New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault fears the 10-game suspension meted by the NHL on forward Daniel Carcillo could affect the player's career.
Carcillo was suspended Friday after he hit linesman Scott Driscoll with his right elbow in the first period of Game 3 of the Rangers-Canadiens series. A 29-year old winger known for his aggressiveness and willingness to fight, Carcillo will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He has been suspended 11 times during the course of his career and has likely played his last game as a Ranger.
His coach said on Saturday via ESPN: "My biggest disappointment in the whole thing is probably what's happening to Dan Carcillo. At the end of the day, if the right call is made on the ice, that whole situation doesn't happen. Dan didn't have a penalty on that play. There was no penalty there."
Vigneault complained that Driscoll initiated contact with his player, grabbing his stick in what seemed to be a bid to prevent the forward from joining a fracas between teammate Derek Dorsett and Canadiens' Brandon Prust. Carcillo fought back, swinging his elbow and hitting Driscoll.
"I still don't understand why Scott grabbed him in that fashion. All Scott had to do was tell him he had a penalty," Vigneault said. "Dan didn't know he had a penalty."
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