The Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal has already been suspended three times this season for illegal hits and is getting a reputation. Even former referees are sounding off on Neal.
Paul Stewart is the former ref in question that isn't a fan of the way Neal plays the game. When referring to Neal, Stewart told HockeyBuzz that Neal is “why I say that the NHL Rule Book is a house of cards built on a foundation of sand. Stewart went on about the legacy Neal is leaving behind.
“I have also seen enough of his play to know something else: James Neal is not my type of hockey player. He has been involved in multiple incidents, showing reckless disregard for the safety of fellow players. Furthermore, he’s a player who has acquired the reputation for being a diver. Does Neal want to be known for the points he accumulates or as someone who can't be trusted by his own team? More and more, people don't think of Neal first and foremost as a goal-scorer. You know how I thik of him? I think of Neal as a player who has already been suspended three times in his career for dirty hits. That includes a five-game suspension earlier this season for a kneeing incident. Additionally, between his years in Dallas and Pittsburgh, he has previously been involved in least other three potentially suspend-able incidents with his stick where he was fined and/or warned by the League.”
Neal has 23 goals and 29 assists on the season and was fined last week for a cross check that could have been his fourth suspension on the season.
Neal needs to sit down with the league and have a long talk about this issue. Neal needs to understand that the things he does on the ice are threatening the lives of the players he faces. You don't make many friends in the league with Neal’s reputation, but lets see what action the league takes against him.
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