Vancouver Canucks forward Alexander Burrows has drawn, if not necessarily the ire, at least the attention, of the NHL after an incident involving New Jersey Devils forward Jordin Tootoo last week. As a result of the situation in question, Burrows is set for a meeting with NHL officials, according to a report from John Shannon of Sportsnet. At the time, Tootoo was irate, attempting to fight Burrows during the game and speaking out about it to the media after.
"If you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk," Tootoo said, per NJ.com's Rich Chere. "To make the remarks he did about my personal life and family is classless and unacceptable in this day and age. That's why I went after him."
Tootoo has dealt with substance abuse issues in the past and suggested that what Burrows said crossed the line from gamesmanship into unnecessary slurs.
"I have no respect for that guy. Nor should the league. They shouldn't tolerate stuff like that," Tootoo said, according to Chere.
While a meeting with league officials likely won't result in much, if anything, in the way of discipline for Burrows, it at least seems a positive step that NHL decision-makers want to ensure that gameplay remains ultimately positive.
Tootoo told Tom Gulitti of NorthJersey.com that he spoke with Devils GM Ray Shero about the situation after the game.
"I'm going to move on from the situation and let the people up top deal with what they've got to do. Be a man of your words. At the end of the day, you know what you said, so step to the plate and figure it out. At least I can go to bed at night at ease."
But Burrows indicated that he's had no trouble falling asleep once his head hits the pillow, even after the incident.
"Personally, I don't really think I crossed the line."
"What I said I've been told the same in the past and I've heard it plenty of times throughout my career, so I kind of wish it would have stayed on the ice where it belongs and, for me, I'm just moving on and getting ready for tonight's game," Burrows said, per the Canucks' website.
As Gulitti notes, the NHL "usually only disciplines players for language involved race or homophobia."
When asked whether Burrows' comment or comments involved either of those, Tootoo declined to comment.
