Devils goalie Martin Brodeur says the new NHL warden is giving hockey a black eye with his spate of head-shot suspensions.
“Not everybody is following preseason, and when it’s over, the only thing people are going to hear about is, ‘Twelve suspensions for 37 games or whatever it turns out,’ ” Brodeur told The Post yesterday. “That’s not good for the game. No other sport does anything like that to itself.”
New NHL punishment VP Brendan Shanahan is setting suspension records for head hits.
“It could be chaotic,” Brodeur said. “Hopefully this is just an issue because the guys are adjusting. He’s setting a precedent for future calls.”
Brodeur recalls other crackdowns that fizzled.
“We were talking about how they emphasized the ‘foot in the crease’ rule, and when the most important call came, when the Stanley Cup depended on it, they didn’t make it,” Brodeur said.
“So what happens in the Stanley Cup final, if it’s [a superstar], looking like a playoff MVP, and he turns and someone else is turning, too, and he hits him on the head? Will they suspend him, and for how long, and should the Stanley Cup depend on that?
“Mostly, it’s the same sort of player doing it now, but what about during the season or playoffs, what if teams lose their best player because of [precedent]?”
Brodeur wondered if some head hits are inevitable.
“It’s amazing how often [head hits] happen,” Brodeur said. “But you have a guy 6-5 against a guy 5-10, the smaller guy is going to get hit in the head.”
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Petr Sykora has practiced two days on right wing with Zach Parise and Patrik Elias. Though happy about his linemates, Sykora said he has not signed with New Jersey but is unconcerned whether he plays center or wing.
“I don’t care,” he told The Post. “I’ll drive the bus to make this team.”
Dainius Zubrus skated lightly before practice, his first time on ice since Wednesday. He is being careful with what is described as a “lower body” injury by the Devils.
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Defenseman Anton Volchenkov sat out practice yesterday. Coach Pete DeBoer said he was resting bumps and bruises. . . . The Devils visit Philadelphia tomorrow.