So how many games would Keith have received if it was Matt Cooke he clocked? If it is less than 5, then there is a real problem. And that problem we know exists.
- RickJ

That is a huge problem with the league.They have got to take the numbers off the sweaters and judge the act.

Sure. Probably better. But once Doan got 3, Keith should not have received more.
- Jam16sugar

I know some dont like it, but you have to remember Sedin is injured, Benn is not.

I dont know why it keeps getting overlooked.

Right but an elbow is a penalty....... Suspending players for making body checks that are legal is nonsense. the rules need to change before they suspend Kronwall
- sbroads24

And that is where you get your frontier justice. I would not be suprised next year if Kesler went after his knee, or head. As we all know Kesler has a Messier meanness to him. Both can be vicious dirty players.

Thanks..

Unfortunately it appears you are correct....

...Hopefully someday soon the NHL rule book and its enforcement will better resemble other major sports rather than the Roller Derby. The game’s popularity shouldn’t be held back due to dangerous behavior of players, subpar officiating and inconsistent rulings from the NHL.

Shanahan handing out fines/suspensions, is like asking Butch Cassidy to corral bank robbers. Some consistency, please!:http://bit.ly/GMUG5y

Today on My Fox Chicago....On Twitter @AlCimaglia
- Al

>Al, as always, a smart analysis of the big picture
>While many will point to record revenues, TV money, etc. and say the NHL is in great shape, I strongly beg to differ
>Nearly one third of NHL franchises -- 9 -- are under 90% attendance capacity, with 2 franchises in the 70% range http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
>Nashville can't even get to 100% this year -- their most exciting regular season ever -- same with St. Louis
>Many franchises are in serious financial trouble
>What the league doesn't understand, is that the "glue" of the NHL fanbase is men who have love hockey (played, coached, etc.) and have passed that onto their sons, who also now love the game
>Fans who truly know the game will begin to leave the sport -- in the US -- if the game continues to be run like the Wild West -- where players with great skill can be injured because the on-ice officials don't know how to run a game
>When the NHL went to two officials, the unintended consequences were that the league doubled the amount of bad officials
>In the old days with a single official, that official ran the game -- his way -- by knowing the habits of the players, their teams' history with each other, and talking to players during the game about playing fairly -- OR ELSE
>The NHL already has a serious credibility issue with the US media who regularly ignore the immense skill of the game and focus only on its "violent" side
>Now the very fairness of NHL hockey is at risk, and many who are the "glue" are just an incident away from their team getting shafted again from leaving

So how many games would Keith have received if it was Matt Cooke he clocked? If it is less than 5, then there is a real problem. And that problem we know exists.
- RickJ

Like I wrote today...http://bit.ly/GMUG5y


If Keith elbows a player on Nashville or Carolina he doesn't get as stiff of a punishment either.

I know some dont like it, but you have to remember Sedin is injured, Benn is not.

I dont know why it keeps getting overlooked.
- Mattjd123

Clearly the extent of Sedin's injury really didn't receive alot of consideration when Shamahan made his ruling on Keith.

Nobody knows how long he will be out, whether it is really severe or whether it isn't very serious and the Canucks were using it as a ploy to get a stiffer sentence. And who knows if the PA stepped in and started pushing back in defence of Keith.

What was the hurry to get Keith's hearing done, the Hawks don't play until tomorrow. Keith could have been given an indefinite suspension subject to more gathering of facts.

I think it's time for everyone to move on. Duncs deserved his suspension and 5 games is about what I thought he was going to get. Sedin's hit was a borderline head shot and in retrospect I wish #2 didn't retaliate but what's done is done. If Sedin is indeed "not well" according to Darren Dreger then #2 may have got off light. Regardless he's sitting at a time when the Hawks can't afford to be shorthanded.

As for Sedin, I hope he gets back soon. However when a team plays like the Canucks do, it's only a matter of time before the headshots and cheap hits start coming your way. Maybe they like being the most hated team in the NHL but in the long run its not a label that you should want. I don't think Sedin deserved the headshot by Duncs but I'm not surprised it happened and I don't think it will be the last time a guy head hunts a star player from Vancouver as long as guys like Burrows, Lapierre and Bieksa continue their antics.

I know some dont like it, but you have to remember Sedin is injured, Benn is not.

I dont know why it keeps getting overlooked.
- Mattjd123

The act should be penalized not the result. Just because Benn was not injured should not mean that Doan should have received a less severe suspension. If Sedin was not hurt Keith still should have received the suspension he got.

The act should be penalized not the result. Just because Benn was not injured should not mean that Doan should have received a less severe suspension. If Sedin was not hurt Keith still should have received the suspension he got.
- jhawk159

I agree with this mostly.I still think the time given to the crime is too soft. Five games is a mini vacation. On two other suspensions Bertuzzi (one year) and Matt Cooke (10 games) ,in both cases the players have returned and become model citizens of the NHL. Longer suspensions shouldbe handed out for blatent intent. To clean up the game then stiffer fines must be handed out in the future.Wipe the board clean next year and forewarn every team player and coach this is what you will get if you do this and it does not matter if you are a first time offender or not.

Clearly the extent of Sedin's injury really didn't receive alot of consideration when Shamahan made his ruling on Keith.

Nobody knows how long he will be out, whether it is really severe or whether it isn't very serious and the Canucks were using it as a ploy to get a stiffer sentence. And who knows if the PA stepped in and started pushing back in defence of Keith.

What was the hurry to get Keith's hearing done, the Hawks don't play until tomorrow. Keith could have been given an indefinite suspension subject to more gathering of facts.
- RickJ

Do you think the league is stupid? That they wouldn't do their due dilligence in determining the extent of Sedins injury?

And this is the NHL. Say what you want about their disciplinary strategy, but to imply that the Canucks or any organization would stray down unethical lane and lie about an injury to garner extra support in a suspension hearing is pretty ridiculous.

The act should be penalized not the result. Just because Benn was not injured should not mean that Doan should have received a less severe suspension. If Sedin was not hurt Keith still should have received the suspension he got.
- jhawk159

Just watch the video. Shanahan explains it all.

http://video.nhl.com/vide...onsole?catid=60&id=123678

Doan: Prior disipline, no intent, no injury

Keith: No prior record, intent, injury

There is the difference.

The act should be penalized not the result. Just because Benn was not injured should not mean that Doan should have received a less severe suspension. If Sedin was not hurt Keith still should have received the suspension he got.
- jhawk159

I understand your view, but I would suggest the act was suspended.

Do you think the league is stupid? That they wouldn't do their due dilligence in determining the extent of Sedins injury?

And this is the NHL. Say what you want about their disciplinary strategy, but to imply that the Canucks or any organization would stray down unethical lane and lie about an injury to garner extra support in a suspension hearing is pretty ridiculous.
- Mattjd123

I don't want to get into old news or open up other topics so I won't mention names .I have a good friend who was the head nurse on duty one night when an injury occured . The player was sitting up laughing seemed ok .She could not believe the injury report coming from the other team about the injuries the following day.

I know some dont like it, but you have to remember Sedin is injured, Benn is not.

I dont know why it keeps getting overlooked.
- Mattjd123

Because it shouldn't matter - as has been said here before, it's as stupid as the extra 2 minutes for blood: the act was the act - if Keith had hit him one inch higher or lower, Sedin may not have been injured (or could have been injured worse) - should that have determined a different punishment to Keith? It would still have been a reckless, dangerous hit of the kind the league wants to stop.

Just watch the video. Shanahan explains it all.

http://video.nhl.com/vide...onsole?catid=60&id=123678

Doan: Prior disipline, no intent, no injury

Keith: No prior record, intent, injury

There is the difference.
- micah555

This is where Shanny is wrong...what if hypothetically speaking,player X slashes player Y,and player Y retaliates by swinging his stick at player X's head,and misses..there is no injury because he didn't hit him,in my opinion he should be suspended rather harshly just because of the act..it's time to forget about how badly a player was injured or wasn't injured..Kubina took a cheap shot to Bolland last year,got suspended..Hamhuis took a cheap shot at Bollands head,and because Bolland wasn't hurt Hamhuis shouldn't get suspended???wtf??!!!

Do you think the league is stupid? That they wouldn't do their due dilligence in determining the extent of Sedins injury?

And this is the NHL. Say what you want about their disciplinary strategy, but to imply that the Canucks or any organization would stray down unethical lane and lie about an injury to garner extra support in a suspension hearing is pretty ridiculous.
- Mattjd123

Yeah sure. Competing in the NHL is just like a game of Monopoly with your daughter - play nice and have some fun because who wins doesn't really matter. How naieve of me.

All players do stupid things once in a while. It's a contact sport. Emotional sport. I don't blame the players so much.
But what I don't get (and it might have already been said) is how the ref's see Keith's hit as two minutes and the league see it as 5 games. Something wrong here. Don't the refs work for the league. Don't the refs get instructed on what the league expects?

Yeah sure. Competing in the NHL is just like a game of Monopoly with your daughter - play nice and have some fun because who wins doesn't really matter. How naieve of me.
- RickJ

We know it happens all the time . You see it game to game where a player is diving and faking injury .

I agree with this mostly.I still think the time given to the crime is too soft. Five games is a mini vacation. On two other suspensions Bertuzzi (one year) and Matt Cooke (10 games) ,in both cases the players have returned and become model citizens of the NHL. Longer suspensions shouldbe handed out for blatent intent. To clean up the game then stiffer fines must be handed out in the future.Wipe the board clean next year and forewarn every team player and coach this is what you will get if you do this and it does not matter if you are a first time offender or not.
- VANTEL

Agreed, Cooke still gets a bad rap, but he's a different player now. Last I checked he only has about 40 min. in penalties this year, but most importantly...zero garbage. So you are correct, in several instances harsh punishment has eliminated bad behavior.

Keith deserves ten, and Sedin deserves nothing for the hit on Keith? Please.

Here's another way of looking at it. How much did you think Kronwall deserved for the hit on Kesler 12/21? Honestly. Don't lie for the sake of argument. Tell the truth.

And how much did he get?

I know they're somewhat different kinds of plays. But was there intent to injure in both cases? Yes. Any idiot knows it.

Does Kronwall have a track record of trying to take guys heads off (even though some of his hits are clean)? Yes.


Think Rene Bourque hit on Backstrom, that hit killed the Caps for this year! How about suspending a guy for a hit like Keiths for a long as it takes for Sedin to return? Chances are 5 games will be an easy way out.
I have no issue with suspending Keith. But it's time Shanahan stopped soft-pedaling certain guys. It's become laughable. And yes, anyone asking, I do think Kronwall is guilty of dirty hits almost as often as not.

Some are clean. Some are not.
- John Jaeckel

This is where Shanny is wrong...what if hypothetically speaking,player X slashes player Y,and player Y retaliates by swinging his stick at player X's head,and misses..there is no injury because he didn't hit him,in my opinion he should be suspended rather harshly just because of the act..it's time to forget about how badly a player was injured or wasn't injured..Kubina took a cheap shot to Bolland last year,got suspended..Hamhuis took a cheap shot at Bollands head,and because Bolland wasn't hurt Hamhuis shouldn't get suspended???wtf??!!!
- captainserious

Keith should have gotten 10 games for that hit. Not because he deserved the ten I am okay with the 5 but because it would have sent a message to Everyone else. The 10 would have allowed Keith to rest before the playoffs and the NHL would come out looking like they are taking this seriously. Would have been a win win situation

I think it's time for everyone to move on. Duncs deserved his suspension and 5 games is about what I thought he was going to get. Sedin's hit was a borderline head shot and in retrospect I wish #2 didn't retaliate but what's done is done. If Sedin is indeed "not well" according to Darren Dreger then #2 may have got off light. Regardless he's sitting at a time when the Hawks can't afford to be shorthanded.

As for Sedin, I hope he gets back soon. However when a team plays like the Canucks do, it's only a matter of time before the headshots and cheap hits start coming your way. Maybe they like being the most hated team in the NHL but in the long run its not a label that you should want. I don't think Sedin deserved the headshot by Duncs but I'm not surprised it happened and I don't think it will be the last time a guy head hunts a star player from Vancouver as long as guys like Burrows, Lapierre and Bieksa continue their antics.
- dan9189

I really like this post. On one hand, Keith is rightfully suspended, it has happened, it's done. On the other hand, your subsequent comments capture something true I think; the Canucks and their fans might not like this, but there is a pretty widespread perception among other teams and fans that the Canucks are quite dirty (Edit: in terms of perception, that is to state the obvious perhaps-but this isn't just a case of groupthink, so to speak). They are arguably the most detested team in the league (I know, no real way to measure that, but recent player polls seem to suggest it). I too am not surprised that it happened to this team, and I won't be surprised to see Vancouver in the thick of these things in the future with this particular team makeup.

Just watch the video. Shanahan explains it all.

http://video.nhl.com/vide...onsole?catid=60&id=123678

Doan: Prior disipline, no intent, no injury

Keith: No prior record, intent, injury

There is the difference.
- micah555

Shanny said the league "accepted" Doan's assertion that the elbow was "unintentional". I say HORSE-SH!T it wasn't intentional.

I really like this post. On one hand, Keith is rightfully suspended, it has happened, it's done. On the other hand, your subsequent comments capture something true I think; the Canucks and their fans might like this, but there is a pretty widespread perception among other teams and fans that the Canucks are quite dirty (Edit: in terms of perception, that is to state the obvious perhaps-but this isn't just a case of groupthink, so to speak). They are arguably the most detested team in the league (I know, no real way to measure that, but recent player polls seem to suggest it). I too am not surprised that it happened to this team, and I won't be surprised to see Vancouver in the thick of these things in the future with this particular team makeup.
- AL SEC0RD

I watch the Canucks game after game and year after year. They are no dirtier than any other team. Most of that is media fabricated by CBC and other Eastern Media. They do have players that people love to hate. We get that.

A problem with the league is that if they do see crap going on that is missed by the games refs then they should follow up with suspensions or fines . Burrows Lapierre Kesler Luongo and the Sedins have faces you love to punch . Are their faces any worse than Marchands Chara Lucic Joe Thortons Doughty Bollands Keiths ?

I really like this post. On one hand, Keith is rightfully suspended, it has happened, it's done. On the other hand, your subsequent comments capture something true I think; the Canucks and their fans might not like this, but there is a pretty widespread perception among other teams and fans that the Canucks are quite dirty (Edit: in terms of perception, that is to state the obvious perhaps-but this isn't just a case of groupthink, so to speak). They are arguably the most detested team in the league (I know, no real way to measure that, but recent player polls seem to suggest it). I too am not surprised that it happened to this team, and I won't be surprised to see Vancouver in the thick of these things in the future with this particular team makeup.
- AL SEC0RD

Not sure the coach helps much either. I believe that Cooke stated in an interview regarding his newfound good behavior that the Pens management gave him his marching orders to clean it up or else. If so, that's certainly an example of management affecting the behavior (and reputation) of its players.