Neal and Thornton incidents

[Kin]

Yeah, well I guess we look at it differently. If I was a Leaf fan and some unnamed player on the other team broke Kessel's arm with a two handed slash and the Leafs bench just looked on without any type of payback I wouldn't be very happy. Just giving that player a penalty/fine/suspension just doesn't cut it when my teams best player is gone for 4 weeks when they trying to get a playoff spot. 

Again, though, the idea that carrying around a player for the purpose of punching someone who slashes a star player leads to a decrease of slashes to star players doesn't have much basis in fact. If it did, teams wouldn't bench their enforcers in the playoffs when star players are needed most.

And, again, a ban on fighting in the NHL wouldn't lead to no fighting in the NHL, it would just lead to fighting in the NHL the way there is fighting in the NBA, MLB or the NFL, infrequently and suspendable.

I was also a huge fan of '70's hockey. Those Rangers, Bruins, Flyers, Islanders games were great. The post 2005 calling a penalty every 2 minutes not so much.

That's fine. That's, quite frankly, the best argument for fighting. Not for it and any utilitarian value that it really doesn't have but admitting that some people like watching fighting and they like the narrative fighting creates.

It's not, in and of itself, a reason to keep fighting but at least it can be debated on its own merits.

 

[ZBBM]

When the hell Is his hearing next season?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

When the hell Is his hearing next season?

Friday.

 

[ZBBM]

Cheers.

 

[Leafaholic99]

Still no decision? After 4pm there now.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Still no decision? After 4pm there now.

Decision won't come until tomorrow.

 

[ZBBM]

Still no decision? After 4pm there now.

Decision won't come until tomorrow.

What the hell.  You'd think they were trying to pick the next pope or something.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Still no decision? After 4pm there now.

Decision won't come until tomorrow.

What the hell.  You'd think they were trying to pick the next pope or something.

It's probably best they take their time on decisions like this.

 

[bustaheims]

DarrenDreger: Thornton gets 15 games. #TSN

Less than he deserved, more than I expected.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Less than he deserved, more than I expected.

Yeah that sums it up pretty good I think.

 

[ZBBM]

Less than he deserved, more than I expected.

Yeah that sums it up pretty good I think.

I suppose, but the basic problem is that there is no consistency in the punishments being handed out.  They should have a standard roster of suspensions and take all the judgment mumbo-jumbo about intent, past history, etc. out of it.

 

[Bullfrog]

What you're suggesting would be extremely difficult. Do they now set a "slew-foot followed by sucker punches to the face" value at 15?

 

[bustaheims]

I suppose, but the basic problem is that there is no consistency in the punishments being handed out.  They should have a standard roster of suspensions and take all the judgment mumbo-jumbo about intent, past history, etc. out of it.

I agree and disagree. I think there should be a minimum standard level for similar infractions, but, things like intent and history, etc, should absolutely factor in as well - though, perhaps, there should also be standards for how they influence. Guys who have a history of delivering illegal hits should be punished more harshly. Guys who appear to be actively trying to hurt someone should also be punished more severely - much more severely, in fact. Every situation is different and needs to judged on its own merits. Minimum standards are good, but absolute standards? Absolutely not.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I agree and disagree. I think there should be a minimum standard level for similar infractions, but, things like intent and history, etc, should absolutely factor in as well - though, perhaps, there should also be standards for how they influence. Guys who have a history of delivering illegal hits should be punished more harshly. Guys who appear to be actively trying to hurt someone should also be punished more severely - much more severely, in fact. Every situation is different and needs to judged on its own merits. Minimum standards are good, but absolute standards? Absolutely not.

The league needs to knock it off with these two game suspensions though. They're meaningless.

 

[bustaheims]

The league needs to knock it off with these two game suspensions though. They're meaningless.

I don't know about that. I think they're fine for guys that have never been suspended for illegal hits in the past, as long as they'll receive more significant suspensions if they're in a position for supplemental discipline in the future. That being said, if these guys aren't getting 5+ next time, then, yeah, they're worthless. Honestly, though, I think the bigger issue is that it's only the previous 18 months that count towards someone being a repeat offender. It should take much longer for something to come off a player's record.

 

[Deebo]

Sounds like Thronton will be appealing his 15 game suspension.

 

[Spider]

He should get 15 more, for doing so 

 

[OldTimeHockey]

It's within his rights.

 

[Kin]

Bettman upheld Shanahan's decision, leaving Thornton the option to appeal the suspension to an independent arbitrator.