Lets see if the rules apply to All Stars

[djinferno 2]

he deserves 5 game, he will get none...

[mik3 1]

He'll probably get a game for it, he did sorta come over his shoulder on the hit instead of directly behind him.

[Chadd 916]

he deserves 5 game, he will get none...

He deserves way more than five games. That's worse than Downie's hit because it was from behind. If the NHL suspends him for anywhere near as long as he deserves, the season is over, Hossa gets traded and the team has to rebuild. I would even think that Waddell might get fired. That's going to factor into the decision at the NHL level. I'm not saying that it should, just that it will.

[quasi 0]

If anyone else was looking for it:

[Law Goalie 147]

Wow.

Charges, leaves his feet, and visibly attacks the neck/head of a back-turned defenseless player in the boarding zone.

And the only mitigating factor is his quality as a player.

I'm guessing ten games, and they will say specifically that his suspension is less than others because he does more for the game.

[TomMc#4 0]

how seriously was the injury sustained? hasnt this been a big factor in suspensions aswell as their previous record? like every1 says though he probably wont get anywhere near what someone on the flyers team would

[sjsharks11 0]

If he does get suspended will he still be able to play in the all star game?

[cxo 0]

Nope. That's what reserves are for.

[Rustpot 1]

That would be, what, 6 guys not going to the AS game after the initial selection?

Definitely a cruddy hit. Anything prompt this or was 'Lil John doing a little pre-gaming with the Thrashers that may have lead to a little less than a level head on Kovalchuk?

[RadioGaGa 162]

For what it's worth on TSN last night...

McGuire wants the book thrown at him.

Dreger said 5 & a game at the time was enough.

Bobby Mac said he should get a game.

[camhockey16 5]

that isnt the greatest view of it so i'm still undecided.

but the all star game should not have any effect on what his suspension will be - give him however many games it deserves and if it happens to make him miss the all star game then so be it.

kovalchuk just seems like a sore loser sometimes w/bad sportsmanship - i still remember when he taunted crosby a year or so ago..

[Chadd 916]

http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/scoreboard?date=20080122

Click on the "watch" link under the ranger-thrasher game for a clear video and multiple angles.

Suspension won't be a huge one because:

1. Was not a shot to the head

2. Wasn't a retaliation type play

3. Rosival wasn't hurt seriously

Given the way the NHL has handled these in the past, no more than five games and probably two or three.

[chippa13 1844]

I don't think Kovalchuk will miss much action. It looked like he bet wrong that Roczival would turn toward the play.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

i hope he's barred from the ASG. That would be too friggen awesome.

[mik3 1]

i hope he's barred from the ASG. That would be too friggen awesome.

For real, why would the NHL who's struggling for fan appeal outside of the diehards want one of their most skilled players at their talent showcase.

[thejackal 46]

the ASG is in atlanta this year, isnt it? so there ya go

[Chadd 916]

the ASG is in atlanta this year, isnt it? so there ya go

After careful consideration, and two minutes of research, I'll go with a one game suspension. Rangers and Thrashers play again tomorrow and it's the Thrashers last game before the all star break. They'll announce that he's suspended pending a review before the game tomorrow and then announce that there is no additional suspension after the game but before the all star game.

[mik3 1]

That's probably just about what will happen, Chadd. Like you said earlier, the Thrashers as an organization would be on a slippery slope if Kovalchuk was gone for 10 or more games.

[LegoDoom 0]

If Randy Jones got two games, so should Kovalchuk.

[Chadd 916]

If Randy Jones got two games, so should Kovalchuk.

I think Kovalchuk deserves way more than two, just like I though Jones deserved more than two.

[RadioGaGa 162]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=227992&hubname=

[Rustpot 1]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=227992&hubname=

His quote in there "I was just trying to finish my check" is such BS. He came from the top of the circle and contacted a guy that both just got hit and no longer had the puck.

I sure he didn't mean to throw him in the boards and was just trying to get a physical presence to rally the team from a 2-goal deficit, but poor judgment for sure.

[chef_ducky 0]

he deserves 5 game, he will get none...

He deserves way more than five games. That's worse than Downie's hit because it was from behind. If the NHL suspends him for anywhere near as long as he deserves, the season is over, Hossa gets traded and the team has to rebuild. I would even think that Waddell might get fired. That's going to factor into the decision at the NHL level. I'm not saying that it should, just that it will.

Well said...

It was a dirty hit. He left his feet and deliberatly tried to hit him...if he doesn't get suspended it will be an imbarresment to the league

[gee2626 0]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=228033&hubname=

Only one game? That's weak.

[mack 44]

Well that's right on line with the theory of him missing the last pre-ASG game and being in the ASG since he's on the host team. Face it, the NHL needs help and couldn't afford him not being in the game.