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DiBo "All part of the game" & Verdict In

March 3, 2011, 10:40 PM ET [ Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Fri 3:08 pm: The verdict has been issued by the NHL and NY Islander Trevor Gillies has been issued a ten game suspension. The next game he will be allowed to play for the Islanders is on 3/26/11 against -- The Flyers.

In a strang twist of fate, today the NY Islanders posed for their yearly team photo. Trevor was in Toronto. There were four goalies in this year's photo, but the mustachioed one was not.

The League has spoken -- and I'm sure so will everyone else.


Thurs: 11 pm
It’s all part of the game.

That is what Justin DiBenedetto told me after last night’s game when I asked him why Cal Clutterbuck seemed to hate him so much.

He smiled at me when I asked him if there was some sort of “history” between them. “No. It’s just part of the game.” I asked if he had played against him at one point. “I played with him actually, My rookie year in the Ontario Hockey League, I was a teammate of his.”

That was in 2004 with the St. Michaels Majors of the OHL. That year DiBo had 37 PIMs to Clutterbuck’s 55. And while both of them are about the same height, the slightly older Clutterbuck has 25 lbs on DiBenedetto.

I was surprised at his answer and questioned, “So what was he doing, just saying hi?”

“This is the game of hockey.” He smiled over at team mate Matt Martin who knew exactly what he was saying.

Exactly.

Hockey is a physical game and big, hard hits are all part of it. That doesn’t mean that players should hit the ice with wild abandon, but it does leave a gray area when it comes to decided what is a clean or dirty hit. It almost doesn’t matter how many different camera angles you look at a play from. Not everyone will agree with the call.

There were two big hits last night at the Islander vs. Wild game that made news. The first was Cal Clutterbuck’s hit on DiBenedetto. Depending on your opinion, or what jersey you wear, it was a clean hit and DiBo was responsible for keeping his head up or it was a dirty hit on a vulnerable player who no longer had the puck at the boards.

Either way, in just his second NHL game, the youngster was collapsing to the ice. As he was falling, Trevor Gillies skated into Clutterbuck and rattled his cage at the same board.

Again, depending on your opinion, it was a filthy hit to the head by a goon, or it was a late hit to Clutterbuck’s shoulder and since Clutterbuck did not have his back completely turned away, Gillies’ follow through caught him with his left glove. (From what I have seen of the video, I do not see a hit to the head.)

The consensus in the press room was mixed. There were stats guys and reporters who after looking at the tape a few times, felt it should only have been a penalty and not a game misconduct. Then there were those that chose to use the NY Islanders to grand stand about the state of the NHL and all they feel is wrong with it.

Stop it. Just stop.

Trevor Gillies is “a repeat offender.” I get that. Therefore anything he does on the ice will be scrutinized by the league. That is his cross to bear for as long as he is in the league. There are those who want to make sure that won’t be very long.

However, if you look to take Trevor Gillies out of the League, there are plenty others that have to follow him. If not, then it would be hypocritical.

Every team has a player or two just like Gillies. Every team has always had them. The enforcers. That’s “all part of the game.” They are on the bench for two reasons: protect the elite players and entertain the fans.

“There are only two reasons fans will jump out of their seats during a hockey game: When a beautiful goal is scored or when there’s a fight.” That quote came from someone who played hockey “back-in-the-day.” But it still holds true. But the same ex-NHLer told me something that is really at the root of the problem: the lack of respect the players have for each other.

Clutterbuck had no respect for his ex teammate from St. Michaels. Gillies wanted him to know he couldn’t do that and get away with it. It was a hit. A hard, questionable hit. But it was not a mugging or an assault.

At 19:01 of the second period last night, with Trevor Gillies long gone from the bench, Clutterbuck decided to take yet another run at DiBenedetto. This time it was Zenon Konopka who came to his aid. But it ended up being Brad Staubitz that Zenon had to tangle with. The two were given fighting majors and Clutterbuck was given a misconduct for instigating.

It wasn’t long ago that Islander fans complained there was no one on the roster to protect John Tavares the way Clark Gillies would protect Bryan Trottier. Is this a case of “Be careful what you wish for”?

Trevor Gillies knows his role. I agree that there are times he can take it to extreme. I just don’t think last night was one of those times. He will find out his fate some time tomorrow as he has been called on the carpet in Toronto. But the debate will rage on long after. If the decision comes down to a tale of the tape, let it be looked at from all angles, and that means both hits.

The decision, no matter what it is, will not make everyone happy.
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