Mark Madden: Getting scratched, yelled at doesn't qualify as 'abuse' in NHL

Hockey is a physical, grueling sport. Those who play it are tough.

So why do they need a help line?

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently instituted measures to curb coaching misconduct. Among those measures is a help line that current or former players can use anonymously to report abuse.

No one is excusing or tolerating Bill Peters’ instances of racism and violence or anything of that ilk. The ex-Carolina and ex-Calgary coach crossed a line.

But accusations of coaching misconduct have deteriorated into complaining because a coach didn’t use a player as that player preferred or was mean to him.

Boo hoo. Did the boss yell at you? Grow up. It happens in the real world all the time.

Mike Babcock was relieved of his coaching duties in Toronto last month. His resume is good but horribly overrated: One Stanley Cup in 17 NHL seasons and plenty of unavoidable international success as Canada’s coach.

When Babcock got fired, the accusations flew. But they’re mostly petty. (Tom Petty.)

While coaching Detroit, Babcock didn’t play Chris Chelios much in the 2009 Winter Classic. That game was in Chicago, Chelios’ hometown. Chelios felt embarrassed, so he reacted like a true professional: He drank beer on the bench during the game.

Chelios was 47. He had stuck around way past his sell-by date. Never mind being benched. Chelios should have long since been cut. What do hometowns have to do with it?

Babcock was excoriated for scratching Jason Spezza when Toronto played at Ottawa this season. Spezza had played 11 years in Ottawa. Again, what’s the relevance?

In 2011, Babcock also scratched Mike Modano one game short of 1,500. But Modano was 40 and no longer any good. Modano earned $77 million. He’ll be OK.

Ex-Red Wing Johan Franzen called Babcock a bully. Franzen was a 6-foot-2, 225-pound winger whose playing style led him to be christened “The Mule.” He wasn’t easily bullied. Perhaps Franzen is frustrated that his career was cut short by concussions.

Power enables bullying. Babcock had that. But you’re a grown man. Deal with it privately. Go to management. Don’t solicit public outrage years later.

Journeyman defenseman Mike Commodore (seven teams) long has been a Babcock critic. He should have called a skating instructor, not a help line.

Babcock isn’t perfect. His tenure at Toronto spiraled to its end after he betrayed a private talk with young forward Mitch Marner, telling veterans Marner didn’t think they worked hard enough. That’s inexcusable but hardly abuse.

The Peters situation could have affected ex-Penguin Ron Francis’ employment as GM of expansion Seattle. Francis was GM at Carolina when Peters physically abused players. Francis and the Carolina organization addressed the situation, felt Peters’ good outweighed his bad and the physical abuse was behind him.

Was that the right decision? Maybe, maybe not. But it was Francis’ decision and Carolina’s. Not the echo chamber’s. Twitter shouldn’t judge.

Seattle was satisfied with Francis’ explanation and retained him. Good. There aren’t many better people than Francis.

Sean Avery says Marc Crawford kicked him when Crawford coached Avery with the Los Angeles Kings. A few days later, Avery came out in support of Crawford. (Huh?)

Typical Avery: An attention-seeking circus clown. His career was dotted by suspensions, cheap shots and tasteless comments. Avery did a lot more damage to hockey than any kick by Crawford did to him.

Coaching abuse at the NHL level just doesn’t seem a widespread problem. (A full investigation of the junior level seems well-advised.)

Physical abuse should not be tolerated. But define what constitutes abuse. Being scratched when you want to play doesn’t qualify. Nor does getting yelled at.

Racism should be not tolerated. But so far, Peters is the only example thereof.

This seems to be cancel culture’s latest chapter. Everybody wants to be their own boss. Peters’ horrible behavior has hockey looking under every rock.