2011-2012 Suspension thread

[chippa13 1844]

A suspension is a suspension. Asham's will carry over if the Pens get eliminated. The thing that sucks then is that the preseason games usually count.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Without totally rehashing the incident...what was the wording for the Bertuzzi suspension. "Remaining Regular season and Playoffs"??? without an actual game amount...which is why when thr playoffs ended quickly for Vancouver...so did the sustpension.

[EBondo 233]

I didn't see a lot of the Pennsylvania battles, but I got the impression that the officials missed the opportunity to control the game early, and that lost them any chance to get it under control later. Hasn't that been the case in more than one series this year?

Your impression is correct. This all could have been avoided pretty easily. For starters, Crosby should have never had the chance to fling Voracek's glove or get into it with Timonen because he should have been called for the three slashes to Bryzgalov's glove when he clearly had the puck covered. He didn't get a penalty for that, though, which allowed him to fling Voracek's gloves (another penalty), and you all know the rest of that story. Crosby without a doubt started all of it.

[chippa13 1844]

Bertuzzi received an open-ended suspension.

"No final determination on the total duration of Mr. Bertuzzi's suspension has yet been made. Mr. Bertuzzi will be required to meet with Commissioner Bettman prior to the start of training camp for the 2004-05 season, at which point Mr. Bertuzzi's eligibility will be reviewed in light of all the available facts at that time, including Mr. Moore's physical status and the progression of his recovery."

[Chadd 916]

This is a pretty harsh article on how the head shot rule/suspensions have been handled.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/a-lack-of-courage-from-all-corners-of-the-nhl-leaves-playoffs-in-tatters/article2406206/page1/

[hunt3rsean 44]

My problem with suspensions this year has been the inconsistency. Shanahan totally missed the ball right away with the Weber incident and now he's having to back pedal. But all year long there has been horrible consistency and you can tell there is no true guideline for handing out suspensions. The only thing that we've seen, due to the suspensions videos, is that he bases (supposedly) the length on intent, prior history, and resulting injury to the other player.

Whether a player is hurt or not should not dictate the length of a suspension. It's either a suspendable hit or it isn't. If you want to factor injury into the equation then fine....start at a minimum of 3-games for a head hit and IF the player is injured then increase number of games from there. There is no minimum or base line for different type suspendable infractions.

Even as a Blackhawks fan I feel the Shaw suspension is correct. The NHL wants to send the message that goalies are off limits and a head hit was involved. The problem is that Lucic wasn't suspended for his hit/collision with Miller. Both could have been avoided. Additionally, Shaw's suspension is NOT in alignment with previous disciplin given to Weber and now Neal.

We will now wait and see if the Shanny gets it right with Torres. That hit was disgusting (fan of Hossa/Blackhawks or not) and Torres has gone too long without real disciplin being handed to him. The players will not learn until the league starts handing down more lengthy suspensions and heftier fines.

[Axxion89 32]

What irks me the most with these suspensions is that they suspend you based on the resulting injury/lack thereof. If you want to actually send a message and remove this from the game, then you need to impose the suspension as if the injury occurred (concussion). If you just suspend them based on injury, all you are doing is sending a message that says "So I can go for his head so long as he gets up I'm good". If you suspend regardless of injury then you send the message of "If I hit his head, I'm done for a few games".

[Chadd 916]

Even as a Blackhawks fan I feel the Shaw suspension is correct. The NHL wants to send the message that goalies are off limits and a head hit was involved. The problem is that Lucic wasn't suspended for his hit/collision with Miller. Both could have been avoided. Additionally, Shaw's suspension is NOT in alignment with previous disciplin given to Weber and now Neal.

Those are the big issues I have. Lucic absolutely intended to hit Miller and made no attempt to play the puck. While Shaw at least appeared to make an effort to play the puck while it was still on Smith's stick.

What irks me the most with these suspensions is that they suspend you based on the resulting injury/lack thereof. If you want to actually send a message and remove this from the game, then you need to impose the suspension as if the injury occurred (concussion). If you just suspend them based on injury, all you are doing is sending a message that says "So I can go for his head so long as he gets up I'm good". If you suspend regardless of injury then you send the message of "If I hit his head, I'm done for a few games".

In the cases of Miller and Smith, neither was removed from the game, so that doesn't even apply.

[hamstercaster 2]

The problem is that it's too easy for Shanahan to give 10 games to Torres then turn around and give only one game to say, Briere, Neal or Crosby for the exact same type of hit (please note that I'm not insinuating that these players have thrown that kind of hit, just insinuating that the punishment would be different for the stars than what it would be for Torres). Players need to be accountable for their actions no matter what the name on the back of the shirt is if the league is to be taken seriously by the media, fans and the players themselves. But that's not about to happen anytime soon.

I predict a lengthy suspension for Torres who the league will say or at least think, are making a statement that head hunting is no longer permitted. Then, watch them hand over a laughable suspension to an elite player throwing the same type of hit.

[Chadd 916]

The problem is that it's too easy for Shanahan to give 10 games to Torres then turn around and give only one game to say, Briere, Neal or Crosby for the exact same type of hit (please note that I'm not insinuating that these players have thrown that kind of hit, just insinuating that the punishment would be different for the stars than what it would be for Torres). Players need to be accountable for their actions no matter what the name on the back of the shirt is if the league is to be taken seriously by the media, fans and the players themselves. But that's not about to happen anytime soon.

I predict a lengthy suspension for Torres who the league will say or at least think, are making a statement that head hunting is no longer permitted. Then, watch them hand over a laughable suspension to an elite player throwing the same type of hit.

Unless it's Ovechkin, they have no problem giving him suspensions as if he was a fourth line player.

[hunt3rsean 44]

The problem is that it's too easy for Shanahan to give 10 games to Torres then turn around and give only one game to say, Briere, Neal or Crosby for the exact same type of hit (please note that I'm not insinuating that these players have thrown that kind of hit, just insinuating that the punishment would be different for the stars than what it would be for Torres). Players need to be accountable for their actions no matter what the name on the back of the shirt is if the league is to be taken seriously by the media, fans and the players themselves. But that's not about to happen anytime soon.

This is true as has been shown with previous suspensions. The unfortunate part is that the owners still have a hand in how supplimental disciplin is handed out via their wallets. Or at least that's how I see it so far.

[EBondo 233]

"Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing on Friday." John Buccigross just sent this out.

[chippa13 1844]

^{http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=393534}

Confirmed.

And here is part of the problem.

The hearing, which had been planned for Wednesday, was deferred at the request of Torres and the NHL Players' Association.

The NHLPA says protect our players but then defends same said players from discipline when the league tries to do something to protect their players.

[psh 25]

My cynical side says the NHLPA requested the deferral of the hearing for more ammunition, consisting of inconsistent rulings, to use against the league. At least Torres will be off of the ice for a while.

A few have already said this, but Torres is an able player. He had 15 goals, primarily as a 3rd and 4th liner, this year and has appeared to fit right in as a top line player in this playoff series. I am not convinced he goes out trying to injure opponents, but he seems to have learned to hit with an upward drive, rather than the safer horizontal drive through a player. So, even if his initial point of contact is the shoulder or chest, he rises up and all too frequently ends up displacing his opponent's head. I've only seen one angle of the hit from last night, but that seems to be what happened there, even--he hits Hossa's chest but then drives up in to his head. It's horrible for Hossa and too bad for the Coyotes because it casts a shadow over a group of guys who really seem to have come together in the midst of a load of adversity.

[Gr8erade 1]

^{http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=393534}

Confirmed.

And here is part of the problem.

The hearing, which had been planned for Wednesday, was deferred at the request of Torres and the NHL Players' Association.

The NHLPA says protect our players but then defends same said players from discipline when the league tries to do something to protect their players.

Part of the problem is that neither referee called a penalty on the play. And don't read this as if I'm defending Torres at all. I'm not. Unlike psh, I think that he's a player who truly hits to injure other players and needs a serious suspension before he kills somebody. He could easily hit hard but clean, but all of his hits seem to involve launching himself upwards. Well, the only thing upwards is the other player's head. But that being said, if I were Torres, and I'm getting called indefinitely suspended for a play that no penalty was called upon, I'd be asking the Player's Association to take a look at it too.

Torres is a POS. But the referees ought to face something for the way they're handling these games.

[Chadd 916]

Stephen Walkom was one of the refs in that game, former head of officials for the NHL.

[hockeymass 11]

Looking for outside POV but Backstrom suspended 1 game is pissing me off especially considering he has no history and missed 40+ games as people targeted his head.

- Weber does worse ... 2.5k

- Neal repeat offender targets two guys heads in 1 shift and gets same suspension Backstrom does 1 game.

- Btiz, Hagelin, and Shaw, all with no priors, get at least 2 games for a blatant head shot.

Where is the consistency? Wasn't that what Shanny was suppose to provide? It's just ridiculous. Like they must use a magic 8 ball that gives the Penguins a discount.

Like EBondo said, it was an automatic suspension. The only way he could have avoided it was if the league decided to rescind the match penalty, which they were under no obligation to do. Those are the rules.

[Gr8erade 1]

Stephen Walkom was one of the refs in that game, former head of officials for the NHL.

And Gary Bettman was in the building. Another black eye for the league and its officiating.

[wrangler 157]

^{http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=393534}

Confirmed.

And here is part of the problem.

The hearing, which had been planned for Wednesday, was deferred at the request of Torres and the NHL Players' Association.

The NHLPA says protect our players but then defends same said players from discipline when the league tries to do something to protect their players.

Everyone is entitled to a hearing and his "day in court"; we can't start trying to decide who does and doesn't get a hearing.

My cynical side says the NHLPA requested the deferral of the hearing for more ammunition, consisting of inconsistent rulings, to use against the league. At least Torres will be off of the ice for a while.

A few have already said this, but Torres is an able player. He had 15 goals, primarily as a 3rd and 4th liner, this year and has appeared to fit right in as a top line player in this playoff series. I am not convinced he goes out trying to injure opponents, but he seems to have learned to hit with an upward drive, rather than the safer horizontal drive through a player. So, even if his initial point of contact is the shoulder or chest, he rises up and all too frequently ends up displacing his opponent's head. I've only seen one angle of the hit from last night, but that seems to be what happened there, even--he hits Hossa's chest but then drives up in to his head. It's horrible for Hossa and too bad for the Coyotes because it casts a shadow over a group of guys who really seem to have come together in the midst of a load of adversity.

I think the hearing delay is no big deal to Torres, as he already knows he'll sit for a while. He might as well not rush to put together whatever defense he can muster.

As to Torres having learned a poor checking style, he's had plenty of time and reason to fix it by now. Even granting, arguendo, it wasn't originally intentional, by now we have to accept that it is.

[psh 25]

Everyone is entitled to a hearing and his "day in court"; we can't start trying to decide who does and doesn't get a hearing.

I think the hearing delay is no big deal to Torres, as he already knows he'll sit for a while. He might as well not rush to put together whatever defense he can muster.

As to Torres having learned a poor checking style, he's had plenty of time and reason to fix it by now. Even granting, arguendo, it wasn't originally intentional, by now we have to accept that it is.

Agreed. I'm not defending him or saying that he shouldn't serve a long suspension. Rather, I'm just trying to understand what is wrong with the way he hits.

[camhockey16 5]

how great would it be if bettman was going to be on the 2nd period intermission and torres threw the hit in the first period? Then the announcers could put him on the spot and ask what he thought of the torres hit.

but that wouldn't happen - the announcers would probably just lob him softball questions for fear of keeping their jobs..

[wrangler 157]

Agreed. I'm not defending him or saying that he shouldn't serve a long suspension. Rather, I'm just trying to understand what is wrong with the way he hits.

Fair enough.

This is a pretty harsh article on how the head shot rule/suspensions have been handled.

http://www.theglobea...e2406206/page1/

Harsh, but excellent, and it needs to be said.

[chippa13 1844]

I don't think he shouldn't get his hearing, I just think it is a joke that the NHLPA asked for a deferral in order to do what they can to minimize the suspension.

how great would it be if bettman was going to be on the 2nd period intermission and torres threw the hit in the first period? Then the announcers could put him on the spot and ask what he thought of the torres hit.

but that wouldn't happen - the announcers would probably just lob him softball questions for fear of keeping their jobs..

I think Bettman being in the building has a lot to do with the immediate "indefinite suspension". My personal belief is that he is pissed that it happened during a game he was at and he will be pushing Shanahan to turn Torres into his next "example" case.

[wrangler 157]

I don't see anything wrong with the NHLPA getting a couple days delay, especially when there's travel involved. Hopefully they needed a bit of extra time to get the NHL legbreakers into town.

[chippa13 1844]

I don't think so. The NHLPA is protecting one of their own in an ironic twist when the NHL ruling and suspension will be in the spirit of protecting all of them.