Ducks GM Murray says Wisniewski deserved to get “whacked,” but not eight games

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Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski ‘crossed the line’ with the hit that left Chicago’s Brent Seabrook dazed and unable to continue the game Wednesday, Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said Thursday.

But Murray sharply objected to the length of the eight-game suspension the NHL handed down, questioning whether star players get preferential treatment and whether the recent push to protect players from head injuries overly influenced the decision.

‘He crossed the line. He’s got to get whacked,’ Murray said.

‘The problem I have is the length of it. It just seems that Wiz at this point, because of the climate of the league, is an easy target.’

Murray also questioned whether penalties are handed down evenly.

‘I hope it’s a crackdown across the board, whether you’re a star player or not,’ Murray said, alluding to the blindside hit by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke that left Boston’s Marc Savard with a concussion but didn’t result in a suspension, as well as to the two-game penalty to Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin for a shove that resulted in a broken collarbone and a broken rib for Chicago’s Brian Campbell.

‘He’s got a highlight reel of close-to-dangerous shots,’ Murray said when asked about Ovechkin.

Murray also bristled at comments by Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville, who told reporters after the Ducks game, ‘You hit a guy without the puck, you could kill a guy,’ and called that type of hit ‘the most dangerous hit in the history of the game.’

Murray responded by saying that Chicago ‘used to be a black-and-blue town. We didn’t have whiners. I strongly suggest Joel worries about his goaltending and stops trying to run the National Hockey League.’

-- Robyn Norwood