I miss the days when Ray & Domi would just fight, pat each other on the back & everything was all good again.
- cowmad152

This.

Ray would never have done what Scott did.....Ever.

I see no signs of being a Jerk. It was insensitive. Was it meant to be? No but it was. You're good in my books (not like mine are anything special).
- Simple

I'll take it - a first step in regaining peace in the QEW corridor

I am with everyone in stating that if your blogs are featured on the top of the page, it would be more professional to avoid homerisms and trolling. It would also be more professional to use spell check before you submit and yes, I definitely made up a fake word in homerisms so don't trolls for trolling garf.

Warning, long post.

I'm a Sens fan. I hate Toronto and Buffalo equally (Ok, I hate Toronto more, but still.. not a fan of either team). This is my take on the situation.

The NHL is in between a rock and a hard place here. This what the leagues options yesterday:

Suspend Kessel, Orr or the other goon-that-can't-play-hockey on the Leafs, goes after Vanek.

Don't suspend Kessel, everyone is pissed that he got away with a two-hander (twice).

It's really a tough call.

I know the term gets thrown around a lot, but Scott broke the 'code' big time. Goons-that-can't-play-hockey have no business going after superstars, especially in the preseason for god sakes.

Why do goons-that-can't-play-hockey not go after superstars? Cause if they do, the other team's goon-that-can't-play-hockey will go after theirs. It's pretty simple. No one wants that, especially the league who uses their superstars to sell tickets.

So, let's say that the league suspended Kessel for 2-3 games. The Leafs will be pissed because their superstar is out to start the season.

What's going to happen the next time Toronto plays Buffalo? No one is going to go after Scott. One of Toronto's two goons-that-can't-play-hockey will go after Vanek.Then another massive brawl ensues and more suspensions are handed out.

By NOT suspending Kessel, the league is hoping that cooler heads will prevail. They are trying to diffuse the situation and hope that the Leafs won't go for vigilante justice.

The league is going to do anything to protect it's stars. By not suspending Kessel, they are protecting Vanek.

Why did they fine Rolston? Probably because they were so frustrated that they couldn't suspend Scott for being such a clown. Scott doesn't take a regular shift (in the regular season), so they can justify it by saying that Scott was put out there to purposely start crap. The guy averages just over 5 mins a game, while other 4th liners on Buffalo average over 10. He basically goes out every 2nd time the 4th line gets a shift.

From Carlysle's perspective, he had these options (remember, he had 2 NHL lines and 2 AHL lines, with neither of his goons-that-can't-play-hockey dressed):

Who do you put out when you see Scott is on the ice, and it's obvious he wants to start something?

Some lowly AHLer that Scott won't think twice about beating the poop of of?
A 2-3rd line NHLer that, chances are, Scott will still jump?
Or your superstar, who you figure Scott won't be dumb enough to jump?

NO ONE expected Scott to jump Kessel. It just doesn't happen in this day and age. I can't think of the last time a goon-that-can't-play-hockey jumped a superstar like that. I'm not talking about goons that can play, like Neil or Prust or someone who takes a regular shift. I'm talking about guys who score once in 100 games, here. I'm talking about guys who wouldn't even be average ECHL hockey players, here.

Warning, long post.

I'm a Sens fan. I hate Toronto and Buffalo equally (Ok, I hate Toronto more, but still.. not a fan of either team). This is my take on the situation.

The NHL is in between a rock and a hard place here. This what the leagues options yesterday:

Suspend Kessel, Orr or the other goon-that-can't-play-hockey on the Leafs, goes after Vanek.

Don't suspend Kessel, everyone is pissed that he got away with a two-hander (twice).

It's really a tough call.

I know the term gets thrown around a lot, but Scott broke the 'code' big time. Goons-that-can't-play-hockey have no business going after superstars, especially in the preseason for god sakes.

Why do goons-that-can't-play-hockey not go after superstars? Cause if they do, the other team's goon-that-can't-play-hockey will go after theirs. It's pretty simple. No one wants that, especially the league who uses their superstars to sell tickets.

So, let's say that the league suspended Kessel for 2-3 games. The Leafs will be pissed because their superstar is out to start the season.

What's going to happen the next time Toronto plays Buffalo? No one is going to go after Scott. One of Toronto's two goons-that-can't-play-hockey will go after Vanek.Then another massive brawl ensues and more suspensions are handed out.

By NOT suspending Kessel, the league is hoping that cooler heads will prevail. They are trying to diffuse the situation and hope that the Leafs won't go for vigilante justice.

The league is going to do anything to protect it's stars. By not suspending Kessel, they are protecting Vanek.

Why did they fine Rolston? Probably because they were so frustrated that they couldn't suspend Scott for being such a clown. Scott doesn't take a regular shift (in the regular season), so they can justify it by saying that Scott was put out there to purposely start crap. The guy averages just over 5 mins a game, while other 4th liners on Buffalo average over 10. He basically goes out every 2nd time the 4th line gets a shift.

From Carlysle's perspective, he had these options (remember, he had 2 NHL lines and 2 AHL lines, with neither of his goons-that-can't-play-hockey dressed):

Who do you put out when you see Scott is on the ice, and it's obvious he wants to start something?

Some lowly AHLer that Scott won't think twice about beating the poop of of?
A 2-3rd line NHLer that, chances are, Scott will still jump?
Or your superstar, who you figure Scott won't be dumb enough to jump?

NO ONE expected Scott to jump Kessel. It just doesn't happen in this day and age. I can't think of the last time a goon-that-can't-play-hockey jumped a superstar like that. I'm not talking about goons that can play, like Neil or Prust or someone who takes a regular shift. I'm talking about guys who score once in 100 games, here. I'm talking about guys who wouldn't even be average ECHL hockey players, here.
- Charliebox

Not reading that

Not reading that
- Not_Yan

No kidding.

Excellent post, Charliebox.

Garth, by my count you've squeezed SEVEN (reactive, increasingly insane, but relentlessly entertaining) blogs out of this incident. I hope you at least wrote thank-you notes to everyone involved? Seems like the polite thing to do.
- oniremosewa

To be fair, Garth could probably squeeze three blogs out of a change in the brand of urinal cake by the custodians at the Hot Sauce Blue Cheese.

Excellent post, Charliebox.
- Pecafan Fan

I don't know about the best post ever, I will say it was a very good one.

But since it wasn't answered the first time, I will apparently have to ask again.

How exactly does one win the internet?
- bjm1717

If you don't know, you never will.

What's going to happen the next time Toronto plays Buffalo? No one is going to go after Scott. One of Toronto's two goons-that-can't-play-hockey will go after Vanek.Then another massive brawl ensues and more suspensions are handed out.
- Charliebox

Zadorov signs ELC

This.

Ray would never have done what Scott did.....Ever.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Rob Ray.... great at what he did on the ice, just dont ever let him talk.

Is this supposed to scare Rolston into running over to the corner of his coaches office to start sucking his thumb?

The "wrath" of the Toronto media, i.e. the worst media in the hockey world? The one with the sense of entitlement? Just like every single free agent out there on July 1st has Toronto on their radar because, well, it's Toronto, right?

Get over yourselves.



That suck-hole media who thinks "we're the center of the hockey universe even though our team has more losing than winning seasons since the Sabres came into the league"?

That media?

Who cares?

You think Rolston cares about that?

What's Damien Cox and the "Canadian National Enquirer", the Toronto Star, going to do to Rolston, beat him up?



Fact is the Leafs (1443-1584-311) have been a joke for at least 1/2 of the 40+ years the Sabres have been in the league, and have been nothing more than a mediocre, .500 hockey organization for it's entire existence.

Call us when you've actually done something since 1970.
- Powerslave

Right you comment like this when the sabers have done anything since coming into the league besides letting hull score from the blue paint [img][/img]

Garth:

Having worked in this field for many years now, I can tell you it's "neuropsych". Not that you'll read this anyway.

I don't see trolling in this blog. I see straight up facts and Maple Leaf fans can't handle the truth.

67-108-18
- Carrsrkewl9

PFFFFFT PUH-LEASE!!!

Here's a little FACT for you to chew on... 13-0. Keep talking about your little irrelevant head-to-head series. You do that and I'll keep counting the 13 banners hanging from the ACC rafters.

Teams like the Sabres would have gone tits up years ago if not for all the money that the Leafs have pumped into the league and almost singlehandedly propped up on their own... AND THAT'S A (frank)IN' FACT!!!

Garth:

Having worked in this field for many years now, I can tell you it's "neuropsych". Not that you'll read this anyway.
- The_Inkwell

Don't worry I read it and that's gotta counts.

Don't worry I read it and that's gotta counts.
- Yeti1181

Glad your stepping in while Nf enjoys a Sabres game tonight.

Exactly - oh brother.

When you have a forum like HB to express your opinions, there is a social responsibility to not cross the line. Pretty obvious that because this post was edited and the offensive content removed, someone agreed with me. Would still love to hear an explanation though. It's hockey. There was a fight with stick swinging and a guy came off the bench - so a blogger implies a bullet proof vest is required for a player who participated in said brawl? I get the importance of drawing eye balls to a site like this, but it doesn't absolve people of their social responsibility not to sensationalize the issue for the sake of content.

People who comment on HB are held to a certain standard, pretty sure the blogger's should be leading by example.
- Deeps27

Hahahahaha...I bet u sit in the front row at church too.

PFFFFFT PUH-LEASE!!!

Here's a little FACT for you to chew on... 13-0. Keep talking about your little irrelevant head-to-head series. You do that and I'll keep counting the 13 banners hanging from the ACC rafters.

Teams like the Sabres would have gone tits up years ago if not for all the money that the Leafs have pumped into the league and almost singlehandedly propped up on their own... AND THAT'S A (frank)IN' FACT!!!
- As_I_See_It

Ummmmmm...if that's a fact could you please support it was some facts?

Don't get me wrong, I agree it is laughable. I was just saying 'technically.' We all know why he was out there and stayed. Let's disregard that I even said that. More justification is that we were short McCormick and Foligno already and Scott was already on the ice.
But yes, his main reason for being out there was 99% obvious. Someone getting a beating? I don't know about that. I think he would push whomever was across from him around a bit and only dropped the gloves with a willing partner. I mean Scott is no genius or awesome player but there is no way he starts swinging at Kessel if he doesn't drop gloves. I think he pushes him around and either draws a penalty or invites someone else to fight. If he starts punching an unwilling Kessel, that's big time penalty and believe it or not he is a little smarter than that. Just think about it all though, a young player who has been up and down this organization busting his but to be on the roster just got his butt handed to him. It's hard to take that as a teammate.
- Simple

I don't think Scott deserved any supplemental discipline at all, like I said earlier I think Kessel deserved a regular season game and I agree that Rolston should have been fined. I think Tropp lost a fight in a fashion that would cause any team to want to even the score, Scott stayed out there for that reason which in my mind is not a big deal. I just think it was lame that he went after Phil Kessel, it just isn't generally how these things get handled in the NHL amongst guys that are capable of fighting.

I know one thing though, the next time these two teams play each other will be appointment viewing. These things don't just go away.

I don't know about the best post ever, I will say it was a very good one.

But since it wasn't answered the first time, I will apparently have to ask again.

How exactly does one win the internet?
- bjm1717

You are cementing your victory with each successive post.

Quick question. When the Sabres and Toronto meet again, if a Toronto goon jumps a 'skilled' Sabre's player, is it justified? Are two wrongs a right? From a Toronto fan's eyes, would you be OK if this happened or do you believe it is wrong? Where is the line drawn? I mean, the Sabres technically never did anything. Kessel never was hit (and he still bloodied up Flynn lol).
Simply looking for opposite views, not trying to create a real heated discussion.
- Simple

No, it is not OK for a Toronto goon to jump a Sabres star player.