This is all a plot by the Commish. Phase 1: Rinaldo got the ban yesterday. Phase 2: Sestito gets banned fro something marginal (or not marginal) in the Buffalo game. Phase 3: Crosby comes back on Saturday with two of Philly's biggest hitters sidelined. With a little help from the zebras, Crosby racks up 2 PP goals and an assist in a three point effort......(scroll down)......


























....before the wild card, Braydon Schenn levels him cleanly, puts him out for the rest of the game (and season), and ultimately gets the game winner in OT. ((frank) tha Pens!)
- Lexington Flyer

Schenn is going to be a fan favourite in Philly for a long time.

I love his game.

Is Crosby coming back on Saturday? That would be a great birthday present.

I know all of this.. I am just saying that in my opinion it was bull poop. They are not suspending him for his hit... they are suspending him for being a pain in the ass. They are tired of him walking the line.. but thats exactly what he needs to do. He didnt target the head. He was deserved of a 2 minute penalty.. and thats what he got.

It would be like suspending a guy for continual roughing penalties..
- jak521

I just don't know what is and isn't suspendable sometimes because it just seems as tho the decisions are often all over the place. Some hits I am certain are suspendable don't even get a fine while others i feel are marginal do get fines or suspensions. I think Shanny is doing a better job than in the past but that doesn't mean I still think its as consistent as it needs to be

If the rookies do start to hit the "rookie wall" I wouldnt mind seeing them put on the same line to work out of it. Schenn-Couturier-Read.

I know all of this.. I am just saying that in my opinion it was bull poop. They are not suspending him for his hit... they are suspending him for being a pain in the ass. They are tired of him walking the line.. but thats exactly what he needs to do. He didnt target the head. He was deserved of a 2 minute penalty.. and thats what he got.

It would be like suspending a guy for continual roughing penalties..
- jak521

It wouldn't be exactly like suspending a guy for continual roughing, though. The late hit and slewfoot he picked up last week put him in the mix as a guy who had received some form of supplemental discipline. In all honesty, he could have picked up a game for the slew foot.

Had he not had the past incidents-and gotten by with a slap on the wrist-I agree there wouldn't have been much, if anything, past the minor penalty. By assessing the fine for the slew foot, Shanahan said, you're on notice. I'm cutting you a little slack, but don't screw up.

The way that discipline is handled, you can't look at just the hit.

Cant disagree with that. If im the Flyers thats what I ask for if the Kings are going to offer me Schenn. You either match that prospect or we dont make a deal. Columbus still gave up a nice package to acquire Carter. LA also for Richards.
- stveshdy

The deals for Carter and Richards were pretty much equal. You could easily just swicth the names and still have equal deals.

Voracek plus the 8th pick is about equal to Simmonds and Schenn.

I'm in the minority on this but I think Carter will fetch a very good return still.

the #1 issue most teams in the NHL have is goal scoring and Carter can be a top 10 NHL goal scorer.

I think regardless of what is happening with him Columbus he'll fetch a solid return.

To be honest if the Jackets make two big deals with Carter and Nash they could turn that franchise around quickly. If LA is a destination I'd be demanding Bernier, Voynov, Toffoli and so on.
- Buts16

He should get a good return. Just because a guy wants to be moved doesn't mean you have to move him. If I'm the Jackets and nobody meets my price, Mr Carter will just have to deal with being in Ohio.

Moving Nash and Carter, not to mention dumping pending FA's for picks, could set up the Jackets to be a good team in a few years.

Schenn is going to be a fan favourite in Philly for a long time.

I love his game.
- Buts16

You n me both. Definitely nice to see him getting over the initial struggles and getting his "pro" legs under him.

As they maturem he, Cooter, and Giroux down the middle have the potential to be nearly as potent as Crosby, Malkin, Staal.

I just don't know what is and isn't suspendable sometimes because it just seems as tho the decisions are often all over the place. Some hits I am certain are suspendable don't even get a fine while others i feel are marginal do get fines or suspensions. I think Shanny is doing a better job than in the past but that doesn't mean I still think its as consistent as it needs to be
- nastyflyergirl

I think you need to set a standard and follow suite.. otherwise let the (frank)ing rule book dictate what is and isnt a penalty.

The "rule of thumb" for suspension seems to be attempt to and or connecting with a head shot (for hits of this nature). Tell me where in that hit did Rinaldo attempt to/ make contact with the head. What I saw was a routine charging penalty.. that was given the routine 2 minutes penalty.

The biggest problem is that the league suspends names not infractions.

The deals for Carter and Richards were pretty much equal. You could easily just swicth the names and still have equal deals.

Voracek plus the 8th pick is about equal to Simmonds and Schenn.
- RooNosHockey

Not really.

Schenn was a known quantity, a kid almost universally regarded as one of the top prospects in hockey.

Had Couturier gone when he should have, in the top 4 or 5, then the Flyers end up with a kid like Hamilton, Zibanejad or Scheifele...not bad players, but not as good as Couturier-who was the top rated prospect in the draft before mono hurt his stock.

I think you need to set a standard and follow suite.. otherwise let the (frank)ing rule book dictate what is and isnt a penalty.

The "rule of thumb" for suspension seems to be attempt to and or connecting with a head shot (for hits of this nature). Tell me where in that hit did Rinaldo attempt to/ make contact with the head. What I saw was a routine charging penalty.. that was given the routine 2 minutes penalty.

The biggest problem is that the league suspends names not infractions.
- jak521

Then Matt Cooke, who has had repeated suspensions should get the same suspension as a guy who had his first questionable hit?

Welcome to the No Hitting League.

The 2 minute charge penalty was all Rinaldo should of received. It was because he slightly left his feet. The head in no way was targeted and the point of contact was his chest.

Shanahan said it himself, Ericsson should not have been looking at his pass.

This league has become quite pathetic when it comes to the refs and discipline.
- flyers2001

yea its a complete crap call by shanny go figure he's showing favortism to jhis buddies and screwing the flyers

He should get a good return. Just because a guy wants to be moved doesn't mean you have to move him. If I'm the Jackets and nobody meets my price, Mr Carter will just have to deal with being in Ohio.

Moving Nash and Carter, not to mention dumping pending FA's for picks, could set up the Jackets to be a good team in a few years.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. Columbus needs to move both for a package. They need mutiple players to become a good franchise. They have some pieces all ready but the main piece missing is a goaltender. They have to get one back in any deal they make for Carter or Nash.

It wouldn't be exactly like suspending a guy for continual roughing, though. The late hit and slewfoot he picked up last week put him in the mix as a guy who had received some form of supplemental discipline. In all honesty, he could have picked up a game for the slew foot.

Had he not had the past incidents-and gotten by with a slap on the wrist-I agree there wouldn't have been much, if anything, past the minor penalty. By assessing the fine for the slew foot, Shanahan said, you're on notice. I'm cutting you a little slack, but don't screw up.

The way that discipline is handled, you can't look at just the hit.
- Jsaquella

The problem is that by the book thats exactly how it should be handled. If we followed the book.. to a T.. issues would be resolved.

If he had injured him with the charge.. by the rules he should receive a match penalty and face disciplinary action. Although I dont necessarily agree with that WRITTEN rule.. I think it is a great place to start. He didnt injure him. He didnt make contact with the head. So suspend the guy for a routine penalty because he was a bad boy a few games earlier? Thats garbage to me.

This is how I see it. It is either a suspendable offense, or it isnt. Not.. it was a penalty that we wouldnt normally find suspendable, but because were pissed at you.. youre suspended for 2 games. That is bullpoop to me.

Of course this is all just my opinion of how poop is handled in this league.

The way Shanahan explained it on the video makes sense. He elevated himself off of his skates to deliever the blow. Hes head should be below the shoulders of Ericsson bc of the size difference. In the video Rinaldos head is almost equal to Ericsson who was standing straight up. He may have not targeted the head but he left his skates to hit him. If he stays on his skates and delivers the blow there would be no suspension. His past definately played a part in this suspension (two fines in less than a week). Those are like warnings to me and he still left his feet to hit Ericsson. My opinion that deserves a fine. I think the check itself would of been clean had he keeped his skates on the ice.
- stveshdy

i must not be looking at the right video but because of what i have seen he did not launch himself and he barely left his skates.
what i'm confused is that Kronwall does this magical turn backwards and jumps into a player but that's now legal. The last couple of times i've seen him throw this hit, he leaves his feet.

all in all it's all about reputation. Zac should just retire now because he will never catch a break.

I think you need to set a standard and follow suite.. otherwise let the (frank)ing rule book dictate what is and isnt a penalty.

The "rule of thumb" for suspension seems to be attempt to and or connecting with a head shot (for hits of this nature). Tell me where in that hit did Rinaldo attempt to/ make contact with the head. What I saw was a routine charging penalty.. that was given the routine 2 minutes penalty.

The biggest problem is that the league suspends names not infractions.
- jak521

and flyers jerseys
I love kronwall but he's gotten away with much worse

Schenn is going to be a fan favourite in Philly for a long time.

I love his game.
- Buts16

i'm wary of this now

Schenn is going to be a fan favourite in Philly for a long time.

I love his game.
- Buts16

I'd love to see schenn knock him into next season eat it shanny

Exactly. Columbus needs to move both for a package. They need mutiple players to become a good franchise. They have some pieces all ready but the main piece missing is a goaltender. They have to get one back in any deal they make for Carter or Nash.
- stveshdy

Any deals involving them will see them get 3 pieces back for each one, at least.

Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe says he could see a 3 team deal with Nash going to Toronto, Bobrovsky going to Columbus and the Jackets and Flyers sharing a slew of "Goodies from Toronto"

Not sure I see that myself, but it is possible.

Then Matt Cooke, who has had repeated suspensions should get the same suspension as a guy who had his first questionable hit?
- Jsaquella

No, your missing what I am saying.

IF Rinaldo through a suspendable hit.. then by all means. If he had attempted to/ made contact with the head, and had a history of it.. by all means give him a bit longer then last time.

But dont suspend a guy for truly unworthy of suspension hit, just because he had been fined before. He paid his fine.. which was their (Shannys) form of punishment.

i'm wary of this now
- Don'tForgetTocchet

In Flyers speak a long time is 2 years

It wouldn't be exactly like suspending a guy for continual roughing, though. The late hit and slewfoot he picked up last week put him in the mix as a guy who had received some form of supplemental discipline. In all honesty, he could have picked up a game for the slew foot.

Had he not had the past incidents-and gotten by with a slap on the wrist-I agree there wouldn't have been much, if anything, past the minor penalty. By assessing the fine for the slew foot, Shanahan said, you're on notice. I'm cutting you a little slack, but don't screw up.

The way that discipline is handled, you can't look at just the hit.
- Jsaquella

I just want consistency...one of the biggest slew footers and dirty players out there is Malkin. It's funny how Ovie has gotten suspended but Malkin continues to be the apple of the leagues eye since Sidney has been injured.
No matter if you are a star in the league or just an average player, you do the time if you do the crime.

I remember one play in the playoffs a couple of years ago that Malkin, I think, was third man in (suspendable offense) and someone the league turned a blind eye. Star treatment. This is what the the fans are constantly b!tching about.

i must not be looking at the right video but because of what i have seen he did not launch himself and he barely left his skates.
what i'm confused is that Kronwall does this magical turn backwards and jumps into a player but that's now legal. The last couple of times i've seen him throw this hit, he leaves his feet.

all in all it's all about reputation. Zac should just retire now because he will never catch a break.
- phi1671

Theres a difference between Rinaldos hit and Kronwalls. Rinaldo was flying in the offensive zone at full speed and left his skates. Kronwall skated backwards (it seemed) and laid a hip check on Briere.

Reputation always plays a factor. Star players always get calls do they not?

and flyers jerseys
I love kronwall but he's gotten away with much worse
- 2Real

See my post that has the Torres hit in it. Same punishment for a guy who has been suspended before for an identical hit (not identical to Rinaldos, but to his own previous hit), was fined 3 times for similar hits, and threw a direct leaping head shot on a guy...

RDS is reporting that the Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Rick Nash on the block. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson wouldn't comment on the story, which isn't too surprising. This comes just over a week after Sportsnet's John Shannon reportedly talked to friends of Nash, who said that the winger wasn't happy with the direction of the Columbus franchise. Shannon's sources also said that Nash would entertain trade offers, but he doesn't want to demand a trade. Perhaps Columbus is testing the waters because Nash is unhappy. Another possibility is that the Blue Jackets are just seeing what they could get for Nash. When your franchise is stuck in the mud like the Blue Jackets is, it's worth exploring all possibilities.
Source: Columbus Dispatch