Report: Brendan Shanahan to take over Colin Campbell's job

by Casey Richey on Jun 1, 2011 11:45 AM CDT in Opinion

Some big news in the NHL's front office today as it looks like Brendan Shanahan will be taking over Colin Campbell's duties as the league's disciplinarian.

Darren Drager tweeted the following:

Sources tell TSN Colin Campbell is giving up role as NHL disciplinarian. Brendan Shanahan will likely take over.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyDarren Dreger
DarrenDreger

and Bob McKenzie followed up with this:

Campbell is not relinquishing duties as VP, Hockey Ops, he is only stepping away from the disciplinary aspect of the job.less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyBob McKenzie
TSNBobMcKenzie

What does it mean? Follow the jump and chip in your own 2 cents.

Shanahan's new position is kind of odd for a player so recently retired (2009) as a lot of the players still in the league played alongside or against him. Will that affect how he conducts investigations into illegal hits and suspensions? I say no. Shanahan is a guy with a good head on his shoulders and I would be surprised if he let any bias show through in his actions. Shanahan has served the league as VP of Hockey and Business Development and has maintained visibility through twitter (@NHLShanny).

Shanahan's recent retirement from the league will also help him conduct his job better though as he is more in-tune with how the game is played today. Shanahan has a lot more on his plate now with this new position and it will be interesting to see how it plays out down the road.

As for Campbell's legacy, it was tainted by some leaked e-mails and a very inconsistent suspension list. Campbell will retain his other positions within the league, but the disciplinary role is gone.

What do you think of this new change in the NHL?

Poll

Is this the right move for the NHL?

Yes

174 votes

No

5 votes

Time will tell

24 votes

203 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Hate to say No

but even with Brendan Shanahan doing it, I think this is a job better left to a committee of representatives for the league, the players, and the refs instead of at the hands of one man.

I think Shanahan will be able to do a better job than Campbell, but until the entire process changes (which if very well might under Shanny), then the league has not made the right move.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jun 1, 2011 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

I think this is a job better left to a committee of representatives for the league, the players, and the refs instead of at the hands of one man.

I agree. And like you state later it may be something that he brings about. It’ll never be a perfect system so long as one person oversees it.

Winging It In Motown and now covering Hokie baseball at Gobbler Country
On The Twitter at @MrNorrisTrophy

by Casey Richey on Jun 1, 2011 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with you, but voted yes.

Getting Campbell out automatically makes this a good move.

And putting in someone who has already shown he can think outside the box to make the game better is definitely a step in the right direction.

Regardless of who was chosen though, we wouldn’t be able to see any big changes until the next CBA.

Dancing Datsyuk Decidedly Dazzles Dainty Defensemen

by Robocop on Jun 1, 2011 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

baby steps

i can understand what you’re going for, but in respect to the promotion of Shanahan, i think it’s a good move by the league. i agree that it’s not a one-person job, but under the circumstances, it’s better that this happens than keeping Campbell in that job.

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!

by uvgt2bkdnme on Jun 1, 2011 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Campbell was terrible at his disciplinary job. I like Brendan Shanahan, but the biggest and best change that can come of this is a little transparency; letting people know by what standard/criteria players are being judged upon. Because right now players get suspended and wonder what they did differently from those who got suspended less or not at all. Can the league please define “blind-side” once and for all?

by meetyourmako on Jun 1, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Love Shanny, not the move

I don’t understand why the NHL would – after parting ways with one Disciplinarian fraught with bias – appoint somebody who has such obvious ties with certain teams and players? Are there really no options to replace Campbell with people who would have at least the appearance of objectivity? How long until we’re asking ourselves if the Wings/Devils/Rangers are getting preferential treatment?

There’s no such thing as the perfect candidate, and I have no doubt that Shanny is qualified in terms of knowledge/ability, I just think its inviting criticism to have a former player (or anyone with strong ties to particular franchises or players) take this position.

by André Boillot on Jun 1, 2011 11:58 AM CDT reply actions

Shanny is one step closer to the violent coup that leads to Bettman’s beheading that I predicted in the All Star Game thread.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jun 1, 2011 12:27 PM CDT reply actions

Great news

I agree that an overhaul to the system is needed, but maybe that’s just why Shannan got this job. His last significant job? Only overhauling the rules by which the game is played. I think he can tackle discipline ok.

The only thing that would have made this better:

Brendan Shanahan to take over Gary Bettman’s job

A guy can dream, can’t he?

by Big Z in Orlando on Jun 1, 2011 12:50 PM CDT reply actions 7 recs

I still think this would be better.

Brendan Shanahan Leads Bloody Coup Against Gary Bettman

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jun 1, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs

That would be too awesome for words.

REC.

by meetyourmako on Jun 1, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

ELBOW DROP OF JUSTICE

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jun 1, 2011 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs

rec'd

Winging It In Motown
Anteater and monocle enthusiast.

by Casey Richey on Jun 1, 2011 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Shouldn't be someone with any on-ice history in the NHL

Maybe a former international referee or something. The specter of bias will always be there.

Here’s hoping Shanny makes some procedural changes to make discipline more objective.

by RedPandaAlex on Jun 1, 2011 1:36 PM CDT reply actions

It's not ideal

But at least it’s an upgrade.

by Rat A Tat on Jun 1, 2011 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

This.

The job is too much for one person and it’s a position that is going to always face scrutiny that is better left to a group.

I hate Jonathon Ericsson.

by Brion on Jun 1, 2011 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Has Shanny been ruffling some feathers in the FO?

Because this smells to me a little too much of throwing a popular, but somewhat maverick, young league executive under the bus. Without some kind of committee backing him up, the decisions Shanny hands down are going to be derided just like Campbell’s were. Possibly more so, for reasons already enumerated above.

Don’t get me wrong, I love that Shanny is moving up (around?) in the league, but I just hope this move doesn’t torpedo his credibility with the fans.

Think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider! --George Carlin

by J_Stone on Jun 1, 2011 3:57 PM CDT reply actions