There is an unwritten code that is understood around the league in the NHL.  There are many understandings about what is tolerable and acceptable and what is not.  When players break the code, they are introduced to the team’s tough guy when they face each other again.  Where do we draw the line?

Carolina Hurricanes rugged defenceman Tim Gleason was involved in a scrum with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin.  Gleason was pushing and shoving when Kulemin approached him and proceeded to jab him in the face multiple times.  Gleason responded by dropping his gloves and landing a haymaker punch to Kulemin’s face, flooring the Russian.

Kulemin is the furthest thing from a fighter in the NHL.  He is a skilled forward and doesn’t like to mix it up.  Gleason on the other hand,  is a bruiser; he doesn’t shy away from the rough stuff and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves.

It is borderline whether the incident broke the code or not.  Players around the league were asked what they thought of the situation.  The overall consensus was that Kulemin  got what he had coming to him for jabbing Gleason repeatedly.

The last time something like this happened was when New York Rangers’ superstar Marian Gaborik was dropped by Philadelphia Flyers tough guy Dan Carcillo last season.  The incident caused the same questions being asked today to arise.

From Gleason’s perspective, he did nothing wrong and claims that if you’re going to be punching someone in the face, they are going to stand up for themselves and react in an aggressive way. In Kulemin’s defense, he never dropped the gloves, and never hit Gleason with much force on any of the punches. 

Have your say on whether Gleason broke the code, or if Kulemin got what he had coming to him.  Also tell us whether you think the Leafs will look for some revenge next time Toronto plays Carolina.

Jordon Judge

HockeyGods