NHL Insider comments on Spezza - That's not right

Here's what he had to say:

"Something has to be done about appeal timelines. No matter what you think about Jason Spezza's suspension, his previously clean record should earn him a fair appeal."

Friedman also added:

"Unless Commissioner Bettman surprisingly drops him a game, it's almost impossible to get to an independent arbitrator before the six games are up. That's not right, especially for someone with no history."

It's difficult to believe in a league that wants to be taken seriously when it comes to sports betting and national recognition still can't provide players a proper appeals process.

I'm not going to debate whether or not Spezza deserved his punishment because there are varying degrees of punishment people feel are justified.

But what I think we can all agree upon us like Friedman says Jason Spezza, and any player for that matter deserve due process. Forcing a player to serve a full suspension because the league chooses to put off an appeal is unheard of.

In Major League Baseball any player who appeals a suspension is eligible to play until a ruling has been issued on their appeal and although there is some abuse of this system it is still far more reasonable than what Gary Bettman has in place. Don't be surprised if the players want this system amended in the new CBA because being held at the mercy of the league is just another example of a league power trip.