I didn't think Boulerice was allowed to play outside the US

[cause4alarm 7]

As for Downie, his suspension is still one game less than Hunter got for drilling Turgeon back in '93. The NHL's acceptance of plays like this borders on criminal negligence.

I'm not too sure what you're saying here, but I find Hunter's hit a lot worse and dirtier. At least with Downie, it was during the course of play.

-----

Another observation:

Comparing Simon and Boulerice's case--this maybe just nitpicking, but Simon's is worse. Even though Boulerice used enough force to break his shaft, a crosscheck is still less hazardous than a hatchet swing.

[Chadd 916]

As for Downie, his suspension is still one game less than Hunter got for drilling Turgeon back in '93. The NHL's acceptance of plays like this borders on criminal negligence.

I'm not too sure what you're saying here, but I find Hunter's hit a lot worse and dirtier. At least with Downie, it was during the course of play.

-----

Another observation:

Comparing Simon and Boulerice's case--this maybe just nitpicking, but Simon's is worse. Even though Boulerice used enough force to break his shaft, a crosscheck is still less hazardous than a hatchet swing.

I'm saying the NHL has handed out some pretty serious suspensions in the past. In fact the suspensions handed out this season have not been any worse than suspensions handed out in the past. The NHL needs someone who isn't looking to get a job with one of the teams in a few years dispensing suspensions.

Downie's hit was an attempt to injure the other player, no different from Hunter's hit. I don't see a crosscheck to the face as less hazardous than any other play. At least Hollweg did something to deserve retribution, I still believe he should have been punished for the check from behind on that play. That doesn't absolve Simon in any way, shape or form but makes his reaction (though excessive) more understandable.

[chippa13 1844]

Had Downie's hit occurred around the same time as Hunter's play, Downie may only have received a minor for charging. The league is taking things more seriously than they have in the past. Suspending a player for 1/4 of the season is proof of that. I really disagree with your assertion that those are slaps on the wrist. Heck, giving Boulerice 25 games just may have put him out of the NHL for good.

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

[Chadd 916]

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

He has had a remarkably low number of suspensions and many of the major ones have come from Bettman. If Campbell had been doing his job, there wouldn't be the need for Bettman to force the new policy on him.

[chippa13 1844]

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

He has had a remarkably low number of suspensions and many of the major ones have come from Bettman. If Campbell had been doing his job, there wouldn't be the need for Bettman to force the new policy on him.

And yet it was Campbell who handed out each of the Simon, Downie, and Boulerice suspensions.

Maybe he just doesn't want to work in Philadelphia or Long Island.

[Chadd 916]

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

He has had a remarkably low number of suspensions and many of the major ones have come from Bettman. If Campbell had been doing his job, there wouldn't be the need for Bettman to force the new policy on him.

And yet it was Campbell who handed out each of the Simon, Downie, and Boulerice suspensions.

Maybe he just doesn't want to work in Philadelphia or Long Island.

And in every one of those cases, it was pressure from above that resulted in those lengthy suspensions.

[chippa13 1844]

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

He has had a remarkably low number of suspensions and many of the major ones have come from Bettman. If Campbell had been doing his job, there wouldn't be the need for Bettman to force the new policy on him.

And yet it was Campbell who handed out each of the Simon, Downie, and Boulerice suspensions.

Maybe he just doesn't want to work in Philadelphia or Long Island.

And in every one of those cases, it was pressure from above that resulted in those lengthy suspensions.

I haven't seen anything that indicated Bettman was pulling Campbell's strings on those suspensions. Are there links to quotes or the like?

[Chadd 916]

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

He has had a remarkably low number of suspensions and many of the major ones have come from Bettman. If Campbell had been doing his job, there wouldn't be the need for Bettman to force the new policy on him.

And yet it was Campbell who handed out each of the Simon, Downie, and Boulerice suspensions.

Maybe he just doesn't want to work in Philadelphia or Long Island.

And in every one of those cases, it was pressure from above that resulted in those lengthy suspensions.

I haven't seen anything that indicated Bettman was pulling Campbell's strings on those suspensions. Are there links to quotes or the like?

Bettman was very vocal about the Simon suspension and the new focus on head shots didn't come from the guy who has been ignoring those acts for years. No links on the last two, only some comments from people who used to work in the league offices that still have friends there.

[cause4alarm 7]

Had Downie's hit occurred around the same time as Hunter's play, Downie may only have received a minor for charging.

Just to clarify, when you say "same time", you mean same era (the 90s), as opposed "same time" as in, "after a whistle, during a goal celebration", right?

[mrusse01 0]

Had Downie's hit occurred around the same time as Hunter's play, Downie may only have received a minor for charging.

Just to clarify, when you say "same time", you mean same era (the 90s), as opposed "same time" as in, "after a whistle, during a goal celebration", right?

I assume he means the era. Downie would not have been suspended in 1995 for that hit, there is no way. Look at some of the old Rock'em Sock'ems, they are full of hits just a vicious as Downie's. Scott Stevens would have been kicked out of the league if he was in his hitting prime now, his shot on Slava Kozlov one year was just insane. What about Suter on Kariya? He got FOUR games for that. Put Kariya out for about 8 months. That was a way worse hit than this Boulerice incident if you ask me.

Hunter ran a player well after the whistle for no other reason than he had scored. It is my opinion it was and still is the dirtiest play I've ever seen in the NHL.

[chippa13 1844]

The assertion that Campbell has somehow been soft on players in order to protect future job opportunities is just silly.

He has had a remarkably low number of suspensions and many of the major ones have come from Bettman. If Campbell had been doing his job, there wouldn't be the need for Bettman to force the new policy on him.

And yet it was Campbell who handed out each of the Simon, Downie, and Boulerice suspensions.

Maybe he just doesn't want to work in Philadelphia or Long Island.

And in every one of those cases, it was pressure from above that resulted in those lengthy suspensions.

I haven't seen anything that indicated Bettman was pulling Campbell's strings on those suspensions. Are there links to quotes or the like?

Bettman was very vocal about the Simon suspension and the new focus on head shots didn't come from the guy who has been ignoring those acts for years. No links on the last two, only some comments from people who used to work in the league offices that still have friends there.

I got nothing. No way to debate the "friends in high places" angle. Rats.

[Chadd 916]

I got nothing. No way to debate the "friends in high places" angle. Rats.

Every so often I make comments that some say are outlandish, but end up being proven correct when the truth filters out. I wasn't playing any "card".

[jestrs 0]

Does anyone else notice the escalation in these types of incidents since the era of the mandatory helmet rule. I think visors and helmets have given a false since of security. The body armor worn today makes a player feel invincible.

Or it could just be the overall degradation of society's respect for their fellow man.

[chippa13 1844]

Does anyone else notice the escalation in these types of incidents since the era of the mandatory helmet rule. I think visors and helmets have given a false since of security. The body armor worn today makes a player feel invincible.

Or it could just be the overall degradation of society's respect for their fellow man.

The escalation actually occurred about 20 years ago, once all the kids who grew up with mandatory helmet and cage rules started hitting the league.

[jestrs 0]

That was my point. Twenty to thirty years ago you did not see these actions as often as today.

[chippa13 1844]

That was my point. Twenty to thirty years ago you did not see these actions as often as today.

It didn't change when they made helmets mandatory in the NHL. It changed when the kids who grew up always wearing a helmet and mask became NHLers. They weren't used to being responsible with their sticks.

[jestrs 0]

That was my point. Twenty to thirty years ago you did not see these actions as often as today.

It didn't change when they made helmets mandatory in the NHL. It changed when the kids who grew up always wearing a helmet and mask became NHLers. They weren't used to being responsible with their sticks.

True. But it did take the death of Bill Masterton to mandate helmets. Twenty years after the fact. The NHL has always been slow to react. I believe in the helmet mandate, but the armor most of the guys wear today is a leading cause of the concussions.

[Chadd 916]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=221175&hubname=

The American Hockey League has ruled Philadelphia Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice ineligible to play until December 16, 2007...

''In determining his eligibility date, it was taken into account that this is the second time in his career that Mr. Boulerice has been assigned to the AHL while under a lengthy suspension in another league.''

[keylei 0]

Or it could just be the overall degradation of society's respect for their fellow man.

You've always had people that just don't care no matter what era it is. But the helmets and visors make you feel (as a defense man) that you can hit a little higher and not worry about hitting their skull directly. I try to avoid it but it's more of a subconscious thing than anything.

[CapsFan 5]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=221175&hubname=

The American Hockey League has ruled Philadelphia Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice ineligible to play until December 16, 2007...

''In determining his eligibility date, it was taken into account that this is the second time in his career that Mr. Boulerice has been assigned to the AHL while under a lengthy suspension in another league.''

What will it take for him to be banned forever? Will he actually have to kill someone? I think we have all had our moments that we wish we could take back, but this is a recurring theme with him.

[LegoDoom 0]

I was just reading the Podes Q&A from Bucci's column and the comment about the Svoboda hit got me wondering. How long was Bureau's suspension for that hit and what do you think he'd get if that hit happened this season?