TSN is reporting that Colin Campbell, NHL Senior Vice-President and Director of Hockey Operations is relenquishing his duties as head of NHL discipline, although he will remain with the league as Vice-President of Hockey Operations.
It’s expected that Brendan Shanahan will take over that role for the league, although the process of assessing infractions and administering punishment is likely to undergo significant changes.
Campbell has faced considerable scrutiny and criticism for seemingly arbitrary and inconsistent rulings, particularly in regard to fines and suspensions handed down for dirty hits. Questions of Campbell’s integrity and accusations of bias heated up this past November when a series of emails that Campbell wrote in 2006 and 2007 was discovered. In communication with other league officials, he leveled profane, off-the-cuff criticisms against on-ice officials who called penalties against his son (Boston Bruins forward Gregory Campbell) and Bruins center Marc Savard, who is referred to as “a little fake artist”.
Shanahan, who played over 20 years in the NHL with the Devils, Blues, Whalers, Red Wings and Rangers, is currently the NHL’s Vice President of Hockey and Business Development.
