Dan Spiegel: All Smiles After An Opening Night Loss?

Thank you!! Wonderful post. I couldn't have said it better myself. This just shows you the double-edged sword the NHL has, and especially with the Panthers. There was two bad non-calls in that game and had it been against the NHL's top golden boys, I know the outcomes would've been different. If it were Upshall hitting Stamkos in the head, there's no doubt in my mind Upshall would've been ejected from the game and had a hearing with possible suspension. Same with Nash Last Year And his blatant hit on Kopecky. If it were reversed, Kopecky would've been suspended indefinitely for hitting Nash (an NHL golden boy) in the head via baseball swing with his stick.

This sh*t has to stop!

It still amaze's me how the onus never falls on the player being hit.

It still amaze's me how the onus never falls on the player being hit.
- poisondhearts37

What? You must be taking the piss...

It still amaze's me how the onus never falls on the player being hit.
- poisondhearts37

I will agree that Upshall had his head down when he shouldn't. He would probably admit that as well. But Gudas has a history with Upshall and regardless of what the NHL says it was absolutely intentional. No matter what, that is a problem. Just because a guy has his head down for a fraction of a second does not give anyone the liberty to light him up in the way Gudas did.

I will agree that Upshall had his head down when he shouldn't. He would probably admit that as well. But Gudas has a history with Upshall and regardless of what the NHL says it was absolutely intentional. No matter what, that is a problem. Just because a guy has his head down for a fraction of a second does not give anyone the liberty to light him up in the way Gudas did.
- spiegs13

But thats still just an opinion.

Dan,

Im glad you didn't female dog about the NHL and lack of 'crackdown' on Gudas, it's hard in your situation being the writer for the team of the player who got 'whacked'.

Anyway... I have a system in place to cover off the suspensions this year....

http://hockeyhurts.com/22-walshy/105-suspendable

Have a look and let me know what you think.

Gudas knew what he was doing, no matter where Upshall should have had his head.

Either way, I don't think the NHL season 2014-15 is going to be as bad I a thought for the Panthers, number 1 will ensure that.

I will agree that Upshall had his head down when he shouldn't. He would probably admit that as well. But Gudas has a history with Upshall and regardless of what the NHL says it was absolutely intentional. No matter what, that is a problem. Just because a guy has his head down for a fraction of a second does not give anyone the liberty to light him up in the way Gudas did.
- spiegs13

It's not that Upshall has his head down, if Gudas was 'serious' on the play, he would have poke checked the puck away, and hip checked Upshall the result would have been puck retention in the offensive zone.

Gudas's choice was to level Upshall and I have no problem with it, however the onus in this climate (as in the parental public watching and deciding what their kids do) is that the onus is on the hitter not the hittee to do the right thing.

All Gudas wanted to do is lay out Upshall, just because his head was down doesn't give Gudas an all clear on his head. Wait for 10 years and the lawsuit for negligent handling of headshots between 2012 and 2016.

It's not that Upshall has his head down, if Gudas was 'serious' on the play, he would have poke checked the puck away, and hip checked Upshall the result would have been puck retention in the offensive zone.

Gudas's choice was to level Upshall and I have no problem with it, however the onus in this climate (as in the parental public watching and deciding what their kids do) is that the onus is on the hitter not the hittee to do the right thing.

All Gudas wanted to do is lay out Upshall, just because his head was down doesn't give Gudas an all clear on his head. Wait for 10 years and the lawsuit for negligent handling of headshots between 2012 and 2016.
- walshy66

Pretty much this. Upshall was vulnerable and he put himself in that situation. But Gudas never even looked for the puck. He never even made an attempt to find it. He extended his arm in such a way I'm shocked he didn't hurt his shoulder. What's more disgusting than the hit is the fact that the officials claimed to not see it. If you watch the replay, there is an official looking directly at this happen. Once more, the puck was RIGHT THERE. Don't they watch the franking puck?! I find it hard, and upsetting, to believe that the officials did not see the hit with four of those jacka$$e$ being on the ice. Some one is going to get killed. I agree with you.. there will be a law suit one day as more and more players off themselves in their 40's because of blows to the head.

Other than that, I'm proud of the point. Time to move on and hope Gudas gets what's coming to him.

Teams need to police themselves. The next time Gudas stepped on the ice he should of been dealt with. Actually he should have been dealt with when it first happened. And don't try and tell me Gudbranson tried to get at Gudas, not buying it. Upshal is no superstar but you can bet if the shoe was on the other foot the lightning would have done something about it. If you are going to have a Thorton on your team than let him do his role

Teams need to police themselves. The next time Gudas stepped on the ice he should of been dealt with. Actually he should have been dealt with when it first happened. And don't try and tell me Gudbranson tried to get at Gudas, not buying it. Upshal is no superstar but you can bet if the shoe was on the other foot the lightning would have done something about it. If you are going to have a Thorton on your team than let him do his role
- harveykline

Gudbranson was given a penalty on that play FOR going after Gudas, dingus.

Teams need to police themselves. The next time Gudas stepped on the ice he should of been dealt with. Actually he should have been dealt with when it first happened. And don't try and tell me Gudbranson tried to get at Gudas, not buying it. Upshal is no superstar but you can bet if the shoe was on the other foot the lightning would have done something about it. If you are going to have a Thorton on your team than let him do his role
- harveykline

And Tampa kept Gudas off the ice a lot of the remainder of the game. Don't worry, Thornton or Gudbranson will take care of that clown next time we meet.

The officiating this year has been terrible in every game I have watched so far. All I realy ask for is consistency in the calls. Crawford gets run over and theres no GTI yet you flip the channel and a goalie gets bumped and its a penalty. I just dont get it, The consistency doesnt even stay the same during a game.

The officiating this year has been terrible in every game I have watched so far. All I realy ask for is consistency in the calls. Crawford gets run over and theres no GTI yet you flip the channel and a goalie gets bumped and its a penalty. I just dont get it, The consistency doesnt even stay the same during a game.
- waitforawhistle

THIS WAS MY POINT. I was never saying that the penalties, most not all, we took were penalties. But if you're going to call weak interference and hooking penalties on us, you have to call it on them as well. Tampa had NINE POWER PLAYS. We had two.

I just watched that hit for the first time. There is no doubt that is a headshot but I also clearly saw on the initial play and the replay that the very first think Gudas did was poke the puck away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6i77XdrDYo[url]

I just watched that hit for the first time. There is no doubt that is a headshot but I also clearly saw on the initial play and the replay that the very first think Gudas did was poke the puck away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6i77XdrDYo
- blizzzard[url]

Only because his stick was down. Totally inadvertent reaction.

Only because his stick was down. Totally inadvertent reaction.
- Panthers88

Look like a swiping motion to me but I am not going to argue because I am not that big of a gudas fan in the first place. Just thought I would point that out. I kind of wish Gudbranson got to him lol now thats a kid I really like haha You want Larsson for him We could really use an animal like him on our back end.


Edit: just watched it with volume. Who is that announcer and why does he sound like Jeff Bridges

Look like a swiping motion to me but I am not going to argue because I am not that big of a gudas fan in the first place. Just thought I would point that out. I kind of wish Gudbranson got to him lol now thats a kid I really like haha You want Larsson for him We could really use an animal like him on our back end.


Edit: just watched it with volume. Who is that announcer and why does he sound like Jeff Bridges
- blizzzard

Oh hey we play you guys tonight.

Oh hey we play you guys tonight.
- Panthers88

Hahah yea thats why I stopped by Cory didnt beat Lu once last year got to start the year off right with a w over him tonight

And Tampa kept Gudas off the ice a lot of the remainder of the game. Don't worry, Thornton or Gudbranson will take care of that clown next time we meet.
- Panthers88

Yeah...no they won't.

Yeah...no they won't.
- OzBolts

Sure they will.

Hahah yea thats why I stopped by Cory didnt beat Lu once last year got to start the year off right with a w over him tonight
- blizzzard

Not in our home opener!

Yeah...no they won't.
- OzBolts

I don't think it's unreasonable to say Thornton will get him. Gudas has had like 7 NHL fights 4 in his first season and hockeyfights.com had him losing 3 and one draw so I mean I know lightning fans think he is some sort of animal but to me he is all show. I mean when Iginla handles you I think its safe to say there is a good chance Thornton could to...

This was by ken Campbell

I’ve never, ever understood why having your head down or looking up the ice to see where your pass went provided your opponents with a free pass to take your head off. If Upshall isn’t looking down at the puck while he’s trying to corral it, then he’s forced to try to control it while looking up the ice. He probably loses it, which results in a turnover and a prime scoring chance against the Panthers. That’s why he had his head down.
The hit was not dirty, it was not vicious. Gudas was not headhunting or deliberately trying to injure an opponent, but he was reckless. Gudas did not have any regard for an opponent who was in a vulnerable position.

One of the more fairer ways to look at this.

Not in our home opener!
- Panthers88

We will see