I mentioned last week that Gudas should be happy if the suspension is under 10 games, and that's what he got.

Good call by the league and better call to take the time to look at the review to get it right. It's a shame that he's a serviceable player who is extremely too reckless at times.

Late to the party, but great blog from Bill.

Enjoy the time with your family!

Anything worth reading on the other 10 pages? I feel like I know exactly what it all says after reading the blog...

Any word on if any fans tried to grill Hextall or Hakstol at the carnival?

Yeah, but intent does matter. The law draws a big difference between losing your cool, punching someone and having that person fall from the blow, strike their head and die as compared to cold blooded, pre meditated murder. That's why you have involuntary manslaughter, voluntary manslaughter and multiple degrees of murder that you can charge someone with. What McSorely did was an intentional attempt to severely injure someone. What Gudas did was lose control of emotions and act like an idiot. I think 10-12 games is about right for this incident.
- BiggE

I agree that intent does matter, and should be, if not the only factor, at least the main factor when determining penalties and suspensions (don't get me started on high sticking and delay of game). I don't believe that Gudas wanted to decapitate Perrault, but I do believe that he momentarily lost his cool and intentionally struck him in the head.

So again, Gudas momentarily lost his cool and swung his stick at the head of a prone player. The NHL DoPS has indicated that this sort of behavior means you have to sit for 12% of the season without pay. And this is for a person who's been suspended before.

Let's say that a player with no prior history does the same thing, and instead of being okay, the player is killed by blunt force to the head or has to prematurely retire. Now, the player is going to be suspended possibly for life and there are probably going to be police charges and multiple suits filed against the player.

Does that seem right to you? They both did the exact same thing, the outcome was just less fortunate in one instance.

Any word on if any fans tried to grill Hextall or Hakstol at the carnival?
- pinkfloydfreak

They tried to, but they all ended up missing Hextall and going between him legs and Hakstol just quizically looked at them and asked them if their questioning could be more consistent.

you sure about that?
- YuenglingJagr

Yes I am. We have kept moving without some our key players they haven't but at 100% their offense is absolutely scary. Zeke that line witten dez beasly etc. I'm not saying they would of beat us I felt comfortable either way but I'm not going to start making stuff up cause I don't like them. Like saying Crosby is terrible at hockey is false.

Yes I am. We have kept moving without some our key players they haven't but at 100% their offense is absolutely scary. Zeke that line witten dez beasly etc. I'm not saying they would of beat us I felt comfortable either way but I'm not going to start making stuff up cause I don't like them. Like saying Crosby is terrible at hockey is false.
- Tfaehner

I know...I was only kidding because Dak hasnt thrown a TD pass in 2 games

THey just aren't that great of a team right now

I agree that intent does matter, and should be, if not the only factor, at least the main factor when determining penalties and suspensions (don't get me started on high sticking and delay of game). I don't believe that Gudas wanted to decapitate Perrault, but I do believe that he momentarily lost his cool and intentionally struck him in the head.

So again, Gudas momentarily lost his cool and swung his stick at the head of a prone player. The NHL DoPS has indicated that this sort of behavior means you have to sit for 12% of the season without pay. And this is for a person who's been suspended before.

Let's say that a player with no prior history does the same thing, and instead of being okay, the player is killed by blunt force to the head or has to prematurely retire. Now, the player is going to be suspended possibly for life and there are probably going to be police charges and multiple suits filed against the player.

Does that seem right to you? They both did the exact same thing, the outcome was just less fortunate in one instance.
- jmatchett383

I hear you. The best remedy is just to make all the suspensions much more severe and stop this stuff once and for all.

You unintentionally hit someone in the head with a stick: 10 games
2nd offense in a 3 year window: 25 games
3rd offense in a 3 year window: 60 games
4th offense in a 3 year window: One full calendar year

You, in the heat of the moment hit someone in the head with a stick: 20 games
2nd offense in a 5 year window: 60 games
3rd offense in a 5 year window: one full calendar year
4th offense at any time: lifetime ban

You intentionally go after someone with your stick and hit them in the head with clear intent to injure: One full calendar year
2nd offense at any time: Lifetime ban

Same for reckless hits, elbows, etc...

This is how you stop this crap.

I know...I was only kidding because Dak hasnt thrown a TD pass in 2 games

THey just aren't that great of a team right now
- YuenglingJagr

Yup. No depth poor coaching and defense can't help them when their offense is hurting. I'd rather they squeak into the playoffs though so garret can keep his job.

I liked Dak in college. I think he's a just under elite qb. That 2nd tier. Wentz I think has the makings of an elite qb. And I'll say I was lukewarm at best on the pick at the time

I hear you. The best remedy is just to make all the suspensions much more severe and stop this stuff once and for all.

You unintentionally hit someone in the head with a stick: 10 games
2nd offense in a 3 year window: 25 games
3rd offense in a 3 year window: 60 games
4th offense in a 3 year window: One full calendar year

You, in the heat of the moment hit someone in the head with a stick: 20 games
2nd offense in a 5 year window: 60 games
3rd offense in a 5 year window: one full calendar year
4th offense at any time: lifetime ban

You intentionally go after someone with your stick and hit them in the head with clear intent to injure: One full calendar year
2nd offense at any time: Lifetime ban

Same for reckless hits, elbows, etc...

This is how you stop this crap.
- BiggE

I would have no problem with this. It's how I'd approach drunk driving (first offense, 1 year loss of license; second offense, lifetime loss of license). These dinky suspensions do nothing, and are wildly inconsistent.

The problem is that the NHLPA, you know, the union whose job is to serve the best interests of the players, would never want their members to lose this much money.

Yes I am. We have kept moving without some our key players they haven't but at 100% their offense is absolutely scary. Zeke that line witten dez beasly etc. I'm not saying they would of beat us I felt comfortable either way but I'm not going to start making stuff up cause I don't like them. Like saying Crosby is terrible at hockey is false.
- Tfaehner

I've been told by 19,000+ "hockey fans" that "Crosby Sucks!"

And what would it have been if the guy was laying unconscious on a breather in the hospital right now?

Ruling on result is possible the dumbest thing about the DOPS, and that's saying something.
- jmatchett383

Result on whether there was in injury or not isn't dumb. The more damage an action does, the more sever the punishment should be. However it shouldn't determine whether there is a suspension or not. An illegal suspend-able action is just that whether there was an injury or not. The length of a suspension should be longer when an action caused an injury. The issue is I've seen far worse actions result if far less or even no suspensions. If the DOPS was serious about player safety and being selective then I have no issue with 10 games. The inconsistency and lack of equal justice for all is the problem as I see it.

I agree that intent does matter, and should be, if not the only factor, at least the main factor when determining penalties and suspensions (don't get me started on high sticking and delay of game). I don't believe that Gudas wanted to decapitate Perrault, but I do believe that he momentarily lost his cool and intentionally struck him in the head.

So again, Gudas momentarily lost his cool and swung his stick at the head of a prone player. The NHL DoPS has indicated that this sort of behavior means you have to sit for 12% of the season without pay. And this is for a person who's been suspended before.

Let's say that a player with no prior history does the same thing, and instead of being okay, the player is killed by blunt force to the head or has to prematurely retire. Now, the player is going to be suspended possibly for life and there are probably going to be police charges and multiple suits filed against the player.

Does that seem right to you? They both did the exact same thing, the outcome was just less fortunate in one instance.
- jmatchett383

Absolutely it's right.

I've been told by 19,000+ "hockey fans" that "Crosby Sucks!"
- jmatchett383

But did they say he sucks at hockey ?

But did they say he sucks at hockey ?
- Tfaehner

Good point. They were probably referring to his baking skills.

Result on whether there was in injury or not isn't dumb. The more damage an action does, the more sever the punishment should be. However it shouldn't determine whether there is a suspension or not. An illegal suspend-able action is just that whether there was an injury or not. The length of a suspension should be longer when an action caused an injury. The issue is I've seen far worse actions result if far less or even no suspensions. If the DOPS was serious about player safety and being selective then I have no issue with 10 games. The inconsistency and lack of equal justice for all is the problem as I see it.
- MJL

hey that's great

So after MacDonald was reported to not be ready the flyers are now playing him tomorrow night. Nothing like rushing somebody back from injury cause you refuse to give a kid a shot. Morin feels like the flyers jahlil okafor at this point.

Good point. They were probably referring to his baking skills.
- jmatchett383

Can never be too sure. Or maybe at life ?

So after MacDonald was reported to not be ready the flyers are now playing him tomorrow night. Nothing like rushing somebody back from injury cause you refuse to give a kid a shot. Morin feels like the flyers jahlil okafor at this point.
- Tfaehner

I will never ever acknowledge that this is actually someone's name.

Can never be too sure. Or maybe at life ?
- Tfaehner

I don't know...being a rich, famous sports star seems like he's doing okay at life.

Good point. They were probably referring to his baking skills.
- jmatchett383

To be fair, Crosby's baking skills are sub-par.

So after MacDonald was reported to not be ready the flyers are now playing him tomorrow night. Nothing like rushing somebody back from injury cause you refuse to give a kid a shot. Morin feels like the flyers jahlil okafor at this point.
- Tfaehner

When was he reported to not be ready, Saturday or for tomorrow? If he was close to being ready to play, 3 days make a difference. Morin will get his shot when they feel he is ready for it.

At the end of the day, I think it never mattered if Gudas intended to hit Perrault or not (fwiw, I don't think he hit him intentionally or with forethought, but the dude has to control his stick....he did not do that, obviously).

Gudas has a reputation and was going to go down for this incident, regardless of intent, because the optics were so bad, you couldn't not suspend him when it was so easy to do so (i.e.--repeat offender during a meaningless November regular season game).

Ten games for Gudas is assinine