2011-2012 Suspension thread

[RadioGaGa 162]

On HNIC last night, Maclean was saying he would have liked to see 15+ games...

Now...a star player on a team going into the playoffs...you KNOW the League wouldn't do 15 games...BUT...if that hit happens in Oct or Nov...do you think he gets more???

[roadrunner 12]

I totally agree with a suspension that is lengthy. In reality, What are 3-5 game bans and $150k fines gonna do to curb these actions? Nothing. If the NHL really wanted to deal with this stuff swiftly and whole heartedly then longer bans are the way. These offenders need to have strong implications on their teams, maybe then they'll think twice.

Look at soccer, a red carded player puts his team down a man for possibly an entire game and furthermore is banned. Playing a man down in soccer is a huge disadvantage and typically makes it impossible for the shorty handed team to score. But the NHL is dead set in preserving a balance of punishment and keeping fans happy so I guess we won't see harsher penalties until someone is stupidly killed.

I respect Shanny, he has a Thankless job.

[EBondo 233]

I totally agree with a suspension that is lengthy. In reality, What are 3-5 game bans and $150k fines gonna do to curb these actions? Nothing. If the NHL really wanted to deal with this stuff swiftly and whole heartedly then longer bans are the way. These offenders need to have strong implications on their teams, maybe then they'll think twice.

Look at soccer, a red carded player puts his team down a man for possibly an entire game and furthermore is banned. Playing a man down in soccer is a huge disadvantage and typically makes it impossible for the shorty handed team to score. But the NHL is dead set in preserving a balance of punishment and keeping fans happy so I guess we won't see harsher penalties until someone is stupidly killed.

I respect Shanny, he has a Thankless job.

I've always said that I think if a player is suspended, then his team should have to suffer not only by losing the player, but a roster spot for the duration of the suspension. Keith gets five games? Okay, you put one less player on the ice until the suspension is over.

[wrangler 157]

On HNIC last night, Maclean was saying he would have liked to see 15+ games...

Now...a star player on a team going into the playoffs...you KNOW the League wouldn't do 15 games...BUT...if that hit happens in Oct or Nov...do you think he gets more???

I don't think Keith would have got more at that time, considering his record, and the context of other suspensions given out.

[Chadd 916]

I don't think Keith would have got more at that time, considering his record, and the context of other suspensions given out.

Absolutely agree on all of that. When you consider that guys like Andy Sutton who have been suspended more than half a dozen times don't seem to get much more than five games, you have to wonder how much of a factor that previous suspensions really play.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

I cringe when I see posts saying 5 games and $150k is a drop in the bucket. I'm a Nucks fan.

Keith's suspension was about right, +/- 1 game either way...

Again I will reiterate what I said prior. No amount of games will appease Canucks fan... trying to connect a length of a punishment to justfying the length of a suspension doesn't bring closure etc.

Both teams lose, both players lose. All fans lose.

Yes Keith makes a lot of cake. but $150k is a lot of Cake. Would he be happy getting given a cheque for $150k? Yes... he would imho, thus he would likley be choked he's giving away $150k for a dumb move on the ice.

Hawks lose an anchor player that could cost them home ice in the first round, Keith loses form and timing (likely for only a short time though) prior to playoffs.

Nucks lose a top producer and will struggle to score moreso than already prior to, and potentially in, the playoffs.

both sets of fans lose seeing a premier player for 5+ games for their respective teams after splashing decent cash for tickets.

The Sedins having a reputation of whining and diving is shocking to me. They're quality guys and quality players. I didn't see Daniel hit the ice after being rabbit punched in the face by Marchand last season in the playoffs. They're not goons or power forwards, they're skill guys. Do you see Stamkos fighting? Malkin? no. If it was David Booth or Dan Hamhuis getting elbowed would public reaction be the same?

[chippa13 1844]

I'd say the whole Canucks reputation was pretty much beat to death in last year's Stanley Cup final thread. I don't see the need to rehash it here.

[Chadd 916]

I'd say the whole Canucks reputation was pretty much beat to death in last year's Stanley Cup final thread. I don't see the need to rehash it here.

Agreed

Several posts have been deleted because they continued to take this off of the subject of suspensions and focus on the perception of the Canucks around the league.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Did you have to delete the entire post?! FFS Man... One or two sentences tops included anything based on Nucks perception. Poor moderation imho.

There was a good thought in there that might have sparked (hopefully would have) decent banter re: because the incident was sparked off by a skill guy hitting a skill guy and not a rat/goon/knuckle dragger/or "good canadian kid" hitting a skill player or any other type of player. Regardless of WHAT sweater the hammer or the nail are wearing.

Do you think who the hammer and nail are, and what KIND of player they are impacts this situation specifically and others around the league?

Would keith have reacted in a similar fashion if he was hit by a power forward? would he have allowed himself to be in that position if a power forward, Keith would expect to finish his check on, would be out there? Was his retaliation (allegedly) on Sedin because of embarassment?

[hockeymass 11]

Did you have to delete the entire post?! FFS Man... One or two sentences tops included anything based on Nucks perception. Poor moderation imho.

There was a good thought in there that might have sparked (hopefully would have) decent banter re: because the incident was sparked off by a skill guy hitting a skill guy and not a rat/goon/knuckle dragger/or "good canadian kid" hitting a skill player or any other type of player. Regardless of WHAT sweater the hammer or the nail are wearing.

Do you think who the hammer and nail are, and what KIND of player they are impacts this situation specifically and others around the league?

Would keith have reacted in a similar fashion if he was hit by a power forward? would he have allowed himself to be in that position if a power forward, Keith would expect to finish his check on, would be out there? Was his retaliation (allegedly) on Sedin because of embarassment?

He moved them to the Why do people hate the Canucks thread.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Saw that, could the post not have been split or cut/paste? or is it just a dumb question and/or are people sick of discussing it?

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Then you guys would accuse us of editing your post.

Catch-22 on our part.

Chadd is trying to get back on topic here; there already is a discussion on the Canucks in this forum.

Saw that, could the post not have been split or cut/paste? or is it just a dumb question and/or are people sick of discussing it?

[Chadd 916]

It will be interesting to see if Bylsma gets suspended for throwing out his fourth line to end the game. Asham should be gone as well. Nice to see NBC calling out the Pens on their antics all game long, as well as the fact that the officials were not calling Crosby for any of the stuff he was doing.

[EBondo 233]

It will be interesting to see if Bylsma gets suspended for throwing out his fourth line to end the game. Asham should be gone as well. Nice to see NBC calling out the Pens on their antics all game long, as well as the fact that the officials were not calling Crosby for any of the stuff he was doing.

THANK YOU. I have never seen Laviolette that mad before...I thought he was going to jump over onto their bench for a second. That was crazy. Ironic that all this happened after showing a Matt Cooke segment in the second intermission

[Trooper 8]

Suspended for putting the fourth line out? Seriously? The NHL would then officially be the biggest joke in pro sports. We're going to legislate intent now? Neither DeBoar nor Tortorella was suspended for the joke they pulled off and the NHL is going to suspend someone for putting a fourth line out at the end of the game?

[Chadd 916]

Suspended for putting the fourth line out? Seriously? The NHL would then officially be the biggest joke in pro sports. We're going to legislate intent now? Neither DeBoar nor Tortorella was suspended for the joke they pulled off and the NHL is going to suspend someone for putting a fourth line out at the end of the game?

I was under the impression the coach could be suspended, not just fined $10k, for actions in the last five minutes of a game. With a three goal differential and 90 seconds to go, those players were sent out to send a message, something the NHL has publicly said they do not want. Of course, that would require the officials to actually call an instigator penalty on someone and the league to not overturn it as they have in almost every situation that it has happened.

[EBondo 233]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/boxscore?gid=2012040116

No instigators were given. Worst call were 10 minute misconducts given to Rinaldo and Asham.

[Trooper 8]

I was under the impression the coach could be suspended, not just fined $10k, for actions in the last five minutes of a game. With a three goal differential and 90 seconds to go, those players were sent out to send a message, something the NHL has publicly said they do not want. Of course, that would require the officials to actually call an instigator penalty on someone and the league to not overturn it as they have in almost every situation that it has happened.

I see the point and for some reason remember a similar discussion, maybe earlier this year, maybe last. But they set a precedent by not taking action for the NJ/NYR Gong Show. If the hit on Brierre was dirty, the argument might be more in favor of some action, but it wasn't so it's hard to make the case that he sent them out there for a specific purpose. All he has to say is, "One of the Flyers just cross checked our best player who just came back from a neck injury from behind, I didn't want any of my top lines out there."

Laviolette made a bigger deal out of this than it should have been.

[Chadd 916]

I see the point and for some reason remember a similar discussion, maybe earlier this year, maybe last. But they set a precedent by not taking action for the NJ/NYR Gong Show. If the hit on Brierre was dirty, the argument might be more in favor of some action, but it wasn't so it's hard to make the case that he sent them out there for a specific purpose. All he has to say is, "One of the Flyers just cross checked our best player who just came back from a neck injury from behind, I didn't want any of my top lines out there."

Laviolette made a bigger deal out of this than it should have been.

The hit was clean, not arguing that. But to send out a line that obviously had some instruction to send a message, that was the issue. Especially with Engelland going after Simmonds who just got 8 stitches last night and Asham with his antics. I think both Laviolette and Granato will be fined for their yelling match and you will probably see a fine to Asham, though I would prefer a suspension for going to the other bench during a stoppage and taking a couple swings at someone. As for Crosby, he got pushed and he flopped. Considering how many slashes he got away with, I'm not surprised that someone wanted to rough him up a little. To be honest, I think the Flyers showed a lot of discipline not retaliating to his cheap play.

[Steve_v3 289]

To be honest, I think the Flyers showed a lot of discipline not retaliating to his cheap play.

They did a good job of that. They could have very easily turned it into a brawl & then you would be looking at player suspentions.

[Trooper 8]

The hit was clean, not arguing that. But to send out a line that obviously had some instruction to send a message, that was the issue. Especially with Engelland going after Simmonds who just got 8 stitches last night and Asham with his antics. I think both Laviolette and Granato will be fined for their yelling match and you will probably see a fine to Asham, though I would prefer a suspension for going to the other bench during a stoppage and taking a couple swings at someone. As for Crosby, he got pushed and he flopped. Considering how many slashes he got away with, I'm not surprised that someone wanted to rough him up a little. To be honest, I think the Flyers showed a lot of discipline not retaliating to his cheap play.

We can have different opinions on what should be done, but he didn't flop, the cross check was cheap. There was a lot that wasn't called, always is, both ways.

[CaptainFantastik 0]

Anybody who calls that a flop has objectivity issues where the Pens/Crosby are concerned.....especially when it comes after the whistle. And yeah Philly just plays pure as the driven snow.

[Chadd 916]

And yeah Philly just plays pure as the driven snow.

I don't recall seeing anyone say that in this topic.

[BucksAway 16]

Crosby should be suspended/fined for chirping at the other coach, don't care what level of sport you play at you should never be having a go at the opposing teams coach!

There was obviouslly intent to have his 4th line out during that time in the game but flyers could have done something about it

A - Don't retalitate to a clean hit to begin with which of stopped the whole thing

B - If you dont want your top players been injured and you know that the opposing team is out to send a message do the same thing and send out your 4th line although it doesnt prevent a brawl.

[bigdmac 12]

Hit was clean; don't see anything wrong with what happened at all. It's hockey, it's the end of the year, and these two teams will likely see each other in the playoffs, so I don't see a problem with what happened at all. If Pittsburgh put out their fourth line to deliberately hurt Philly's players then I'd have a problem. As far as I'm concerned, no suspensions for anyone, maybe a fine for Asham for going after the bench, other than that this should make for an exciting playoff series!