Blake Speaks His Mind

Rob Blake, seething for days because of a three-game suspension meted out by the NHL, boiled over Wednesday, calling the punishment procedure a “joke” and questioning the ability of the man who made the decision.

Colin Campbell, the NHL’s warden as part of his job as director of operations, “has got his mind made up even before we go into that hearing,” Blake said. “The hearing is useless. Why didn’t he just say three games from the start?”

Blake, the Kings’ Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, was suspended from Sunday’s game against the Mighty Ducks after a penalty for slashing Harry York in a game against Vancouver the night before.

After a brief conference-call hearing Monday, the suspension was lengthened to three games, costing Blake $82,304.69 in salary. A $1,000 fine also was assessed, but was subsequently waived because of the salary hit.

York suffered a bruised arm and is expected to play tonight when the Canucks host Colorado. Blake is out until Sunday’s game at Chicago.

Campbell happened to be watching the game on television.

“We asked him if all five-minute majors get reviewed and he said, ‘No they don’t. Only if I see them,’ ” Blake said. “What if it was one of their guys and he slashed a guy and [Campbell] was out taking a [bathroom break]? It would have been no big deal. . . .

“Look at [King defenseman] Dougie Bodger. He has a welt on his arm where he was slashed. [York] has a bruise? [Campbell] didn’t see [Bodger sustain the bruise]. Maybe he was taking a break when that happened.”

The NHL has cracked down this season on violations involving blows to the head and swinging the stick after injuries to some high-profile players a year ago. Campbell, a former coach, was brought in to replace Brian Burke as the NHL’s decorum director after Burke took a job running the Canucks.

“Before, they used to be more lenient,” Blake said. “You didn’t see all these big suspensions. You look at the number of suspension games now. I think it’s twice or three times as many as last year.

Campbell has assessed 19 penalties numbering 62 games in his first season on the job, compared to six penalties for 15 games at this time a year ago.

“It’s just another guy who’s in charge and he’s a little more strict and decided he has to take control of the game,” Blake said.

Blake questioned the protocol used in determining the punishment, as well as its severity.

“I don’t understand the thinking on this suspension,” he said. “It’s a joke. The referee’s report was that I had a slash and it was a five-minute major. A five-minute major, sure that was the right call. I’ll agree 100% with that. I didn’t hit the stick, I hit his arm, but three days, how he decided that, I haven’t got a clue.”

Speaking on behalf of Campbell and the NHL, Frank Brown, vice president of communications, responded, “Before we could even consider a response, we would have to ascertain that the comments attributed to Mr. Blake were made.”

Blake suggested a board to review penalties, adding that it might be something for the NHL Players Assn. to take up in its next bargaining session.

“You can’t have one guy make that decision based on I don’t know what,” he said. “I read his report and it’s a two-handed baseball swing. If I swing two-handed at somebody, I’m going to break his arm.”

What could happen from here is that the league could make another dent in Blake’s wallet. A $1,000 fine for such criticism is possible.

So what?

“He can’t give me any more games,” Blake said. “He’s going to fine me $1,000 probably, and he already did that once. He can’t give me any more games for saying what I feel. Maybe he can, I don’t know. Maybe he can sit there in his chair and say ‘You know, I saw that on TV, what you said, I’m going to give you a couple more games.’ ”

“All I know is that I’ve done worse in a game and gotten two minutes.”

In this case, he has three games and the time to ponder them.