Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Didn't Jordan Nolan push a ref when he was in LA and didn't get suspended for it?
Yep. And there are a few more instances of the same (see the Kane thread for people rushing ot his defense ).
Refs absolutely need to be off limits, it shouldn't be allowed to direct any actions towards them, they've already gotta dodge pucks and players, but if the nhl sets even a remote precedent that ANY kind of contact--even the "get off me" type like DeAngelo--is OK, they're allowing for plausible deniability and an unsafe work environment for the refs/linesmen. They shouldn't have to be in any fear of player retaliation, otherwise they can't intervene with anything anyway.
The linesman in question being a shithead needs to be addressed separately.