In Motown, the hits the keep on a comin'.
This is getting ugly, folks.
Mike Babcock's head might spontaneously combust on this week's episode of HBO's "24/7".
Per Wings GM Ken Holland, Jonathan Ericsson has two fractured ribs. He'll be out 3-5 weeks.
— Chuck Pleiness (@wingsfrontman) December 24, 2013The Grand Rapids Red Wings are going to be missing their best players for the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor.
Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Darren Helm, Jimmy Howard, Stephen Weiss, and now Ericsson are behind the wall, in the garage being repaired.
Ericsson suffered broken ribs in Monday night's 3-0 shutout loss to the NY Islanders. he will miss the next 3-5 weeks, per the team.
Last month, the Wings signed Ericsson to a new 6 year, $25.5 million contract extension.
If I'm a betting man, I'm wagering on Ericsson missing the 2014 Sochi Olympics for Team Sweden.
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Commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the 15-game suspension that was assessed to Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton by the Department of Player Safety for punching and injuring an unsuspecting opponent, Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bettman reviewed Thornton's appeal at a hearing in New York on 12/20.
The NHL Player Safety Department handed down its 15 game ban in 12/14.
The incident occurred at 11:06 of the first period. Thornton was assessed a match penalty for violating NHL Rule 46.15.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Thornton will forfeit $84,615.45. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Thornton reserves the right to have his appeal heard by an independent, third party arbitrator. You'll recall that Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta thought about then chose not to appeal his 10 game ban from earlier this season.
My takeaway:
Bettman's finger prints are all over this Thornton suspension. He and Shanahan likely collaborated on the terms and conditions of this suspension because of its heinous nature. I give Bettman full marks for ignoring Boston own Jeremy Jacobs' strong influence inside the NHL ownership group. Bettman is in no mood to negotiate or offer a plea bargain to Thornton. Kudos. This ruling was made out of common sense and not emotion.
Bettman issued a 12 page summation of the Thornton case.
DECISION ON APPEALThe National Hockey League Players’ Association (the “NHLPA… or the “Union…), on behalf of Boston Player Shawn Thornton, has appealed from a December 14, 2013 supplementary discipline decision suspending Mr. Thornton for fifteen (15) games. This shall constitute my determination of Mr. Thornton’s appeal. For the reasons described herein, I find that the decision suspending Mr. Thornton for fifteen (15) games was supported by clear and convincing evidence.
SUMMARY OF FACTS
In the first period of the December 7, 2013 Regular Season game between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Game # 438), Brooks Orpik (a defenseman with Pittsburgh) delivered a legal body check to Boston forward Loui Eriksson. The check resulted in Eriksson sustaining a concussion and he did not return to play for the remainder of the game. Later in the first period, Mr. Thornton confronted Mr. Orpik and tried to engage him in a fight. Mr. Orpik declined and skated away and Mr. Thornton was assessed a two minute penalty for roughing. Again in the first period, a scrum developed in the Pittsburgh zone when both Messrs. Thornton and Orpik were on the ice. While play was stopped, and well after the whistle had been blown, Mr. Thornton skated from an area around the Boston blue line all the way to the Pittsburgh zone to join the scrum. Mr. Thornton deliberately skated around Pittsburgh forward Pascal Dupuis (who was on the perimeter of the scrum) and approached Mr. Orpik from behind. Placing his right arm on Mr. Orpik’s left shoulder, Mr. Thornton drove his right leg behind Mr. Orpik’s legs and pulled him backwards, causing the latter to fall to the ice. Mr. Thornton then kneeled down over the fallen Mr. Orpik and delivered two punches to Mr. Orpik’s face as he lay face-up and defenseless on the ice. Mr. Thornton was quickly pulled off Mr. Orpik by the linesmen and was escorted to the Boston bench area and then to the Boston dressing room. Mr. Thornton was assessed a match penalty and suspension for the balance of that game. After a lengthy delay, Mr. Orpik was removed from the ice on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to the local hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. As of the date of the appeal hearing, Mr. Orpik had not returned to play and had missed six (6) games (plus the remainder of the December 7 game against Boston).
If I'm Thornton's agent, I'm telling my client to drop the independent appeal and to serve the 15 games. In the media and in the court of public opinion this is a fight that Thornton cannot win.
There's no way for Thornton to escape the long arm of law man Bettman.
Do you like the ruling? Do you think the punishment fits the crime?
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