1464

April 15th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^

Dude!  Did you even see him smear Zetterberg's face into the glass?  He should have been gone like 6 games...

 

... oh wait.

Genzilla

April 16th, 2012 at 1:07 AM ^

Can't argue against this suspension, but you can argue against the inconsistency with the NHL's rulings.  Hagelin bringing in a high-elbow to a players face and smashing the back of his head into the boards causing the player to leave the game and not return warrants a suspension.  



Similarly, Weber punching Zetterberg in the back of the head and pushing his face into the glass has to be considered as bad or worse (Zetterberg was more defenseless, the hit was less of a "hockey play").  



Hagelin should've gotten a 1 game and Weber a 2+ game suspension.

rosedani

April 16th, 2012 at 2:00 AM ^

It is all relative guys. The NHL is trying to focus on the high elbows and boarding calls along the glass where concussions happen very frequently. Weber's play was dirty and as a Red WIngs fan I was stunned when he didnt get suspended. Right or Wrong the NHL is not looking to get rid of that type of play. Look at Carkner cheap shotting Boyle, he only got one game and essentially did what Weber did but 7 times over. 



Players rarely get severe concussions from fights and punches thrown after the whistle but hard high checks are the most dangerous and most unnecessary play in hockey. Keep your hands down! 

 

Hagelin and Weber should not be compared because they are totally different situations.

Monocle Smile

April 16th, 2012 at 2:10 AM ^

Unsportsmanlike conduct should be punished just as hard as plays that cause injury. Purely results-based officiating is insane. Excusing it with the "NHL isn't looking to do away with that kind of play" just makes it more unacceptable. I mean, Taylor Lewan wasn't really hurt by Gholston's punch to the throat. No big deal, right?

Again, would you boot Olli Jokinen for the skate to the throat?

Lionsfan

April 15th, 2012 at 11:55 PM ^

The NHL disciplinary system is a farce. Hagelin probably deserved a one game suspension, but compared to all the other crap that's been going on (Weber, Neil for example) him getting 3 games is just the league picking on a non-star player to "go tough on"

exmtroj

April 16th, 2012 at 12:04 AM ^

The playoffs are getting absolutely out of control, especially with the Flyer/Pens today, thanks to the tone that Bettman and Shanny set in the Weber incident. It's like they're throwing darts at a board to determine punishment. No wonder the NHL is so far behind the other three sports leagues

Clarence Beeks

April 16th, 2012 at 1:20 AM ^

Are you sure about that?  I'm pretty sure that, as of the start of play today, the only supplemental discipline that had been speculated about that had been handed out was on Bitz (and the only one that should have been awarded supplemental discipline, but wasn't, was on Weber).

Hill.FootballR…

April 16th, 2012 at 12:16 AM ^

The NHL is becoming the NBA: Bettman wants to make it all about stars and has proven that he with attempt to alter the outcome of playoff series to advance the teams and players of his liking. The recent inconsistencies in suspensions are nothing but another way in which he can help the teams of his liking so get used to it.

 

As far as each individual suspension goes, I have played hockey for a very long time so I will give my personal opinion on the suspensions or lack of suspensions. I will first mention that I will never believe that a player getting injured or not should have much bearing on the punishment the player deserves. If a players gets hurt on a penalty deserving but not dirty play I believe it should get a 1 game suspension. If you want to punish players every time someone gets hurt, it would be easy. 

The worst offense was definitely Carkner: Premeditated, was dressed specifically to do this, cheap shot, kept punching him until he was tackled and was attempting to injure the other player   **My Punishment: Series Suspension (no matter how long it goes)

2nd worse: Aaron Ashman: Stick used, player without the puck, defense of a teammate. But its the hit to the back of the head once the Flyer player is down that makes this awful. **My Punishment: 4 game suspension 

3rd worse: Weber: Threw a punch to the head, grabbed the head an shoved face into glass, intent to injure. **My Punishment: 4 game suspension

4th worse: James Neal hit on Couturier: Left his feet, player without the puck, contact to the headplayer turned away and unsuspecting, cheap shot. **My Punishment: 3 game suspension

5th worse: Byron Bitz: first play where the player being hit had the puck or was still legal to hit. Hit to the head, hit from behind, caused injury (see my disclaimer above).**My Punishment: 2 game suspension

6th worse: Hagelin- Elbow to the head, caused injury (to NHL star, what a joke) **My Punishment: 1 game suspension

 

The NHL is a joke. Hagelin a nobody gets 3 games because he hurt a star player on a bang bang play that happens 10 times a game*. Then, Weber shoves a players face into the glass but because he is a star, and in my opinion playing the Red Wings who Bettman hates, he gets a $2500 fine. The NHL then tries to show that hits to the head are worse than punching defenseless players in the face by giving Carkner a laughable 1 game suspension. 

 

* Watch a full game and count how many elbows or fists end up in the face of the player getting hit. 

Clarence Beeks

April 16th, 2012 at 12:21 AM ^

"4th worse: James Neal hit on Couturier: Left his feet, player without the puck, contact to the headplayer turned away and unsuspecting, cheap shot. **My Punishment: 3 game suspension"

Did you miss the hit by Schenn (i.e. the one that Asham was responding to)?  I realize that they haven't showed that part of the replay in any of the replays of the Asham incident, so itt's reasonable if you did miss it, but Schenn did all of those things that you listed for Neal's hit on Couturier.  Pretty good list, though, except I'd add the hit on Mike Smith from last night's Blackhawks game.

JustGoBlue

April 16th, 2012 at 12:33 AM ^

with the order of the severity of the incidents (and I did miss the stuff with Schenn before the Ashan hit).  But I think your punishments are on the severe side.  Nothing wrong with that, as long as they're clear and consistent, but I would say those are on the heave-handed side.  Except for Carkner.  In my opinion, he should be out for the play-offs, no matter how far they go and I would seriously consider adding something on to the beginning of the next season, especially if Ottawa loses to the Rangers.  There is absolutely no place for that and I was incensed when I saw the replay.  Also, I have no real interest in either Ottawa or the NYR, except for my desire to see Carl succeed.

I would be very interested to hear Red's opinion (his honest one, not a PC, "I'm not the disciplinarian, he has a hard job blah blah blah blah blah" bull that they have to say to avoid fines) on the discipline handed out so far.  He knows hockey as well or better than anyone and I think his only strong bias would be toward Carl and because I'm strongly biased towards Carl, I'm OK with that.

Number 7

April 16th, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^

Sad to see Shanahan F it up so badly. He got to off to a great start with some heavy punishments for cheap shots and dangerous play back in October, including some preseason dust-ups. Then apparently the GMs weighed in, expressing a preference for beer league antics over star protection. So now the compromise seems to be if you are an award candidate -- especially a Canadian one -- you can do whatever the heck you want. If you are a rookie -- especially a European one -- the league has it in for you.

Fhshockey112002

April 16th, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^

I understand people don't agree with Gary Bettman on a lot of things, but I hardly see how this is on him.  There is a panel of ex-NHL players, GM's and well thought of people who determine these things.  Brendan Shannahan and this panel review all aspects of the infractions prior to the ruling.  

So why is it wrong that Bettman has used this panel to handle suspensions.  IMO it is 10000 times better than the NFL where the Roger Goodell is judge and jury.  He hands down the suspension/fine and then also is the person you appeal to.  The NHL has done this right, the infractions panel hands down a penalty, and if you want to appeal THEN AND ONLY THEN does Bettman become involved.  

I agree Bettman hasn't always done right when it comes to Detroit, or the game in general, but it is hard to argue there is a commissioner who has done more for their sport than him.  After a lockout season the NHL has never been more profitable, there are MULTIPLE regional TV deals that weren't in place when he took over.  The playoffs are on a MAJOR network, and every game is televised. 

Lionsfan

April 16th, 2012 at 10:07 AM ^

The league may be more profitable now, but it doesn't change that Bettman had a huge hand in destroying the game to start with. It's still the only time a major sport's league has ever cancellled a full season due to labor disputes, and another significant lockout is likely to happen again next season as well. That's a lot for people to ignore

Fhshockey112002

April 16th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^

The first lockout was solely on the players if you ask me. How can the players expect the owners to have kept paying the crazy salaries they were paying, without a cap? There were multiple failing franchisee, and others on the verge of closing shop.



Now I also highly doubt there is any work stoppage this time around due to labor dispute. Both sides don't want to give back all the good the past 3-4 seasons have brought to the league.