back to the bench. He left the game and did not return.

This was not an illegal check under the current rules. But it is a perfect example of the challenges the NHL faces as it mulls the changes it needs to reduce concussions.
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