Colorado Avalanche: Matt Calvert Needed More Respect

Colorado Avalanche player Matt Calvert deserved far more respect as a player last night when he was injured, than he was shown by the referees.

Ever since Matt Calvert joined the Colorado Avalanche in 2018 straight away he took to the ice and showed the grit that he has displayed with ever since.

He plays with guts; taking it up to players much bigger than himself when they attack his teammates. His speed on the ice and determination to win the puck fair and square is unbelievable.

It’s the reason why Coach Bednar moved him to the Avalanche’s top line with the injuries to Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Matt Calvert play dirty. It’s just not in him.

Pierre Eduard Bellemare said the same thing in his interview with Lauren Jbara after the game last night.

Last night in the game versus the Vancouver Cannucks when Calvert took a high-speed puck to the side of the head and play didn’t stop, he didn’t get the respect he deserved.

Surely the NHL officials after being on the ice with him for 13 seasons know he’s not into embellishment.

When he was laying down on the ice, blood streaming from his head, writhing in pain why didn’t they stop play? Apart from being stupid, it was totally disrespectful of the player that Calvert is.

Yes the NHL rules say it needs to be basically life-threatening before the referees are obliged to stop play, but earlier in the season one of the referees got knocked down to the ice. There was no blood and play was stopped for quite some time for him to receive medical assistance.

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What’s the difference?  This time there was a lot of blood.  Surely that means something.  Surely it shows there is a serious or potentially serious injury. And to a player that doesn’t embellish his play.

Even the Cannucks players were trying to get the referees to blow time stoppage. They had the respect for Calvert, a fellow player, to want him to have the medical help he needed.

Respect is something you earn, sure, and hasn’t Matt Calvert earn it, well and truly?  I believe so.

To me, he is the epitome of a great hockey player. Great at what he does, and fair. Respectful of the other players and yet tenacious enough to play for his teams win.  He’s a team guy through and through and loves what he does.

Why should that be penalized with no respect for his injury?  Basically it shouldn’t.  The referees got it wrong last night. Matt Calvert deserved more.  More respect for who he is, both as a human being and as a hockey player.

It’s time players who do the right thing receive the respect and common decency they deserve. And Matt Calvert is at the top of the list to receive it.

Hopefully, the injury isn’t serious and Matt recovers. He will be missed on the team and by Colorado Avalanche fans if he is out for long. And his health and well being come first. Get well Matt.