Leafs' Hollweg dodges longer ban

Ryan Hollweg has been let off with his automatic three-game suspension and a stern finger wagging.

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell opted not to increase the length of the Maple Leaf winger's forced vacation that kicked in when Hollweg received a game misconduct for boarding against St. Louis on Monday.

But, if Hollweg doesn't clean up his act, Campbell warned the consequences will be much more severe.

If Hollweg is assessed another game misconduct for boarding, hitting from behind - his worst habit - or certain stick infractions in the next 41 games, he will automatically get a four-game suspension. But Campbell said it won't stop there.

"Enough is enough," said Campbell. "If it happens again, he'll be out for more than four games. He's got to find a way to do what he does but in a better way than the way he does it. He can't keep hitting guys in the numbers."

That's what happened Monday when Hollweg pasted St. Louis rookie defenceman Alex Pietrangelo into the glass to earn a five-minute major and game misconduct.

The winger, who has a well-earned reputation for playing beyond the boundaries of the rules, was in his first game back after serving a two-game suspension for the same kind of check. Based on the NHL's rulebook, each subsequent suspension is one-game longer until Hollweg can go 41 games without a game misconduct.

After the game, Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher said the call was "marginal," while coach Ron Wilson said it was "debatable how you call that a penalty."

While Campbell didn't completely buy into the Leafs' argument, he saw enough mitigating circumstances to dissuade him from upping Hollweg's suspension.

He said Pietrangelo was not hurt on the play and the hit, when examined on its own, would not have warranted supplemental discipline.

"But he's got to learn," said Campbell. "Cliff Fletcher and I talked about it. Ryan is a multiple offender. You want to say it's about the past acts but what about the future? There is a responsibility for all players on the ice to be prepared to take a hit but there's also a responsibility on behalf of the player delivering the hit to be conscious of the position the (receiving) player is in.

"And Ryan constantly makes contact with a player's numbers."

Fletcher said he still likes what Hollweg brings to the team but Wilson and his staff will have to help the winger find the balance between his aggression and his propensity for taking reckless penalties. On Monday, Hollweg's penalty changed the complexion of a game Toronto was dominating before the Blues scored twice during the extended man advantage to pull even 3-3. St. Louis went on to win 5-4 in a shootout.

Fletcher said having Hollweg sitting in the penalty box is "not a luxury we can afford."

"He's got to play his game, that's the only way he's effective and it's the only reason we acquired him," said Fletcher.

"He's just got to use more discretion out there than other people because, let's face it, they're looking for him."

Campbell took issue with the notion that Hollweg was a marked man among league officials, saying, "It's not the referees picking on him. It's always different referees making the calls."

Toronto acquired Hollweg from the Rangers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft. After his first six games with his new club, Hollweg will have played exactly four minutes.