To me the whole 2 game issue stinks of them trying to use it to justify Eichel's suspension for a potential appeal from Buffalo.

The whole...."we just gave Jake 2 games, so you clearly have to get 2 games because yours was worse."

sad state of affairs.

I don't have an issue for how the DOPS ruled on the hit in the play. However I cannot reconcile how that is worth 2 games and Malkin's actions are worth 1. How players such as Marchand are constantly let off the hook. How plays that seem to be worse are let go and no suspension. Does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.
- MJL

100% agree

If Commissioner Bettman doesn’t look up and smell the rotten eggs soon, folks will and should leave the room. The saying that if they’re talking about it, it’s good for business....that doesn’t apply here. Food for thought: Here is a recent example of non-penalized play...that did not receive supplemental discipline.

https://youtu.be/EfbtqMBd8K8
- NC Flyers Fan

That's a head shot. Suspension worthy.

That's a head shot. Suspension worthy.
- MJL

That’s not where the WoJ landed.

Philly 4-1 yep

Philly 4-1 yep
- SMS4016

I hope you're betting on these predictions.

I don't have an issue for how the DOPS ruled on the hit in the play. However I cannot reconcile how that is worth 2 games and Malkin's actions are worth 1. How players such as Marchand are constantly let off the hook. How plays that seem to be worse are let go and no suspension. Does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.
- MJL

I have an issue with any suspension. Boychuk was NOT trying to play the puck. His stick position and posture were that of a player looking to make a hit -- one hand on the stick, a righthanded shooter with the puck coming around the right boards but with his stick to the left, approaching directly at Voracek.

As for the two games, the hit by Kurtis Gabriel, which was an awful one where he came across the ice looking directly at Patrick's numbers and drilled him into the boards, also got one game. Apart from him being a career minor leaguer and his target being the 2nd overall pick of last year's draft -- which theoretically should not matter -- Gabriel has a rep and a history of such hits (which supposedly DOES matter, but only when DOPS wants it to). But he got one game, whereas Voracek with no prior fines or suspensions in an 800+ game NHL career, gets two.

I am still ticked off about it.

That’s not where the WoJ landed.
- NC Flyers Fan

They rolled snake-eyes on Jake and Eichel's suspension length.

Of those points Sanheim has 2 ppg and 2 ppa with 0.56 PPTOI
Ghost has 2ppg and 10ppa with 3.29 PPTOI.

Just shows that Sanheim is as effective in his points on PP as Ghost and outscores him considerably at even strength (despite Avg time on ice being within 5 seconds) and the difference shorthand TOI is laughable (36 for Sanheim vs 6 for Ghost) by the way Provorov has 198 SHTOI.

Yes Ghost is having an off year but even his best years he is at best a power play specialist and a defensive liability (hence he never plays short handed situations). I think at this point Ghost is who he is. A dynamic power play specialist that can’t be trusted in any other situation. A specialist is only special if he is better than the alternatives and it is questionable if the flyers would lose anything if Sanheim or Provorov took over for Ghost on the PP and are already better than Ghost at every other aspect of the game! Myers looks like he is poised to be better at all aspects of the game than Ghost too.

They rolled snake-eyes on Jake and Eichel's suspension length.


- Hckygoalie31

If it was Gudas....they give him the Yahtzee treatment:

I have an issue with any suspension. Boychuk was NOT trying to play the puck. His stick position and posture were that of a player looking to make a hit -- one hand on the stick, a righthanded shooter with the puck coming around the right boards but with his stick to the left, approaching directly at Voracek.


- bmeltzer

I'm normally in agreement on things with you Bill but I can't agree with this. My read on the play was the Boychuk was going to come in to seal off the wall on a pinch. I don't think he was ignoring the puck and coming in for a big hit when he knew the puck wasn't going to be there. Either way, it's just speculation and I don't see how it can be ruled on what we think was going to happen. I think it's reasonable for Voracek to think he was going to be hit but he had other options t avoid a hit if that's what he thinks was going to happen. He could've skated deeper in towards the puck, he could've moved to side step the hit. Instead he chose to go at Boychuk and raise his back up making direct contect with the head. It's a suspendable play in my view.

As for the two games, the hit by Kurtis Gabriel, which was an awful one where he came across the ice looking directly at Patrick's numbers and drilled him into the boards, also got one game. Apart from him being a career minor leaguer and his target being the 2nd overall pick of last year's draft -- which theoretically should not matter -- Gabriel has a rep and a history of such hits (which supposedly DOES matter, but only when DOPS wants it to). But he got one game, whereas Voracek with no prior fines or suspensions in an 800+ game NHL career, gets two.

I am still ticked off about it.
- bmeltzer

I agree with this completely.

Remember back a few years when Shea Weber grabbed Henrik Zetterberg by the head and smashed it into the glass so hard Zetterberg's heltmet cracked in two? Weber was not suspended - 0 games. I like to measure all such suspensions against this one. There can be no doubt DPS is run by a bunch of fools.

Dave Isaac is tweeting that the NHLPA is appealing Jake's suspension.


Is that even possible? Why would the Players Association appeal? They're both members.

Dave Isaac is tweeting that the NHLPA is appealing Jake's suspension.


Is that even possible? Why would the Players Association appeal? They're both members.
- Hckygoalie31

They're appealing on Voracek's behalf. They represent the players. They must feel it's a bad ruling.

Dave Isaac is tweeting that the NHLPA is appealing Jake's suspension.


Is that even possible? Why would the Players Association appeal? They're both members.
- Hckygoalie31

Careful lol.

In all seriousness, perhaps players recognize the ridiculous decision. Or they don’t want 2 games to be the automatic discipline for reverse hits. That’s all I got

Careful lol.

In all seriousness, perhaps players recognize the ridiculous decision. Or they don’t want 2 games to be the automatic discipline for reverse hits. That’s all I got
- arichardson22

I would be great if illegal plays would result in automatic discipline. I'm not exactly in complete agreement with that but it would be better than the arbitrary blindfold spin of the wheel that we have now.

I would be great if illegal plays would result in automatic discipline. I'm not exactly in complete agreement with that but it would be better than the arbitrary blindfold spin of the wheel that we have now.
- MJL

They really should implement a discipline system and have x offense result in y amount of games. Have that be the initial punishment/ruling, then have the DOPS review the case and determine if it should be more or less games depending on the severity.

Dave Isaac is tweeting that the NHLPA is appealing Jake's suspension.


Is that even possible? Why would the Players Association appeal? They're both members.
- Hckygoalie31

will it be worth it? How fast of a process is it? I think he remains suspended while the appeal is considered. Not playing against the Sens is best case, maybe they think they can get the one game back and he can play against the Caps

Can a Player who receives Supplemental Discipline appeal the Department's decision?
Yes. Players may appeal all on-ice discipline to the Commissioner, provided written notice of the appeal is provided within 48 hours. The Commissioner will endeavor to hear all appeals on an expedited basis and will determine whether the decision was supported by clear and convincing evidence. A subsequent appeal right to a neutral arbitrator will be available for suspensions of six (6) or more games. The neutral arbitrator shall have full remedial authority in respect of the matter. The standard of review will be whether the League's finding of violation of the League Playing Rules and the penalty imposed were both supported by substantial evidence.

In all appeals (first to the Commissioner and then to the neutral arbitrator), the Player will remain suspended pending appeal (unless the full term of the Player's suspension has run).

The Commissioner and the neutral arbitrator may consider new evidence relating to the incident even if such evidence was not available at the time of the initial supplementary discipline hearing and decision or, in the case of an appeal to the neutral arbitrator, at the time of the Commissioner's hearing or decision.

on the bright side


In ESPN's latest NHL prospect rankings by Chris Peters, the Flyers are one of only three teams with four players to make the top-50 list. The Panthers and Senators also feature four prospects on the list, which is compiled of players 24 years old or younger and with fewer than 25 NHL games played this season.

Has a DoPS decision ever been overturned from an appeal?

I'm normally in agreement on things with you Bill but I can't agree with this. My read on the play was the Boychuk was going to come in to seal off the wall on a pinch. I don't think he was ignoring the puck and coming in for a big hit when he knew the puck wasn't going to be there. Either way, it's just speculation and I don't see how it can be ruled on what we think was going to happen. I think it's reasonable for Voracek to think he was going to be hit but he had other options t avoid a hit if that's what he thinks was going to happen. He could've skated deeper in towards the puck, he could've moved to side step the hit. Instead he chose to go at Boychuk and raise his back up making direct contect with the head. It's a suspendable play in my view.




I agree with this completely.
- MJL

First, off...obviously, I’m not Bill so I’m not replying for him. You and I and others hashed out this argument yesterday, and I have no desire to do so again.

We disagree. Many highly knowledgeable people can look at the same play and see things differently. This is called controversial. There is a level of which a play is so controversial that using it as an example for supplemental discipline will backfire. This is such a case.

Not everyone will agree on which plays should receive supplemental discipline. Of course, one team might always—the victim of the infraction. In this case, part of what people like me disagree with you on this play is who was the aggressor—Boychuck. Don’t even bother repeating your view—Voracek. The controversy is very relevant to why this is not a case for suspension. It is a minority viewpoint on a controversial play.

The in-game referee said the head was not the primary point of contact by not giving a game misconduct. The play has already been penalized. This whole debacle is a black stain on the already capricious WoJ.

will it be worth it? How fast of a process is it? I think he remains suspended while the appeal is considered. Not playing against the Sens is best case, maybe they think they can get the one game back and he can play against the Caps

Can a Player who receives Supplemental Discipline appeal the Department's decision?
Yes. Players may appeal all on-ice discipline to the Commissioner, provided written notice of the appeal is provided within 48 hours. The Commissioner will endeavor to hear all appeals on an expedited basis and will determine whether the decision was supported by clear and convincing evidence. A subsequent appeal right to a neutral arbitrator will be available for suspensions of six (6) or more games. The neutral arbitrator shall have full remedial authority in respect of the matter. The standard of review will be whether the League's finding of violation of the League Playing Rules and the penalty imposed were both supported by substantial evidence.

In all appeals (first to the Commissioner and then to the neutral arbitrator), the Player will remain suspended pending appeal (unless the full term of the Player's suspension has run).

The Commissioner and the neutral arbitrator may consider new evidence relating to the incident even if such evidence was not available at the time of the initial supplementary discipline hearing and decision or, in the case of an appeal to the neutral arbitrator, at the time of the Commissioner's hearing or decision.
- wcorvette

If it gets Voracek in the lineup for Thursday night, yes, it is worth it. They should be able to take Ottawa tonight without Jake in the lineup.

The Flyers can't afford to lose many games if they still want to get into the playoffs.

Has a DoPS decision ever been overturned from an appeal?
- aightwebang17

Wilson’s suspension was reduced from 20 to 14 games after going through a neutral arbitrator but idk if that’s considered a full overturn.

I hope you're betting on these predictions.
- Ftown19125

(frank) no. I’d be down a lot of money

Does this mean they are requesting and appeal AND that the appeal hearing be expedited or just that they are asking for the suspension to be shortened?

https://mobile.twitter.co...tatus/1105148601028743174