One week into the ’10-’11 season and suspensions have already become a major issue for the NHL.  First, Mike Cammalleri got himself suspended for the Habs home opener for losing his shizz with Isles rookie Nino Niederreiter.  And this week…

Islanders’ James Wiseniewski was suspended 2 games for this gem.  While I do not condone this kind of behavior, I did burst out laughing.  Then watched it again.  The NHL called it an “inappropriate gesture” and enacted the Repeat Offender clause of the CBA, since Wizzer was suspended 2 games for a head shot on Shane Doan in ’09 and 8 games for a rocking Brent Seabrook last March.  Wizzer is criminally stupid – cameras, people, cameras ALL over the building.  And this isn’t even creative – who doesn’t want to tell Sean Avery to suck it?

The controversy is more about the NHL’s apparent refusal to assess suspensions that actually punish teams and players for infractions. In this case, I think the suspension is fine: The Islanders are basically adrift and starving on a raft made of luggage thrown overboard from the Titanic, especially now that Tavares may be battling serious concussion symptoms.  (Sorry CI.)  With or without Wizzer for 2 games or 5, I don’t see the big impact.

But there are more interesting scenarios.  Blackhawks Niklas Hjalmarsson has been suspended 2 games for a hit-from-behind that had Sabres’ Jason Pominville wheeled off on a stretcher.  Here’s the rub: Hjalmarsson’s suspension expires Saturday – when the Hawks play the Sabres again.

Brilliant timing by the League? The hit/injury ratchets up the rivalry, speeds up the game and gives the players the chance to police themselves – something they should be doing anyway.  Retribution is fine, just keep it clean.  Voice of sanity Ryan Miller agrees.

Or bear-baiting by the League? Buffalo comes out gunning, the game gets messy.  Then what?  You’re calling borderline penalties, chopping up momentum and flow, all to keep something from boiling over.  Bad blood exists regardless, but does putting Hjalmarsson back on the ice Saturday night make it open season?  Patrick Kaleta is polishing off his Bertuzzi portrait.

It’s shaping up to be a long year for the NHL, so prepare yourself for future suspension-worthy hits, fights and general tomfoolery with this brilliant flowchart from DownGoesBrown.com.

Hahahaha, “dammit Pronger!”