Honestly the solution is more simple than that.
You hold coaches and GM's responsible for the players they choose to put on the ice.
Whatever fine Scott get's Rolston and the GM should get at least the same if not double.
When the Penguins were trotting the predator out on the ice, Bylsma, Shero, and yes Mario himself should have been forking tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars out of their own pockets everytime that monster attacked.
Until we hold the people responsible for putting these guys on the ice responsible for their actions, nothing will change
I completely agree with the bolded.
The NHL's tweaking of the rules, and Shanahan's doling out of frequent, and sometimes severe suspensions, have not curbed the incidents of illegal and dangerous hits. In fact, based on a stat they showed before the game last night on NBC, the number of suspensions seem to be up so far from last season. The players obviously have not gotten the message, and furthermore, they do not view the penalties as enough of a deterrent to keep them from committing these acts. I have to assume that at this point, players understand the rules in place, and if they break them, then they are doing so consciously. The tweaking of the rules, the transparency, and the harsher and more frequent penalties have done NOTHING. If it's not working, then fix it.
I think you're right that the NHL must start to hold the teams responsible for the players that they employ and dress on the ice. Apparently players are willing to take the occasional fines and suspensions that come with making an illegal hit. Moreover, owners keep paying these players, GMs keep signing them to contracts, and coaches keep putting them on the ice. So what is the message there? "Well, we saw that you have several questionable hits on your resume...how about you take this money and come do that for us." Teams and players are obviously willing to put up with these slap-on-the-wrist penalties in order to have these players on their teams, so they must feel that these players are worth having around. Matt Cooke found another job this offseason. Nobody said, "There's no way we can employ Cooke based on his track record of illegal hits." He got a contract. At least one team out there thought he could help them win games, and to hell with the occasional suspension he'll have to serve to do it.
I feel that these penalties should not only be levied on players, with suspensions and fines, but the NHL should begin to levy harsh punishments on the teams that continue to employ these players. If you took away the incentive for these teams to have these players, and made the punishments directly hurt their chances of winning as an organization, then I believe it would stop. Either Matt Cooke would have to clean up his act, or teams would have no choice but to no longer employ him. I'm not sure how it would work, but teams who employ habitual offenders should be subject to the loss of draft picks if said player continues to ply their trade as usual. Do you want to have Matt Cooke on your team? Well okay, but just know, next time he takes someone's head off, you're going to forfeit a 5th round draft pick, or whatever...and then after that, it's a 4th rounder, etc. I don't know if that is the exact solution, but there needs to be some punishment for the teams, and not just money because that doesn't mean jack to them.
On another note, the idea of getting the "goons" out of the league is all well and good, but I still don't think the issue the NHL having is fighting...it's the illegal hits to the head, etc. that are taking the biggest toll on player health. You can jettison Scott out of the league, but what about Matt Cooke or Steve Ott? Those guys aren't your traditional goons, but they inflict just as much if not more damage on a yearly basis. Those guys and guys like that wouldn't be weeded out by the 10 min a night rule, or by placing a limit on the number of fights you can have. If anything, not having to answer the bell would only embolden them, IMO.
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