Carl Hagelin Suspended 3 Games for Hit on Daniel Alfredsson -- This Is My Head Exploding

In one of the most mind-boggling moves in recent NHL history, the league has suspended Carl Hagelin for three....yes THREE games for this hit on Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson:

It was most certainly a dirty hit and Alfredsson was injured on the play (no word as to whether Alfredsson will play in Game 3 tomorrow). But while Brendan Shanahan slammed Hagelin with a three-game ban, what Shea Weber did to Henrik Zetterberg a few nights ago in Nashville warranted a mere slap on the wrist:

Watch each of those again and tell me what you think is worse. Weber did not commit a hockey play. Instead, Weber grabbed Zetterberg's head and slammed it against the glass like it was a turnbuckle at Royal Rumble. What was Weber's penalty? A fine of $2,500. That's it. This is an embarrassment.

I am more than just angry with this decision. This is a complete joke. Yes, Hagelin warranted a suspension, but to compare these two incidents and say Hagelin's is worse is more of a crime and you give him three games? Seriously?

Shanahan gave his reasons for Hagelin's suspension but I disagree wholeheartedly about the length of it. Because Alfredsson suffered injury and Zetterberg walked away that made it worse? If Zetterberg had suffered a concussion would Weber have been suspended? It should be about the act of the penalty, not completely based on the severity. What Weber did to Zetterberg was disgusting and he'd be in jail if he did it out in public (and I'm a huge, huge Shea Weber fan).

Shanahan also goes on to say that Hagelin has never been fined or suspended for an illegal act committed on the ice either. I find myself again asking why he received three games. Why such a lengthy suspension in the playoffs for a player not known for being dirty.

Meanwhile, Matt Carkner, a guy that's known to be an enforcer, goes out of his way to pummel Brian Boyle's head in and gets one game. ONE GAME!

Carkner was on the wrong side of the ice from his defensive positioning. Carkner personally assaulted Boyle who was unaware that Carkner was attacking him and gets one game. That is NOT a hockey play. That is a personal attack. Hagelin finished his check, albeit illegally. But that was a hockey play.

Carkner's sole intent on that "play" was to inflict injury on Boyle. There was no other reasoning behind it. He gets less of a suspension than Hagelin. My mind is blown.

I can't wait to see what Shanahan gives to two members of the Penguins who went out of their way to inflict pain on the Flyers today.

After Brayden Schenn delivered a punishing, legal hit to one of the Penguins, Arron Asham, a known dirty player, comes in an cross checks Schenn right across the jaw. How many games will Asham be suspended?

Later in the game, James Neal leaves his feet and charges Sean Couturier and no penalty was called:

Neal seeked Couturier out and delivered a punishing blow. Couturier looked very woozy when he skated off the ice as well. How many games will Neal receive?

This is a complete joke of inconsistency and I'm heated.

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UPDATE: 9:48 pm - 4/15/12 - RANGERS STATEMENT:
The New York Rangers accept the NHL’s three-game suspension of Carl Hagelin and will not pursue an appeal.  However, we are thoroughly perplexed in the ruling’s inconsistency with other supplementary discipline decisions that have been made throughout this season and during the playoffs.  We will have no further comment on this decision.
     ....good for the Rangers to speak out on this. Let's be consistent, eh?

UPDATE: 10:41 am - 4/16/12 - ALFREDSSON SKATING:

Reports all over the net are saying that Alfredsson is on the ice in morning skate. This is a surefire bet that Alfredsson will play tonight in Game 3.

     ....the Rangers need to retract their statement and appeal the suspension asap. If Alfredsson misses no time in the series and the punishment is based on the severity of the injury and NOT the intent like Shanahan said, Hagelin should miss no time and get the exact same fine that Weber received. This makes the suspension look so much worse. Much, much worse. Hagelin is not a dirty player and Shanahan recognizes this. He even said on WFAN this morning that Hagelin is "a good kid." To give him three games in a playoff series, Alfredsson had to miss time. But he's not. If the suspension is reduced to one game, or two max, I'd be OK with it.