MONTREAL – The NHL remains under fire over its handling of a gruesome hit to a Montreal player by Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara.
Max Pacioretty suffered a concussion and a cracked vertebra when he was hit in a game on Tuesday night.
Montreal police are conducting a criminal investigation, the prime minister has issued stern remarks and Air Canada has threatened to pull its sponsorship.
Meanwhile, Canadiens chairman Geoff Molson has asked his fellow N-H-L team owners to join him in taking steps against violence in hockey.
Molson says the Canadiens don’t agree with the league’s decision not to suspend Chara.
But experts say the chance of any changes resulting from the legal, political and economic pressure on the league seem slim.
While the federal government has voiced outrage over violence in hockey, it hasn’t said it’s going to draft any new legislation on it.
Legal experts doubt that Chara will be charged and even Pacioretty — who is out of hospital and resting at home — says he’s opposed to the idea.
Chara has said he didn’t hit Pacioretty intentionally.
After the Bruins’ 4-3 loss to Buffalo last night, Chara said he will "try to reach out" to Pacioretty by phone or in person "when the time is right."
For now, said Chara, the Montreal forward "probably needs time and space" to be around his family.
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