Hard to agree, the nepotism both positive and negative is as great as it has ever been.
- winsix

There was literally a different set of rules 25 years ago. It wasn't illegal to hit someone in the head. 🤷🏻‍♂️

There’s a difference between arguing over the specifics of Spezza’s suspension and crying that the NHL is meaner to the Leafs than anybody in the league.

I’ve never heard an explanation of why the League and Gary has it in for the Leafs that is any better than I heard from my kids when they were teenagers that I was always picking on them. Why exactly does Gary want to screw the Leafs?
- Canada Cup

We do know that Leaf fans and Leaf performances are the only people and team that Bettman has mocked outwardly in any of his speeches. I don't know how he really feels, but I do know that showing outward disdain, even in jest, isn't usually the behaviour of people who don't care.

Leaf fans are numerous and there are a number of annoying ones. This a fanbase that glorifies "dart man", or gave an imbecile who ate cat poop a radio show. There are obvious reasons to question the Leaf faithful.

All that said, all I can say is that the specifics of this incident show that there are other retaliatory hits, other head shots, other hits to players in vulnerable positions - all of which have been met with 2 regular season games or less. Marchand received 3 and I question whether he should have. It seems excessive for the play, but he's a rat with a history, so it's elevated.

I also feel that Spezza's 6 games is 4 + 2 for the crest on his chest.

There’s a difference between arguing over the specifics of Spezza’s suspension and crying that the NHL is meaner to the Leafs than anybody in the league.

I’ve never heard an explanation of why the League and Gary has it in for the Leafs that is any better than I heard from my kids when they were teenagers that I was always picking on them. Why exactly does Gary want to screw the Leafs?
- Canada Cup

Cuz'

Just like the refs are always out to get the leafs.
Cuz'

Maybe they hate all the success the leafs have had over the past six decades?

"back to reality" is the mantra of people unwilling to force change.
- Monkeypunk

You or I are not in a position to force change in the NHL.

Nor do I care to......about this topic anyway.

So I saw that Spezza is appealing his suspension, which to me doesnt make sense unless he cares about the money. He cant play during the appeal correct? He'll probably miss 6 games by the time Bettman makes a ruling to begin with.

I think he should have probably get a game or two less, but he does deserve a supension.

We do know that Leaf fans and Leaf performances are the only people and team that Bettman has mocked outwardly in any of his speeches. I don't know how he really feels, but I do know that showing outward disdain, even in jest, isn't usually the behaviour of people who don't care.

Leaf fans are numerous and there are a number of annoying ones. This a fanbase that glorifies "dart man", or gave an imbecile who ate cat poop a radio show. There are obvious reasons to question the Leaf faithful.

All that said, all I can say is that the specifics of this incident show that there are other retaliatory hits, other head shots, other hits to players in vulnerable positions - all of which have been met with 2 regular season games or less. Marchand received 3 and I question whether he should have. It seems excessive for the play, but he's a rat with a history, so it's elevated.

I also feel that Spezza's 6 games is 4 + 2 for the crest on his chest.
- Monkeypunk

You can literally be a goon and bite someone in this league and get less games. Also, headbutt = 2 games, physical abuse of an official = 3 games, spitting in the face of another player = 3 games.

Hitting a player square in the melon, typically 2 games unless offender has suspension history.

This is a conversation that keeps coming up, though. It reminds me, in parallel of the people who mocked the idea of putting up nets around the glass in hockey after that girl, Brittanie Cecil, died in Columbus. So many people felt it was unnecessary. If we were just paying attention this stuff wouldn't happen. It was somehow _her_ fault that she had died in a way that any number of people could have - but now that the nets are up, it seems to make a lot of sense that it was done.

Similarly, we argue that players should "fight back"; that players shouldn't be pushed around. The rules clearly state what you can and can't do. There is literally no reason for Matthews or McDavid or Gretzky or Lemieux or Crosby or, or, or . . . to have to fight back. The Goddamned rules are there for a reason. When a referee stands there are doesn't do their job at all, the lack of accountability and the sheer incompetent lack of response from the NHL in the way it treats it star players and allows its officials to blatantly ignore doing their jobs is deafening. There will come a day when all of this bullpoop is changed. There will come a day when they finally stop all of this idiocy, and we will look back at statements like, "McDavid should just fight back and not let someone push him around," and realize how dumb of a statement it was.

And it will make a lot of sense that things were changed.

Until then, the dissenting voices that say, "He should have fought back," when he didn't have to are the reason the rules aren't changing the way they should.
- Monkeypunk

Agreed on all points.

The amusing thing is that PLD had no intention of "fighting" AM34; he was massively frustrated and wanted to wrestle Matthews and bully him. Matthews, to his credit, was simply trying to buck the 6'3 225lb. opponent off of him and skate back into the play.

But hey, because Auston didn't want to immediately fight Dubois after he finally was able to get out from under him he's some sort of "soft" player.

Frnakly, I think PLD was a (frank)ing jackass on this play and that's the only thing we should be focused on. I doubt Matthews is losing any sleep over this incident but hey, there's always a contingent of "fans" who feel like a player should have been able to easily toss another player off his person -- that only weak players cannot break free from another whose holding on with all of their might.

FFS. AM34 is scoring goals at an epic clip right now and all some people are content to do is female dog that he didn't get into a punch up.

So I saw that Spezza is appealing his suspension, which to me doesnt make sense unless he cares about the money. He cant play during the appeal correct? He'll probably miss 6 games by the time Bettman makes a ruling to begin with.

I think he should have probably get a game or two less, but he does deserve a supension.
- Archaic

I think he can play during the appeal...from what I recall.

There was literally a different set of rules 25 years ago. It wasn't illegal to hit someone in the head. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

Jeremy Jacobs the chairman of the NHL Executive Committee acquired the Bruins in 1975. He's literally Gary's boss. I believe the system is unfair and unjust - and it most definitely is not a democracy. We'll see on Trouba, I believe the suspension will be a short one.

So I saw that Spezza is appealing his suspension, which to me doesnt make sense unless he cares about the money. He cant play during the appeal correct? He'll probably miss 6 games by the time Bettman makes a ruling to begin with.

I think he should have probably get a game or two less, but he does deserve a supension.
- Archaic

Im not sure about the PA but most unions have negotiated rules into CBA regarding timeframes on appeals. It's typically not a get to it when they feel like it thing.

Agreed on all points.

The amusing thing is that PLD had no intention of "fighting" AM34l; he was massively frustrated and wanted to wrestle Matthews and bully him. Matthews, to his credit, was simply trying to buck the 6'3 225lb. opponent off of him and skate back into the play.

But hey, because Auston didn't want to immediately fight Dubois after he finally was able to get out from under him he's some sort of "soft" player.

Frnakly, I think PLD was a (frank)ing jackass on this play and that's the only thing we should be focused on. I doubt Matthews is losing any sleep over this incident but hey, there's always a contingent of "fans" who feel like a player should have been able to easily toss another player off his person -- that only weak players cannot break free from another whose holding on with all of their might.

FFS. AM34 is scoring goals at an epic clip right now and all some people are content to do is female dog that he didn't get into a punch up.
- mjones242

I dont think the original poster wanted AM to fist fight......he even said that in his post. Just wanted him to show some push back.
It doesnt have to be turtle and get rag dolled or fist fight...there's some middle ground.

There’s a difference between arguing over the specifics of Spezza’s suspension and crying that the NHL is meaner to the Leafs than anybody in the league.

I’ve never heard an explanation of why the League and Gary has it in for the Leafs that is any better than I heard from my kids when they were teenagers that I was always picking on them. Why exactly does Gary want to screw the Leafs?
- Canada Cup

While I am not sure that really does exist, what I would say is that due to the amount of media attention the Leafs get they tend to make an example out of the Leafs as its in the spotlight for all to see.

You can literally be a goon and bite someone in this league and get less games. Also, headbutt = 2 games, physical abuse of an official = 3 games, spitting in the face of another player = 3 games.

Hitting a player square in the melon, typically 2 games unless offender has suspension history.
- joel878

You would think that Sandin being out for a few weeks might have played out in the suspension. But nope.

Im not sure about the PA but most unions have negotiated rules into CBA regarding timeframes on appeals. It's typically not a get to it when they feel like it thing.
- joel878

I seem to remember a suspension being appealed in the past, and it took past the alloted time, and only impacted the amount the player lost in salary. Im willing to be proven wrong here, thats just what I recollect.

I dont think the original poster wanted AM to fist fight......he even said that in his post. Just wanted him to show some push back.
It doesnt have to be turtle and get rag dolled or fist fight...there's some middle ground.
- Fakepartofme

Easier said then done while someone is grabbing the back of your shirt.

Jeremy Jacobs the chairman of the NHL Executive Committee acquired the Bruins in 1975. He's literally Gary's boss. I believe the system is unfair and unjust - and it most definitely is not a democracy. We'll see on Trouba, I believe the suspension will be a short one.
- winsix

I think it will be too. Which is gross, you can't have a player leave on a stretcher and slap him on the wrist for it just because it maybe appeared as if the offender didn't do it intentionally. The bar can't be set at retaliatory, intentional or not all players have a responsibility to ensure they aren't making plays which can severely hurt another player.

Saying Spezza was pissed and hit him on purpose doesn't make it more dangerous, that's defined by the play itself and the outcome.

He could have grabbed him from behind and gave him a blindside kidney punch, it would have been a gross gutless ugly play but in the grand scheme of things it would not have been more dangerous than hitting a guy square in the face with your shoulder pad at full speed.

I dont think the original poster wanted AM to fist fight......he even said that in his post. Just wanted him to show some push back.
It doesnt have to be turtle and get rag dolled or fist fight...there's some middle ground.
- Fakepartofme

Auston Matthews has drawn 0 penalties from the league through 27 regular season games.

There is a clear path to a conclusion there.

I seem to remember a suspension being appealed in the past, and it took past the alloted time, and only impacted the amount the player lost in salary. Im willing to be proven wrong here, thats just what I recollect.
- Archaic

Good question. MLB you can play during appeal, perhaps same here.. 🤷🏻‍♂️

You can literally be a goon and bite someone in this league and get less games. Also, headbutt = 2 games, physical abuse of an official = 3 games, spitting in the face of another player = 3 games.

Hitting a player square in the melon, typically 2 games unless offender has suspension history.
- joel878

It's interesting and revealing that a player like Milan Lucic draws more penalties than McDavid or Matthews. Is that by design or just a coincidence?

Auston Matthews has drawn 0 penalties from the league through 27 regular season games.

There is a clear path to a conclusion there.
- Monkeypunk

Matthews doesn't try hard enough?

Easier said then done while someone is grabbing the back of your shirt.
- Archaic

Agreed.

Auston Matthews has drawn 0 penalties from the league through 27 regular season games.

There is a clear path to a conclusion there.
- Monkeypunk

Mcd was or still is in the same boat.
Its not a leafs thing.

It's interesting and revealing that a player like Milan Lucic draws more penalties than McDavid or Matthews. Is that by design or just a coincidence?
- winsix

Good question, it's from an incredibly poor standard of reffing and arguably even worse execution (this season anyways) in my opinion. It hasn't just been the leafs and this Winnipeg game. I've seen an abundance of poop reffing in lots of the other games I've watched.

We're talking about the only league on earth that (frank)s off the rulebook and plays off of unwritten rules as soon as their playoff games start.

The league needs to put an emphasis on defining its rulebook and ensuring its officials are operating to that standard, doesn't matter what it takes.

I don't care if it takes another ref in the pressbox to call ice level and be like nah Pionk just took a player out knee on knee, that's 5 and a game. Because if players know they can't get away with poop they won't pull it... And DOPS isn't the deterrent it should be.

Just my opinion of course. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I think it will be too. Which is gross, you can't have a player leave on a stretcher and slap him on the wrist for it just because it maybe appeared as if the offender didn't do it intentionally. The bar can't be set at retaliatory, intentional or not all players have a responsibility to ensure they aren't making plays which can severely hurt another player.

Saying Spezza was pissed and hit him on purpose doesn't make it more dangerous, that's defined by the play itself and the outcome.

He could have grabbed him from behind and gave him a blindside kidney punch, it would have been a gross gutless ugly play but in the grand scheme of things it would not have been more dangerous than hitting a guy square in the face with your shoulder pad at full speed.
- joel878

Agree completely - NHL is corrupt, there is nepotism IMO. The circumstances around the Chicago scandal were known at a high level in the NHL. It was not the NHL that made it public, it was the victim. The incident would have been swept under the rug, had the victim not come forward. Did Gary know years ago? I would think so.

I dont think the original poster wanted AM to fist fight......he even said that in his post. Just wanted him to show some push back.
It doesnt have to be turtle and get rag dolled or fist fight...there's some middle ground.
- Fakepartofme

Semantics. "Fight" vs. "Push". Meh...

It's disingenuous AF to claim that Matthews "turtled" during that play. How do you throw a 6'3 225lb player off of you who is on your back?

Is AM34 Hercules? Should have reached into his jockstrap for his super powered ring I guess to prevent himself from getting "ragdolled":