When a person commits a crime, they are punished for it. When an athlete commits a crime, it’s swept under the rug in order to protect their image.

Hockey fans love to idolize their favorite players. But do hockey fans and the NHL take into consideration the actions of the player off ice?  

The NHL tests its players on their strength and agility, but what about mentally? How do we know our favorite players are good people?

In late August, news spread of young Toronto Maple Leafs player, Auston Matthews being charged with disorderly conduct.

Matthews still played in the Leafs home opener against the Ottawa Senators, scoring two goals.

Rogers Sportsnet play-by-play broadcaster Jim Hughson made a controversial comment after Matthews goal by saying, “that’s how you put a little problem behind you.”

As if scoring a goal, would actually make crime charges disappear. Why doesn’t the NHL take player crime seriously?

Looking further into it, this is not the first time the NHL has turned a blind eye to a player’s wrong doing.

Chicago Blackhawks player, Patrick Kane was accused of rape in 2015. In 2009, Kane was arrested on charges of robbery and other counts following an altercation with a cab driver.

Kane was still allowed to play despite the serious allegations against him.

Pictures of Washington Capitals center, Evgeny Kuznetsov sitting next to two lines of a white powered substance surfaced in May of this year. Both the Washington Capitals organization, and NHL looked into the situation, then deemed it “formally closed”.

Similarly, in March of 1989 Detroit Red Wing player, Bob Probert was arrested for cocaine possession while crossing the Detroit-Winsor border. Probert is still talked about as one of Detroit’s favorite players.

In May of 1984 Boston Bruins player, Craig MacTavish was convicted of vehicular homicide when he drunkenly rear-ended a car. The other driver was killed, and MacTavish served a year in prison.

When MacTavish was released, he was able to return to the NHL going on to win four Stanley Cup titles. MacTavish currently serves as the general manager for the Edmonton Oilers.

The list of NHL player crimes goes on, but the punishments are similar to the examples above. Nonexistent.

How should the NHL start to take player crime seriously? Start putting higher standards on how their players preform off ice.

To be a truly good player on ice, you need to be a good person off ice.