If Mitch Marner’s version of the events is accurate, the NHL has a very serious problem on its hands. Because it basically means that what this columnist and many other observers have long maintained is indeed the reality. And that is that the power brokers of the NHL are directing their on-ice officials to go easy on calling cross-checking and in many cases, to basically ignore it.
Most of the time, the only negative by-product is that it often robs teams of legitimate scoring chances in a league where offense is at a premium. But there are also times when it creates a dangerous environment on the ice and that was certainly the case in the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday afternoon.