Ballard two-hands Vokoun

[eric42434224 1]

Man...some people are so overreacting to this. Teaching kids? Cmon. No kid is out there thinking it is OK to do that because Ballard wasnt punished. The incident and the injury alone are a lesson to kids. Punishing him does not do anything productive.

If the NHL wants to do something about it, they should clearly define that type of action as illegal, allowing refs and the league to penalize or punish the player accordingly. Punishing Ballard before those rules/punishment are clearly spelled out isnt fair. His actions werent a penalty and are done every day in the league....why do we not call for the head of the hundreds of players who have done the same thing? This one just happened to have an accidental injury as the outcome. Stop playing the results. I would actually hazard a guess that the widespread exposure to this incident has done infinitely more to show that action as dangerous than any punishment handed down by the team or league.

Ease up.

JMHO

Well, based on the number of kids I see swinging their sticks at posts over my life I'm in the belief that something needs to be done to put a stop to this. A penalty for unsportsmanlike or something at the least. Can't even begin to guess how many sticks I've seen broke over bars, posts, and boards in the years I've been around the sport. Someone finally gets hurt on a big stage. I would hazard a guess that until you start punishing players for that behaviour it will continue at all levels of the game.

Hell punish him on the fact that its casting the league (yet again) in a bad situation where (yet again) the only mainstream exposure hockey gets is (yet again) something to be looked down upon by damn near everyone. People already think the sport is full of barbarians because of the fighting involved now they're seeing another stick swinging incident. Not good.

I agree that perhaps a penalty is the way to go, but until that happens, it isnt a penalty, and he shouldnt be punished.

And punishing him for making the league look bad? If we punished everyone for doing something detrimental to the league, we would be punishing half of the league (including the league offices).

Change the rules to change behavior, but dont go off half-cocked and punish Ballard for something that is allowed every day. Avery did his dance with Brodeur, and they changed the rules. It worked.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Thats true. I would expect that some type of rule will be put in effect before too long.

[eric42434224 1]

Trust me, most kids who shatter a stick over a post these days in front of their folks only do it once.

Right!

We told our goalie last night that we would do it to him if he let in too many goals. But we laughed when we realized that no one would do it, not because it would injure our goalie, but that we would have to shell out $200 for a new stick!

:lol:

[KYHockey3 0]

Trust me, most kids who shatter a stick over a post these days in front of their folks only do it once.

Last season i saw a 14 year old player go in for a check and the other player dodged the check, causing the first player to run into the boards and fall down. This kid was so mad about missing the check and embarrassing himself that he got up, swung his stick and smacked the glass above the boards, then the glass SHATTERED!

They just ended the game since only a little bit of time was left.

If i were that kids parent i would have been thoroughly embarrassed.

[top_shelf_24 0]

I honestly think Ballard's conscience will punish him more than any suspension/benching could. I've definitely swung my stick at the glass after getting scored on or the boards/door after coming off a crappy shift. This just seems like straight up stupidity with a hint of bad luck, not like he had time to plan it or something.

If he was angry enough with himself after getting scored on to break his stick on the post, think of what he is going through emotionally right now.

[Chadd 916]

Anyone taking odds on a trade? As sorry as he may be, a different situation may be in his best interest.

[GimpIndustries 1]

I don't think he'll get traded from that, or look to be traded. Just a jackass move that I'm sure he feels like an idiot about.

[chippa13 1844]

I don't know if shipping him out might do more harm than good to the guy's psyche.

[Chadd 916]

I don't know if shipping him out might do more harm than good to the guy's psyche.

I was just thinking that it may get a bit uncomfortable in the locker room and another city may offer him a chance to put it behind him. Then again, this may be a kick in the ass that makes him play harder to make it up to the other guys in the room.

[CapsFan 5]

This isn't the first time a guy hurt a teammate doing something stupid. Didn't Pronger break somebody's hand/finger when he broke his stick over the boards at the bench?

[top_shelf_24 0]

^^ I believe that was MacInnis

[Mike92 0]

I could have seen the team doing something, but like a few people have said no way should the nhl punish him for something that happens every night and isn't even blinked at just because his aim was off. Dumbass move for sure though, and I wouldn't have a problem at all with the nhl dishing out unsportsmanlikes for that kind of thing as long as it's done consistently.

Has his play really been that bad? From watching him in phoenix I have a hard time believing that effort could be a problem with him. I wouldn't mind having him back at all if they end up looking to trade him.

[eric42434224 1]

Mason slammng his stick into the boards twice last night.

Suspension? Penalty?

[english15x 3]

Mason slammng his stick into the boards twice last night.

Suspension? Penalty?

yea i seen that, smashes his stick then leaves it there.

[eric42434224 1]

Mason slammng his stick into the boards twice last night.

Suspension? Penalty?

Yes, it should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Mason.

Sad how people (in general) don't see the seriousness of the situation. The NHL's comment that " 'supplemental discipline' is assessed for actions that are taken against opponents -- meaning Ballard would have possibly been fined or suspended had he lashed out in anger and accidentally struck a member of the Thrashers" is a joke. That is PRECISELY the point; since he DIDN'T injure an opponent, who cares, but, if he did, he gets the book? Stupid is, stupid does I guess...

We'll agree to disagree...

Actually I think we agree. It isnt that I dont think those types of actions shouldnt be punishable. I just think that the rules need to be very clear before someone is punished. What Ballard and Mason did is not against the rules. Dangerous and classless? Sure....but not illegal...yet. Make it against the rules and they should be punished.

Perhaps the league will do this now that the actions have resulted in an injury. But then again, we shouldnt assume the league will act in a logical manner.

[camhockey16 5]

don't forget the slash of tomas surovy on jaroslav halak a few years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0emzMJ6FiwQ

[ts.krajewski 0]

I dont think the NHL should punish him, this is a team issue and they should deal with it. Honestly I think he feels bad enough about doing it nothing really needs to be done. It was an accident and thats all.

[n3ss 0]

Mason slammng his stick into the boards twice last night.

Suspension? Penalty?

Yes, it should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Mason.

i actually agree with you here - we all got punished as children for getting pissed off and throwing a temper tantrum,.