That's fine John, and I would have been fine if Daniel had received a one game suspension if that is what Shanahan had decided. My only point was that I didn't hear much from Chicago fans when it was Daniel who was hurt. Its exactly as you said "how would you feel if your star player got run"... its an epidemic and every team's players seem to be doing it.
- Slacker

What are you talking about? Everyone in the free world knew and expected Keith to be suspended. 2-3-4-5 games didn't matter it was going to happen and he deserved it. How are you looking for pity now? I don't remember reading many people who thought Keith deserved nothing.

This!

Again, not trying to troll here, just my assessment as an impartial observer.

Daniel Sedin is still out from that intentional elbow and it may have cost them their playoffs for this year. Keith? he got a nice rest for the last few regular season games that really didnt mean anything, and was back in time for the playoffs.

I am also having a hard time seeing the reasons why the Torres hit was the catastrophe many are making it out to be. was it late? maybe a bit, but it is a fast game. Hossa had just played the puck, from what I saw, so he was fair game for a second or two. It was not a blind side hit, it was head on. contact with the head was made, but it wasn't a flying elbow, it was shoulder. this is one of the key components, but heads are hit all the time in bodychecks, that doesnt mean you suspend the guy every time.

the biggest issue is torres leaving his feet. there is no doubt he did come off the ice, but as the snow from his skates shows, he was in the process of stopping. maybe it was to launch himself, maybe it was to lessen the impact (not likely, but still a possibility).

Hossa was facing Torres, and should have seen the hit coming. not to blame him for his injury, but having just played the puck, you have to expect a hit, especially when you know a guy like Torres is on the ice.

My thought is that given the evidence of a charge, and no penalty on the play, I would say a 1-2 game suspension (these are playoff games remember!) at most would be suitable. I would also not be surprised if no suspension was levied.

Given that they carted him off on a stretcher, and that shanahan is apparently drawing the number of games from a hat now, your guess is as good as mine.
- jarmstrong

He ran him
He jumped & left his feet
He plowed his shoulder into Hossa's face
.. after the puck was gone .. quite a bit gone

That's what's wrong with the hit.

Most of us agreed that Keith's hit was a cheap shot and worthy of a suspension.
- jhawk159

Most?

I was just debating the fact that I don't see this as worse then the Keith elbow.

Now with Torres history he should probably be suspended longer.

I said it earlier, but I'll say it again. The league needs to go to more of a fixed suspension system.

Hit to the head = 2 games
Involving an elbow =2 games
Charging as well = 2 games
Leaves his feet = 3 games
Late = 2 games
Intentional = 3 games
Player (on the receiving end) leaves the game =2 games
Repeat offender = 3^(x-1), where x is number of times suspended. So first suspension 0, second = 3, third 9, fourth 27, and fifth 81.

A panel of five reviews each the play and votes on each category. If the majority check yes then the player in question gets the allotted number of games for the category.

The panel could consist of:
1 player (NHLPA rep?)
1 coach
1 team executive (all 3 from other conference)
1 referee
1 NHL executive

IF a vote is 3-2 for a category, a player may appeal to a new panel of 5 whose decision is absolutely final.

So torres gets 14+ this is his third suspension it think so 14+9=23

Its rigid and its harsh, but thats the point. The players will know before they hit someone what the consequences will be. The games may not be perfect for each category, it was just my initial thoughts.

The NHL can use instant replay to determine a goal so why can't the "War Room" let the refs know they missed a blatant cheap shot so the questionable hit can be penalized in the game.
- jhawk159

Exactly. Anytime a guy gets taken off on a stretcher and the rules say you can't review a missed call, the rules are too rigid...

This!

Again, not trying to troll here, just my assessment as an impartial observer.

Daniel Sedin is still out from that intentional elbow and it may have cost them their playoffs for this year. Keith? he got a nice rest for the last few regular season games that really didnt mean anything, and was back in time for the playoffs.

I am also having a hard time seeing the reasons why the Torres hit was the catastrophe many are making it out to be. was it late? maybe a bit, but it is a fast game. Hossa had just played the puck, from what I saw, so he was fair game for a second or two. It was not a blind side hit, it was head on. contact with the head was made, but it wasn't a flying elbow, it was shoulder. this is one of the key components, but heads are hit all the time in bodychecks, that doesnt mean you suspend the guy every time.

the biggest issue is torres leaving his feet. there is no doubt he did come off the ice, but as the snow from his skates shows, he was in the process of stopping. maybe it was to launch himself, maybe it was to lessen the impact (not likely, but still a possibility).

Hossa was facing Torres, and should have seen the hit coming. not to blame him for his injury, but having just played the puck, you have to expect a hit, especially when you know a guy like Torres is on the ice.

My thought is that given the evidence of a charge, and no penalty on the play, I would say a 1-2 game suspension (these are playoff games remember!) at most would be suitable. I would also not be surprised if no suspension was levied.

Given that they carted him off on a stretcher, and that shanahan is apparently drawing the number of games from a hat now, your guess is as good as mine.
- jarmstrong

Thank you, counselor.

The puck was well away from Hossa. Torres had all kins of time to pull up. he made no effort to stop.

He left the ice

His elbow came up slightly on the follow through— did not hit Hossa but shows he was trying to "jack him."

Torres is a repeat offender with multiple suspensions.

Case closed.

There is no official word, but based on what I am hearing, Hossa is done for the year. Long term is the larger issue.
- John Jaeckel

Any truth to the fact he may have broken his windpipe/throat?

I will also add, without the Shaw thing the same day, it would be easier to accept. The two combined really speak to a system that is broken from the ice up to Bettman.
- John Jaeckel

I'll add, and I don't know if anyone has brought this up, the mechanism may be functioning as designed, but from the outside it looks rigged. First Keith's hearing was a conference call, then it was in person. All these other hearings take place, and the result is out within a few hours, but there's a long delay after Shaw's hearing. It just looks like the process is being monkeyed with behind the scenes.

Most?

I was just debating the fact that I don't see this as worse then the Keith elbow.

Now with Torres history he should probably be suspended longer.
- Cfser

You'd be surprised sure some fans are homers and will never acknowledge their player was in the wrong but that's true with every teams fan base. Bottom line for me is I enjoy hockey it's the best game to watch and I really wouldn't want to see any player hurt yours or ours.

the awful thing that is happening now, is no-name guys like torres and carkner, are being dressed to head-hunt. who cares if these guys are suspended? Also, the officiating has been pisspoor, retribution gets penalized ie dubinsky kicked out of game 2 and your guy getting a 10 for sticking up for his guy.
- cnugget99

Whoa dude. Carkner went to fight a 6-7 245 lb guy who was roughing up his small superstar teammate. Boyle should have fought back. Dubinsky got thrown out for 3rd man in which he was. Torres hit was cheap. Due to his history, he should get at least 25 games. A message would be sent.

I might be wrong, but I believe that fans didn't so much want Sedin suspended as they wanted to see ref call him on the elbow right then and there. Without calling him on the elbow, which we can all agree was an elbow, Keith felt he needed to reply. This is part of the issue in the league, if the refs keep bumbling through games missing this and missing that, players are starting to take it into their own hands.

No sane person wants to see the reaction of Keith in their game. No sane person wants to see Carkner assault some unwilling guy everytime he decides what occured is uncalled for.

What people want is for the refs to make the right calls before things escalate but lately I find myself believing the NHL likes things to escalate. To me, thats the real issue.
- Lohaus

This guy said it perfectly!! The call on the ice is made correctly Sedin would not have been injured. This does not make what Keith did ok!!! The league has to take some sort of a stand with the refs. If Sedin is called for 2 minutes the Keith hit probably would have never happened. If the calls on the ice are better do the players feel they have to take it into their own hands?

Any truth to the fact he may have broken his windpipe/throat?
- stuckey

Have not heard that. I heard it was in the spinal area.

I say he gets four games? The hit was late...why does he keep doing this?
- LeftCoaster

Because the NHL allows him to do it and teams keep adding him to their roster every year.

I fully expect Brendan Shanahan to suspend Marian Hossa for targeting Raffi Torres' flying shoulder with his chin.
- Sconnie

I might be wrong, but I believe that fans didn't so much want Sedin suspended as they wanted to see ref call him on the elbow right then and there. Without calling him on the elbow, which we can all agree was an elbow, Keith felt he needed to reply. This is part of the issue in the league, if the refs keep bumbling through games missing this and missing that, players are starting to take it into their own hands.

No sane person wants to see the reaction of Keith in their game. No sane person wants to see Carkner assault some unwilling guy everytime he decides what occured is uncalled for.

What people want is for the refs to make the right calls before things escalate but lately I find myself believing the NHL likes things to escalate. To me, thats the real issue.
- Lohaus

This.
Exactly this.
+1000

I agree with you JJ. I scoured the blogs and did alot of article reading after the Shaw decision and another felony on ice we witnessed last nite.

The hockey world is seemingly of one voice with the mindboggling farce that Shammyhan and the NHL has become. Outside of Phx partisans looking the other way and defending this....across the board there is real disgust an angst that a guy like torres keeps getting employed to run around to seek and destroy nite after nite.

I would like to think his pitiful NHL career is over and he is gone from anywhere 20-40 games! And no team picks him up!!

Thank you, counselor.

The puck was well away from Hossa. Torres had all kins of time to pull up. he made no effort to stop.

He left the ice

His elbow came up slightly on the follow through— did not hit Hossa but shows he was trying to "jack him."

Torres is a repeat offender with multiple suspensions.

Case closed.
- John Jaeckel

This hit was worse than Carcillo's on Gilbert and he got what 6-8 games(reg season)?
If that is criteria then Torres gets 12-15 minimum.

Go to the 15 second mark. Clearly leaves his feet before the hit.
- PoileRulezzzYo

obviously a very dirty hit.
however the hit by neal on couturier was at least as dirty.
neal receives a 1-game suspension (i'm not sure for the hit on couturier, the dirty hit on giroux or the combination of both).

the 'logical ' suspension then would be 1 game for the hit + extra x games for torres being a repeated offender. the 'x' will probably end up to be 4-6 games, so final suspension of 5-7 games.

by the way, 1 game for neal is a joke, should at least have been 5 games..
compare wizniewski's hit beginning of the season to neal's and torres' hits, and it's clear that both should receive 5+ games suspensions.. (wiz got 6??).

Whoa dude. Carkner went to fight a 6-7 245 lb guy who was roughing up his small superstar teammate. Boyle should have fought back. Dubinsky got thrown out for 3rd man in which he was. Torres hit was cheap. Due to his history, he should get at least 25 games. A message would be sent.
- 12,9 and 22

I may be in the minority, but I think Carkner did a great job. Boyle should have fought him like a man......... What would you think if some idiot just started punching Kane in the face. You have to expect that you will have to answer for that.

I'll add, and I don't know if anyone has brought this up, the mechanism may be functioning as designed, but from the outside it looks rigged. First Keith's hearing was a conference call, then it was in person. All these other hearings take place, and the result is out within a few hours, but there's a long delay after Shaw's hearing. It just looks like the process is being monkeyed with behind the scenes.
- MartiniMan

Well, no one will be immune in this.

Bettman was in the UC last night (I was told yesterday). Use your imagination as to conversations that may have taken place. And you will close to what happened.

Have not heard that. I heard it was in the spinal area.
- John Jaeckel

With the way they carted him off the ice, neck brace and all, I wouldn't doubt this.

Have not heard that. I heard it was in the spinal area.
- John Jaeckel

first reports were encouraging from the standpoint of recovery but of course no time table

This is a fast game, things happen. Torres is careless and has no regard for other players. He's continued to do this type of hit, and wont stop, suspending him is NOT working.
Anyway, my main issue is the consistency of the reffing in ALL the nhl series. It's an absolute joke and quite frankly is having a huge impact on the games and potential series.
I know the Hawks PP is terrible, but a 5 minute penalty should have been called and maybe or maybe not the Hawks would have put a couple on the board but the main point is the officials potentially had a direct impact in outcome of a game.

Have not heard that. I heard it was in the spinal area.
- John Jaeckel

I'm surprised they released him from the hospital. What's with the Hawks press release that results are encouraging and Hossa should make a full recovery?

Most?

I was just debating the fact that I don't see this as worse then the Keith elbow.

Now with Torres history he should probably be suspended longer.
- Cfser

Yes, most. I would say better than 90% of us on this thread. Now, not everyone agreed with the length, but MOST thought he would and should have been suspended.