Paul Stewart: Greig, Rielly and "The Code"

A refreshing, common sense take. Thanks Paul.

Agreed, Paul!

This is why I hate the instigator rules today, and their exponential penalties, ie fines and suspensions. Most of the chicken sh!t players never answer for their transgressions.

Would have been appropriate to force him into a fight, settle it, and move on. The fighting builds the rivalries, and anticipation of the next game. Instead, the league is trying to eliminate part of what makes this such great game, trying to gain casual fans. So stupid!

Always a good read from Stewie

Odd take from a man who started out his career as a goon

Odd take from a man who started out his career as a goon
- BernardShakey

Did you read not his blog post, or did you just fail to comprehend it?

One of the reasons the NHL will never be as popular as other sports is this ‘code’ that wrings the personality and emotion out of the game.

Is there a bigger ‘up yours’ than an NFL player spiking the ball in the end zone? Yet it happens multiple times a game. And the team that gets scored on doesn’t feel compelled to attack the spiker.

Don’t want a guy to take a slap shot into an empty net? Play better.

One of the reasons the NHL will never be as popular as other sports is this ‘code’ that wrings the personality and emotion out of the game.

Is there a bigger ‘up yours’ than an NFL player spiking the ball in the end zone? Yet it happens multiple times a game. And the team that gets scored on doesn’t feel compelled to attack the spiker.

Don’t want a guy to take a slap shot into an empty net? Play better.
- scottak

Go watch what happened when TO showed up Dallas by spiking the ball on the star.

Go watch what happened when TO showed up Dallas by spiking the ball on the star.
- jmatchett383

So, 1 time out of 20,000? 40,000? You’re making my point for me.

So, 1 time out of 20,000? 40,000? You’re making my point for me.
- scottak

No, he’s not. There are penalties for taunting, and it’s as big a penalty as there is in football.

You can’t even remove your helmet for the cameras after a big play.

It’s an apple and oranges comparison, but there are “codes” in most all sports!

Another? How bout showing up the pitcher after hitting one out of the park in baseball. You’ll get plunked! How many want to see a 100moh fastball being deliberately thrown at you?

You learn the codes in whatever sport you play, but they are there.

Agreed, Paul!

This is why I hate the instigator rules today, and their exponential penalties, ie fines and suspensions. Most of the chicken sh!t players never answer for their transgressions.

Would have been appropriate to force him into a fight, settle it, and move on. The fighting builds the rivalries, and anticipation of the next game. Instead, the league is trying to eliminate part of what makes this such great game, trying to gain casual fans. So stupid!
- Hokeeguy9

Nothing stopped Reilly from dropping the gloves.. In fact, the penalty would have been much less if he dropped the gloves instead of going "caveman" on Greig.

When Bertuzzi shot it over the crossbar on that empty net the other night the first thing that popped into my head was Rielly cross checking him in the head.

One of the reasons the NHL will never be as popular as other sports is this ‘code’ that wrings the personality and emotion out of the game.

Is there a bigger ‘up yours’ than an NFL player spiking the ball in the end zone? Yet it happens multiple times a game. And the team that gets scored on doesn’t feel compelled to attack the spiker.

Don’t want a guy to take a slap shot into an empty net? Play better.
- scottak

Uh. You know what baseball is right?

Appreciate your take and I agree with it for the most part. I don’t think Reilly meant to hit him in the face but the fact is he did.
The problem I have is with the league not having equal consequences for very similar actions.
The Trouba stick to the head of Trent Frederic earlier in the year was extremely violent and more capable of causing long-term damage than Reilly’s cross check to the jaw. At the very least the same. Yet Trouba gets no suspension whatsoever.
I think that’s what makes fans so frustrated is there’s no rhyme or reason as to when there’s a fine or a suspension and when a guy gets off Scott free. If Reilly deserved 5 games then Trouba deserved at least 10, if not more.

Appreciate your take and I agree with it for the most part. I don’t think Reilly meant to hit him in the face but the fact is he did.
The problem I have is with the league not having equal consequences for very similar actions.
The Trouba stick to the head of Trent Frederic earlier in the year was extremely violent and more capable of causing long-term damage than Reilly’s cross check to the jaw. At the very least the same. Yet Trouba gets no suspension whatsoever.
I think that’s what makes fans so frustrated is there’s no rhyme or reason as to when there’s a fine or a suspension and when a guy gets off Scott free. If Reilly deserved 5 games then Trouba deserved at least 10, if not more.
- Djmbrown

Agreed! I alluded to it in an earlier post. There needs to be consistency and accountability.

I don’t think Reilly cross check was that bad, he kind of let up. Grieg was totally fine. A suspendable play 100%, but 6 games was absurd. 2-3 would have suffice.