This speaks way too much about the "process"

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 13m13 minutes ago
Rinaldo has in-person hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety , time TBD. League will want better handle on Letang's condition before proceeding.
- stashu

Baffling that this continues to be the theme. Who gives a frank whether he comes back to the game or is lost for the year? It's about the infraction. Shouldn't even be as much about player history as it is, although that's not something that should be enirely thrown out.

Sutter and Bennett I know for sure were out there, and we all know about those 2....

Sutter got tossed around all night long, it started from his first shift; he got picked up and punted into the crowd 1 min into the game. Then he slipped back in through the crack of the Zamboni door.
- nbartley9

Honestly, I don't think a response towards Rinaldo, at that moment, accomplishes anything. Rinaldo is worthless; exacting retribution against him for injuring Letang, one of our best players, does very little.

If you are going to go with the ‘eye-for-an-eye approach,’ (which I personally don’t favor), don’t go after Rinaldo; go after Giroux or Voracek. Wait until they are in the corner, line one of them up, launch at them, and try to cause maximum damage to their head. The ‘eye-for-an-eye approach’ is based on exacting comparable revenge. Letang for Rinaldo isn’t comparable at all.

This speaks way too much about the "process"

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 13m13 minutes ago
Rinaldo has in-person hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety , time TBD. League will want better handle on Letang's condition before proceeding.
- stashu

I hate that the injury status is a factor. The intent should net a minimum of 6 games by nhl standards, but I'd like to see guys who continually do this get an extra 5 games tacked on for each new offense so by the 4th or 5th time they're looking at 1/3 of the season.

I know and I agree with you. I am also part of the shrinking group that believes discipline/accountability went off the rails with the league's push to appeal to a wider audience who felt that fighting made the NHL bush league. The truth is that those people were not going to like hockey regardless of whether fighting exists. I don't believe no-talent goons belong anymore but there is no fear whatsoever of retribution for one's sins. Yes, there was plenty of muscle dressed for the Pens but in a close game, who is going to risk being the goat to even the score. Years ago, these hits didnt happen with anywhere near the frequency they do today.
- BOSS_TWEED

There is a middle ground there that we can definitely agree on. Was Donald Brashear running around throwing these hits? Nope. By eliminating that type of player, you create a new type. The weasel. The Matt Cooke. The Zac Rinaldo. The troll looking (frank) in Buffalo.

I also fail to see how in any way but hindsight he can say it sparked anything either. As you said, it put them in a bad spot and they could've folded right there. I guess kudos to the rest of them for elevating their play.

Voracek probably did more to spark them if you ask me. Both situations seemed stupid. Didn't care for either. But taking Voracek and Scuderi off the ice clearly wins over losing our most versatile blue liner for the rest of the game and maybe the next few.
- HopintheCordoba

Agree completely! It only sparked something (assuming it did) because the penalties were killed.

Baffling that this continues to be the theme. Who gives a frank whether he comes back to the game or is lost for the year? It's about the infraction. Shouldn't even be as much about player history as it is, although that's not something that should be enirely thrown out.
- HopintheCordoba

Player history should definitely be taken into account, but the extent of the injury is BS.

I hate that the injury status is a factor. The intent should net a minimum of 6 games by nhl standards, but I'd like to see guys who continually do this get an extra 5 games tacked on for each new offense so by the 4th or 5th time they're looking at 1/3 of the season.
- Isles_since_6

There is a fine line that needs to be walked though. By accepting something like that, you have to do so with all suspensions. You create a fear of hitting.

There is a middle ground there that we can definitely agree on. Was Donald Brashear running around throwing these hits? Nope. By eliminating that type of player, you create a new type. The weasel. The Matt Cooke. The Zac Rinaldo. The troll looking (frank) in Buffalo.
- jak521

Agreed! Brashear could take a regular fourth and occasionally third-line shift. Before he started fighting for his own agenda, he was a very effective enforcer. Who (besides other goons in staged fights) wanted any part of him?

Actually if you let players police themselves these issues would decrease. Players run around without the fear of retribution. remove the instigator penalty and make player accountable for their actions.

Honestly suspensions and fines won't reduce head injuries they just wont. If you let players go after another when questionsable hits occur then there is the fear of "oh crap if I cheat shot player A, then player B is gonna kick my ass."

It worked in the 50's-early 90's

Agree completely! It only sparked something (assuming it did) because the penalties were killed.
- BOSS_TWEED

and that's 100% more of a credit to our PKers than to Rinaldo

Honestly, I don't think a response towards Rinaldo, at that moment, accomplishes anything. Rinaldo is worthless; exacting retribution against him for injuring Letang, one of our best players, does very little.

If you are going to go with the ‘eye-for-an-eye approach,’ (which I personally don’t favor), don’t go after Rinaldo; go after Giroux or Voracek. Wait until they are in the corner, line one of them up, launch at them, and try to cause maximum damage to their head. The ‘eye-for-an-eye approach’ is based on exacting comparable revenge. Letang for Rinaldo isn’t comparable at all.
- s0rcerer1984

I have never agreed with a statement more than I do this one.

Rinaldo has in-person hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety , time TBD. League will want better handle on Letang's condition before proceeding.

This is what is wrong with the NHL in a nutshell. Until they get their head out of their a** and start suspending guys for dirty hits (not whether or not somebody gets hurt) this kind of thing is going to keep happening.

Players are going to keep making hits like that and just hope nobody gets hurt and they don't get suspended. Guys like Rinaldo don't have much of a choice really. He's not s a skilled guy, he's out their to hit guys as hard and as often as he can. If he doesn't do that the Flyers will find someone else who will. And 9 out of 10 times he makes that hit the guy gets up unhurt and he probably doesn't get a penalty (maybe a 2 or a 5 but no suspension for sure). Was it still a dirty hit? Sure, but the NHL only cares when someone gets hurt.

There is a middle ground there that we can definitely agree on. Was Donald Brashear running around throwing these hits? Nope. By eliminating that type of player, you create a new type. The weasel. The Matt Cooke. The Zac Rinaldo. The troll looking (frank) in Buffalo.
- jak521

I agree. Really, the instigator penalty has allowed the weasel to skate away from these types of plays without any fear of having to answer for it.

That is what happens when you have UNIONS involved. They fight for the rights of the idiots..in this case the stupid knuckle dragging players. They could care less about the safety of the players but try to get the bad apples out and lawyers will be crawling out of the wood work like cockroaches to protect the rights of the morons. Welcome to America 2015

There is a fine line that needs to be walked though. By accepting something like that, you have to do so with all suspensions. You create a fear of hitting.
- jak521

I don't think so, Martin leads the league in hits and has for a while now, but when he's unsure if it's going to be a dangerous hit, he comes in with more of a bear hug and keeps his opponent upright. You can still hit without leaving your feet or targeting the numbers on the back.

Actually if you let players police themselves these issues would decrease. Players run around without the fear of retribution. remove the instigator penalty and make player accountable for their actions.

Honestly suspensions and fines won't reduce head injuries they just wont. If you let players go after another when questionsable hits occur then there is the fear of "oh crap if I cheat shot player A, then player B is gonna kick my ass."

It worked in the 50's-early 90's
- Pyzik

totally agree. Is a player like cooke more afraid of a 5 game nhl suspension or being ko'd again? They'll never remove the penalty though because it'll be viewed as condoning fighting.

Actually if you let players police themselves these issues would decrease. Players run around without the fear of retribution. remove the instigator penalty and make player accountable for their actions.

Honestly suspensions and fines won't reduce head injuries they just wont. If you let players go after another when questionsable hits occur then there is the fear of "oh crap if I cheat shot player A, then player B is gonna kick my ass."

It worked in the 50's-early 90's
- Pyzik

This is just false. Players such as Rinadlo, Kaleta, Cooke, etc are going to continue to play this way unless you hit them where it hurts. That is in the wallet, with being suspended and fined.

The NHL in the 90's would never work today. It was barbaric and would push the NHL further behind other sports.

and that's 100% more of a credit to our PKers than to Rinaldo
- BulliesPhan87

It depends on how you define 'spark.' Is a spark just momentum or is it taking out one of the opposing team's best players for the game?

If the situation was reversed & the Sill took Giroux out for the game with an elbow to the head, I would say that it would give the Penguins a 'spark' as Giroux tends to significantly better than the player who would comes off the bench to replace him, thus allowing the Penguins to dominate over the lesser player replacing Giroux.

and that's 100% more of a credit to our PKers than to Rinaldo
- BulliesPhan87

Amen brother. Saw something in our Power play and played it perfectly. Not sure why we are so reliant on the point men. If they pressure there as hard as the flyer were last night move the puck to crosby for a 3 on 2 situation down low. It was frustrating but Kudo's to your PK

Player history should definitely be taken into account, but the extent of the injury is BS.
- jak521

100 percent agree!!! However, A few years ago when Ovie launched himself into Dan Girardi in a playoff game their was zero discipline... why??? (BTW I could have used his knee on knee with Gonchar a few years ago in the playofs as another example.. but figured its leess bias)
1) Ovie is a repeat offender
2) Ovie left his feet, hitting Girardi no where near the puck... Intent to injure???
many Rags fans thought so!!!!!

Ovie not suspended ... Why???!!!!
1) Its the playoffs
2) He's Ovie
3) Giradi was not hurt

We could make a similar chart for Gonchar except he actually was hurt!!!!

I wonder if pens fans would be so up in arms if rinaldo hit Adams instead.

100 percent agree!!! However, A few years ago when Ovie launched himself into Dan Girardi in a playoff game their was zero discipline... why??? (BTW I could have used his knee on knee with Gonchar a few years ago in the playofs as another example.. but figured its leess bias)
1) Ovie is a repeat offender
2) Ovie left his feet, hitting Girardi no where near the puck

Ovie not suspended ... Why???!!!!
1) Its the playoffs
2) He's Ovie
3) Giradi was not hurt

We could make a similar chart for Gonchar except he actually was hurt!!!!
- Brianandr1

Ovi's hit was clean yo.

100 percent agree!!! However, A few years ago when Ovie launched himself into Dan Girardi in a playoff game their was zero discipline... why??? (BTW I could have used his knee on knee with Gonchar a few years ago in the playofs as another example.. but figured its leess bias)
1) Ovie is a repeat offender
2) Ovie left his feet, hitting Girardi no where near the puck

Ovie not suspended ... Why???!!!!
1) Its the playoffs
2) He Ovie
3) Giradi was not hurt

We could make a similar chart for Gonchar except he actually was hurt!!!!
- Brianandr1

until the NHL can suspend players without having to deal with grief from the owners, we'll continue to see inconsistent and short suspensions. When the guys paying their cheques want their stars on the ice, the name on the back of the jersey is a big factor.

It depends on how you define 'spark.' Is a spark just momentum or is it taking out one of the opposing team's best players for the game?

If the situation was reversed & the Sill took Giroux out for the game with an elbow to the head, I would say that it would give the Penguins a 'spark' as Giroux tends to significantly better than the player who would comes off the bench to replace him, thus allowing the Penguins to dominate over the lesser player replacing Giroux.
- s0rcerer1984

Certainly there's an advantage to removing one of the better players of the opposing team, but I don't think you could accurately describe that as a spark. A spark would be some kind of emotional/morale factor.

I wonder if pens fans would be so up in arms if rinaldo hit Adams instead.
- rangerdanger94

I would be.