Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison delivers his insights into the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
Bettman got Tocchet's reinstatement right
Comments (19)
Thursday, November 1, 2007 | 03:18 PM ET
By Scott Morrison
The verdict is in, Rick Tocchet will miss two full calendar years before he returns to the NHL.
Let the second-guessing begin.
It says here, though, that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman got it right.
A case easily could have been made (and Tocchet and his lawyer made it) that a 21-month layoff, which has involved missing 117 games without pay while the investigation and subsequent trial into Tocchet's involvement in a sports gambling ring, was adequate punishment and his reinstatement could have come today.
Bettman, however, obviously disagreed and decided to add additional time, not allowing Tocchet to return until Feb. 7, 2008 - a full two years and 162 games from the day he was granted a leave/suspension from the Phoenix Coyotes as associate coach.
In large part, the reason Bettman added additional time is because Tocchet didn't adhere to the terms of his leave, specifically the 40 times he had contact with NHL players and personnel, though unrelated to the gambling situation. Still, he was supposed to have none. Tocchet also continued to gamble during his leave, though not as frequently, which Bettman also found troubling.
In the end, it remained that whenever Tocchet was allowed to return to the NHL, it was and is only going to happen when Bettman is absolutely certain that he not only understands the severity of his indiscretions, of the damage that was inflicted on him and the game, but also that his actions reflect that understanding.
And his return will only happen when Bettman is confident that he also understands that he will be held to the highest standard of conduct and that it can't happen again and that he can't gamble again as long as he is working in the NHL.
Based on the previous conditions of leave being broken, Bettman obviously didn't feel that assured or that the time was now.
And based on how he imposed his penalty, adding that more conditions have to be met before Tocchet is reinstated, not just serving the time, then you can almost think of the two-year suspension as being a "minimum" two-year suspension.
Bettman made it clear that for Tocchet to return, he cannot gamble legally or otherwise; his conduct cannot reflect adversely on the game and he must submit himself for evaluation by the league's substance and behavioral health program doctors to determine if he has a compulsive gambling addiction and if he does then receive treatment.
Mess up on any of those conditions and the suspension continues.
There will be those who believe that regardless, the suspension should have been longer than what Bettman imposed, which is fine. But there is no textbook, no criminal code in the game to deal with such matters, just the judgment of the commissioner. In the end, his penalty matches the two years probation imposed by the courts for Tocchet having pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling in the third degree.
Bettman said "the reality of this case never lived up to the massive amount of hype and speculation circulating after the investigation was made public" thus the reason why the penalty wasn't any more severe. A cynic would wonder if some of that isn't an effort, conversely, to understate the severity of the case and do some damage control.
The bottom line is the suspension still could be more severe because Bettman has retained control of the situation. He is allowing Tocchet to return when, and only when, he is assured and confident there is proper contrition, that Tocchet's behaviour is squeaky clean and that his association with gambling of any kind is over.
Undoubtedly, there will be those who will wonder, too, about the involvement of a small number (less than 10) of people associated with the NHL, as well as Janet Jones Gretzky, who placed bets with Tocchet's association. Might there be penalties for those NHLers?
Well, under New Jersey law that is not illegal. In the world of professional sports, it is inappropriate and now it has to become part of an education process the league needs to undertake with vigor with all of its personnel.
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About the Author
Scott Morrison, the recipient of the Hockey Hall of FameĆs 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, has been covering hockey for 25 years. The Toronto native began his career at the Toronto Sun in 1979. After spending more than 11 years as a hockey writer and columnist at the paper, Morrison became Sports Editor in 1991 and led the section to being named one of North America's top-ten sports sections in 1999 - the first sports section in Canada to receive the AP Sports Editors North American Award. Scott, a former two-term president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, joined Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 as Managing Editor, Hockey, and is currently both a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and a columnist for CBC.ca.
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- Arenas should be dark on Hockey Hall night
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007
- Burke's proposal has merit, but will it have legs?
- Tuesday, November 6, 2007
- Bettman got Tocchet's reinstatement right
- Thursday, November 1, 2007
- No easy answer to the Tocchet question
- Wednesday, October 31, 2007
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Comments (19)
mark
banff
The fans are slowly filtering back to the game after the strike.Now this!!! get rid of the both of them.Ya wanna another blemish on our sport go ahead bettman ruin it.
Posted November 5, 2007 10:53 PM
al
vernon,b.c.
I have no problem with Bettman's decision. Tocchet made a mistake. He has paid a price and that's that.The naysayers must live a perfect life if they can't give someone a second chance. Or more importantly,don't have clue what they are talking about.
Posted November 5, 2007 05:43 PM
Kieran
Peterborough
I find the fact that everyone thinks that he is such a terrible person for gambling very disgusting.
Gambling is not inherently evil.
Also a key thing to remember is that he WASN'T betting on NHL games he was placing bets for NFL games and I fail to see how this is corrupting to the NHL, especially with the restrictions placed on him.
Posted November 5, 2007 02:01 PM
Patrick
Markham
I have a lot of concerns as to allowing Mr Tocchet to return to a coaching role in the league. When gambling (or association with gamblers) is involved there must be swift and severe punishment. This impacts the very integrity of the game and cannot be allowed.
The league should ban anyone associated with casinos, gambling, or gamblers for life.
Posted November 5, 2007 12:07 PM
harvey
nfld
let those who aree blameless shoot the first puck.
Posted November 4, 2007 03:00 PM
Mike
Toronto
The nhl is becoming a bad league do too Gary Bettman letting Tochett off the hook. Guys like this should'nt be allowed back in the game. It makes me sick to my Stomach.
Posted November 4, 2007 12:00 PM
Dennis
Wallaceburg
Casinos ,horse racing or the stock market its all a gamble ,even carpenters do it. These are just regular people and should not be held to a higher standard than any one else ,sure its easy to kick someone while there down,why not give them a hand up,seams like the bolder thing to do.
Posted November 3, 2007 10:43 PM
bob
Canada
I think that the nhl shouldn't let Tocchet back in the league.
Posted November 3, 2007 05:35 PM
Bill Douglas
When is the public going to wise up to the fact the NHL like all pro sport is a business not sport. And, when the insane amount of money involved is in the hands of not very bright people like Tocchet things are going to happen.
No question he should be banned for life to try and start setting some kind of example of decent behavior what ever situation it may pertain too.
The NHL like some other pro sport is rapidly heading down the tubes. Just take a look at how many people are in the stands in most major U.S. cities.
Posted November 3, 2007 03:50 PM
Francis Doyle
I believe that Rick Tochett should have been suspended for life from working in any capacity in the NHL. He sets a poor example for the NHL and if they are so concerned about the the quality of play as well as personnal working in this league I think Mr. Betman has blown this big time. I also think that if Mr. Tochett was not working and associated with Wayne Gretsky he would have been suspended for life no problem. Because of this decision the league gets another bad name, as if they don't have enough problems going on these days with players trying to hurt each other.
Francis Doyle
Posted November 3, 2007 03:30 PM
Jeanne
For being a part of an organized gambling ring involved with corrupt law enforcement officers and Tocchet can ultimately return to the NHL? Once again, the league offices can't get the punishment right. The NHL cannot afford to have the same problems as the NHL, the NBA or MLB. Allowing Tocchet the opportunity to return doesn't send the right message.
Posted November 3, 2007 11:43 AM
Robert Entwistle
Truro
Bettman got it right by agreeing to Let Rick Tocchet return next Feb. However, I do not think his presence on the bench will help the Coyotes. If he does this again, he should be gone for good.
Posted November 3, 2007 11:36 AM
Tim
My, my, Ken. Don't we sit on high in judgement of Rick Tochett, Gary Bettman and the NHL! It must be difficult to be so perfect everyday, too!
I find your comments absolutely reflective of today's society -- the "I am better than everyone else" mentality. Mr. Bettman has done everything he can to ensure the credibility of the game, it's participants and their conduct in light of the overblown hype of what was portrayed to be a major gambling ring and turned out to be a bigger pile of rhetoric than reality.
We are seeing a truly fantastic sport experiencing growing pains (not unlike those of the NFL, the NBA and MLB), albeit on a different scale. The NHL is beginning to send a message to everyone -- players, coaches, fans, sponsors -- that it takes each incident seriously (except, it seems, for the ongoing head shots in every game) and I commend the NHL for that.
Finally, Ken, you state: "Every day I wonder more and more if I do want my son to play the game when I see this stuff being allowed." Another PERFECT example not wanting to get involved to make the game even better. If you were a REAL hockey fan, in my opinion, you would encourage your son to play the game, become a role model and do all the right things to make the game even better than it is today.
Mr. Bettman got this one right, as Mr. Morrison states. With respect to your son, the question is: will you?
Posted November 3, 2007 10:42 AM
D.J.Druskee/Kamloops B.C.
These days it seems like every pro sport as well as the Olympics and the Tour de France are filled with lying,cheating,gambling dopers who will stop at nothing in their greedy pursuit of money.The only way to get a handle on it would be to ban these people for life and have them forfeit any compensation they have received.They have..knowingly..committed fraud and should be prosecuted and,if found guilty,serve jail time.It is really sad the way society is heading.
T
Posted November 3, 2007 10:42 AM
Mrs. Lovejoy
Springfield
"Won't somebody please think of the children!"
Posted November 3, 2007 09:15 AM
Jake
Winnipeg
Bettman was being merciful to Tocchet. If he wanted to be cruel, he would have been sentenced Tocchet to coaching the desert dogs for 10 years. The coyotes are a cursed team since they were stolen from Winnipeg. Not even Gretzky can help this team.
Posted November 2, 2007 11:13 PM
dave
bc
pete rose got life.
Posted November 2, 2007 02:14 PM
Corey McCutcheon
Ottawa
This is the third consecutive blog regarding this issue. Lets move on and discuss something that actually merits our attention.
Posted November 2, 2007 09:27 AM
Ken
Germany
"A cynic would wonder if some of that isn't an effort, conversely, to understate the severity of the case and do some damage control."
...No, a realist would wonder that Scott. No wonder people are bailing on the NHL. Here's a chance to make things better by getting rid of the "gambling pimps" and showing fans (KIDS!) that the game & people can be better than this.
It's sad when we think it's okay to let people like this stay in the game. Every day I wonder more and more if I do want my son to play the game when I see this stuff being allowed. Yep, the "league's substance and behavioral health program doctors" will do wonders with him. Seems like his treatment and rehab went really well during the past year...
Posted November 2, 2007 04:45 AM