I disagree. How many times do you see someone skate up behind an opponent that is engaged in conversation with a ref, slew foot them, and pummel them while they are defenseless on their back? Neither Marchand nor Orpik were in a position to defend themselves. It was equally dirty.
- PittsPens

I could accept the argument that it was equally dirty. Seems most think Thortons actions were considerably worse.

I could accept the argument that it was equally dirty. Seems most think Thortons actions were considerably worse.
- CaliNewf

I was.


One of those incidents happens a handful of times a year.

The other doesnt. Can anyone remember the last time a player was talking to a ref and got thrown down and punched multiple times in the face by an opposing player.


I can't.

James Neal is a the biggest dirt bag in the league...Shanahan needs to make an example of that pathetic piece of garbage. No class whatsoever...but I guess what else is expected from the Pens organization
- keatondixon

Slightly wrong...Neal hit the biggest dirt bag in the league!

I was.


One of those incidents happens a handful of times a year.

The other doesnt. Can anyone remember the last time a player was talking to a ref and got thrown down and punched multiple times in the face by an opposing player.


I can't.
- Putzfrau

Face punching is waaaay more common in the NHL then kneeing people to the head. Not saying if either are worse, which is a stupid discussion if you ask me, but your argument is pretty invalid there.

I disagree. How many times do you see someone skate up behind an opponent that is engaged in conversation with a ref, slew foot them, and pummel them while they are defenseless on their back? Neither Marchand nor Orpik were in a position to defend themselves. It was equally dirty.
- PittsPens

I dont think it's common at all, where a player grabs another player from behind while hes talking to a ref and just start punching. Maybe a player grabs a guy from behind or maybe he will have a guy down and throw a few, but those are in situations where it's a scrum and the other player is expecting it. This one was really bad.

Face punching is waaaay more common in the NHL then kneeing people to the head. Not saying if either are worse, which is a stupid discussion if you ask me, but your argument is pretty invalid there.
- FinAddict

But thornton didn't just punch him in the face. He tripped him to the ground, kneeled over the now downed player, and punched him multiple times directly in the face while he was o the ice.

That does not happen often.

Face punching is waaaay more common in the NHL then kneeing people to the head. Not saying if either are worse, which is a stupid discussion if you ask me, but your argument is pretty invalid there.
- FinAddict

Hmm, it wasn't just a regular face punch, he was defenseless and taken down from behind. He has no opportunity to defend himself. It's like saying Mccsorley on Brashear was just a high stick...

But thornton didn't just punch him in the face. He tripped him to the ground, kneeled over the now downed player, and punched him multiple times directly in the face while he was o the ice.

That does not happen often.
- Putzfrau

Maybe not that EXACT play but I bet if you look hard enough you can find similar instances. For some reason it reminds me of Weber bashing Zetterberg's face into the glass gladiator style. Can you imagine if he knocked him out

Hmm, it wasn't just a regular face punch, he was defenseless and taken down from behind. He has no opportunity to defend himself. It's like saying Mccsorley on Brashear was just a high stick...
- 13sundin13

Not even a little bit

Maybe not that EXACT play but I bet if you look hard enough you can find similar instances. For some reason it reminds me of Weber bashing Zetterberg's face into the glass gladiator style. Can you imagine if he knocked him out
- FinAddict

That was a love tap compared to this.

Get punched while on the ground is scary. Your head has no where to go, you just eat the impact.

Not even a little bit
- FinAddict

Haha, yes that was an exaggeration, but you can't honestly think this was the same situation as any face punch / fight that happens every game.

I find it odd that people are giving gunner a hard time over this blog... it was one of his best ones. The plug of a fellow hockey hurts writer was a bit much... and backing up the suspension system that would have neal serve 30 games was over the top, this blog wasn't bad... neal deserves to be suspended and decently... 5 games minimum. Gunner does have a bit of an ego and makes a few to many concrete statements of arguably arguable points, but that makes the blog more fun... I couldn't stand Cloutier when he blogged for the oilers but his blogs were fun to read and react to. Ultimately gunner's job isn't to put on a skirt and cheerlead, but to write about the team and generally he does a decent job... this blog included. and there wasn't even any fenclose mumbo jumbo!
- ChrisMS

I see what you are saying, I really do think he can be a great writer. Perhaps I just can't stand the ego. Also, he might need to be an NHL writer vs a Penguins blogger. Look at how Ty Anderson and Garth talked about the incidents (yes I said Garth). They just seemed to view it as professional writers. Wilson went at it like THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, HERE IS WHAT EVERYONE DID, THIS IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

Too over the top, ease back a bit. Watch the game, evaluate the game and then rethink it, then write it up. He's very detailed, I just find it hard to deal with.

I see what you are saying, I really do think he can be a great writer. Perhaps I just can't stand the ego. Also, he might need to be an NHL writer vs a Penguins blogger. Look at how Ty Anderson and Garth talked about the incidents (yes I said Garth). They just seemed to view it as professional writers. Wilson went at it like THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, HERE IS WHAT EVERYONE DID, THIS IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

Too over the top, ease back a bit. Watch the game, evaluate the game and then rethink it, then write it up. He's very detailed, I just find it hard to deal with.
- Sell My Monkey

Ryan is by far one of the better writers on the site.

Ty does a great job to be can be a bit hit or miss.

Garth is ridiculed without pause on this site, so I dunno why you seem to be holding him as some type of gold standard.

The problem seems to be in your expectations of what constitutes a "team blog"

Haha, yes that was an exaggeration, but you can't honestly think this was the same situation as any face punch / fight that happens every game.
- 13sundin13

No but it's not exactly uncommon either, which is kind of bad when you think about it.

That was a love tap compared to this.

Get punched while on the ground is scary. Your head has no where to go, you just eat the impact.
- Putzfrau

Maybe you didn't see it? Weber literally grabbed his head and smashed it into the glass, I don't think it had anywhere to go, and it was certainly not a love tap. Barbaric actions are not rare in the NHL

Maybe you didn't see it? Weber literally grabbed his head and smashed it into the glass, I don't think it had anywhere to go, and it was certainly not a love tap. Barbaric actions are not rare in the NHL
- FinAddict

I did see it.

There is no comparison. Continue to waste your breath, but your opinion seems to be in the minority.

theres a reason why I try to avoid hockeybuzz when these kind of things happen... way too many egos prevent us from having a serious conversation about it.

I read some people attacking gunnar and I think that's unfair. I want a blogger who is not afraid to call out his team and players. I don't want a blogger who pretends everything is great. I disagree with gunnar on a number of issues, and sometimes feel like he talks down to me when I disagree with him. but I believe he is a top 5 blogger on this site and I really enjoy reading his opinions and blogs. I love having other fans comment on the blogs. I think it increases discussion and keeps active posters on the penguins board which is good. what I don't like is fans coming here simply to troll and look for trouble.

neither neal nor thornton should be playing hockey for the next few weeks. their actions tonight were inexcusable and dangerous. I believe thornton's was far worse because I saw premeditation and taking it way too far. slewfooting someone from behind is one thing, punching them out cold when they are defenseless and on the ground is a whole other thing.

what neal did was shameful. do I think he planned to do it? no, I believe it was a spur of the moment thing. I don't think he intentionally went to hit him but I don't think he tried to avoid him either.

either way, this stuff in the league is what will end up killing the league.

good night.

James Neal is a piece of poop. Shawn Thornton is a piece of poop, and a horrible hockey player.

I did see it.

There is no comparison. Continue to waste your breath, but your opinion seems to be in the minority.
- Putzfrau

My opinion that too much stupid poop happens in the NHL? Or my opinion that punches are more common than knees to the head?

I see what you are saying, I really do think he can be a great writer. Perhaps I just can't stand the ego. Also, he might need to be an NHL writer vs a Penguins blogger. Look at how Ty Anderson and Garth talked about the incidents (yes I said Garth). They just seemed to view it as professional writers. Wilson went at it like THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, HERE IS WHAT EVERYONE DID, THIS IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

Too over the top, ease back a bit. Watch the game, evaluate the game and then rethink it, then write it up. He's very detailed, I just find it hard to deal with.
- Sell My Monkey

I know my opinion means squat, but I've always thought he portrayed a lot of sneaky, subtle arrogance in his posts. I thought I was the only one. Ty is easily one of the best, but Garth sensationalizes far more than Wilson did in this blog. Okay, big gulps, huh?

I know my opinion means squat, but I've always thought he portrayed a lot of sneaky, subtle arrogance in his posts. I thought I was the only one. Ty is easily one of the best, but Garth sensationalizes far more than Wilson did in this blog. Okay, big gulps, huh?
- Blackstrom2

hahaha I honestly always felt like I was the only one to feel this way... great that this is coming out.

hahaha I honestly always felt like I was the only one to feel this way... great that this is coming out.
- SuperHenderson13

Not to say he isn't knowledgeable or isn't a good blogger. He provides a ton of coverage for the Pens, and I always like to see advanced stats thrown in, but not the focal point. I read his blogs, though some times I cringe. But since he was just another Pens' fan on here, I've always felt the sort of smug arrogance. It's whatever, I don't really care and I'm sure he doesn't either, just being honest.

I see my fellow Flyers fans are whacking the bees nest a little. Hey, no rest for the wicked.

That one vine clip of Neal is tough to defend. It was a clear shot of him turning left just slightly to make some contact. Did he wanna take a little shot at him? Seems that way. Did he mean to scramble his circuits? Nah. I really don't think he did. It was dangerous nonetheless. I'd bet Neal gets 3. Maybe 5 because there's a little bit of a past rep there, but maybe not.

Thornton? He's gotta get 10, right? Somewhere between 8-12?

Mr. Bettman, The legal firm of Ted Danson is on like one.

DELET