Ryan Wilson: You Reap What You Sow NHL, NHLPA, and Department of Player Safety You Reap What You Sow NHL, NHLPA, and Department of Player Safety

The whole Pens nation seems to be quite pissed off. I do understand why. That play was really really disgusting.

The whole Pens nation seems to be quite pissed off. I do understand why. That play was really really disgusting.
- OnIceEnforcer

This isn't a Penguins issue, it is a league issue that impacts all players.

This isn't a Penguins issue, it is a league issue that impacts all players.
- Ryan_Wilson

Sure it is, I agree. But tonight it's the Pens fans, bloggers who are pointing this out. Tomorrow night, who knows. Same old, same old.

This isn't a Penguins issue, it is a league issue that impacts all players.
- Ryan_Wilson

If that is Letang that is the aggressor instead of Renaldo are you still calling for a major suspension? I doubt it.

Couldn't agree more. The only thing I would add is that the team needs to get punished with suspensions too. Player gets a 10 game suspension? Then give the team a 5-10 game suspension of one less player on the roster. Punish the coach, the GM and the team each time they decide to put a Neanderthal in their lineup. Coaches and GMs don't give a crap if Rinaldo rips someone's head off and gets suspended because they just replace him with the next meat-head. Lose a roster spot whenever a player is suspended and I can guarantee these muppets won't be working in the NHL anymore because they won't be worth the liability to their own team. It's really that simple.

But of course the NHL doesn't have the balls to do it...

Couldn't agree more. The only thing I would add is that the team needs to get punished with suspensions too. Player gets a 10 game suspension? Then give the team a 5-10 game suspension of one less player on the roster. Punish the coach, the GM and the team each time they decide to put a Neanderthal in their lineup. Coaches and GMs don't give a crap if Rinaldo rips someone's head off and gets suspended because they just replace him with the next meat-head. Lose a roster spot whenever a player is suspended and I can guarantee these muppets won't be working in the NHL anymore because they won't be worth the liability to their own team. It's really that simple.

But of course the NHL doesn't have the balls to do it...
- coleyusa

It isn't as easy as that. Having one less player on the roster is a potential safety concern which flies in the face of what you're trying to improve in the first place, player safety.

It isn't as easy as that. Having one less player on the roster is a potential safety concern which flies in the face of what you're trying to improve in the first place, player safety.
- Ryan_Wilson

Interesting... Why is it a safety concern? Happens a lot when players get injured in warm ups, or when players get hammered by idiots in the first period and can't return to the game.

I agreed with 99% of this piece, only thing I disagree with is that the players do this because they're meatheads. They aren't the problem, the fans are.

What was the story that led tonight? On TSN, it wasn't the hit, but the resulting fights repeated ad nauseum so that the people who watch this sport for the same reason people watch NASCAR (the crashing and banging) are placated.

The model is all wrong, don't suspend players who commit the act, suspend their team's leading scorer so that the player responsible gets the goat treatment they deserve for costing teams points in both the standings and scoring race. Don't fine the players, fine the owners $1 million for every game the suspension resulting from the hit lasts for. For hits like that carcillo one last week which cause injury, make suspensions proportionate to the injured player's time off. We need innovations like this to actually promote the severity of consequences.

And while that hit on Letang was brutal, Letang's not perfect or without sin in this area either:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeWZC9VrJs8

Karma, or coincidence?

If that is Letang that is the aggressor instead of Renaldo are you still calling for a major suspension? I doubt it.
- hunter3333

Maybe you should read the links that he provided when he called for the suspensions of Neal and Bortuzzo.

Been an NHL fan for 30+ years. This is what they want. Im done, will check in to see if someone is still alive, but I'm done caring for this poop. Garage league. Can't wait to see 4 lines of Ronaldo's.

I stated this in the Pens blog, the NHL has no integrity. How many teams can tell you of times where penalties were given against & not for for the same incident. How many times when known tough guys get their bells rung & get no penalty - but they have done it plenty of times & got away with it????? EXACTLY my point. How many times a player gets his bell rung & no penalty? Or checked, slashed slew foot etc?

Suspensions are an absolute joke. But he said sorry, but he's a clean player, but, but, but ,but. A penalty is a penalty no matter who it is. If it's bad enough then it requires review, & if it is serious then each offence should have a standard sanction - elbow to head 4 weeks, knee on knee 10 weeks etc, straight off the bat then if injury occurs to the 'victim', the sanction starts after the injured player returns to play - it is simple. You put a player out you don't play till he comes back! If it was an accident (yes I'm sure it was every time), then you won't accidentally do it again.

Rinaldo coming out saying that is unforgivable - look for a retraction tomorrow & a 'but that's not what I meant'. Good on you champ, you intended to cause damage & guess what you did! You need a vacation friend maybe for 12 months!

Here in Australia we have problems with judicial hearings where 1 player gets 1 suspension, then another player with similar charge gets something different. So it's not an isolated issue but here it's a lot more consistent than the NHL. We also have a grading system where offences are graded so the player knows if he gets caught elbowing he is up for X amount of weeks. Also with the grades is a points system where offences have value, so if you repeatedly offend you sit on the sidelines longer - it's a little more in depth than that but you get the gist. In the NHL your lucky if the offence is even looked at due to no injury. Skating on very thin ice pardon the pun.

As you say Ryan, you reap what you sow & the inability or the intentions of the arbitration system currently operating is endangering the health of every NHL player that steps on the ice.

Ridding the game of fights is a false economy as it will heighten the amount of injuries by the cheap shot artists (Rinaldo today, Carcillo last week), due to the refs not penalising. No fights means more niggle & grubby tactics that kill games - trust me it has happened here!

What might be an idea is any player getting a game misconduct leaves for the game & is NOT replaced on the ice. 5v4 or 5v3 for the remainder. What coach in the NHL wants to play short handed ALL game?

Send the message it's overdue!

It's a shame because it's a great game that is losing its shine. Once the reputation is damaged it will be very hard to get back & you know what, the money train might just head to another track!

Edit: read on the flyers blog Rinaldo has already refuted his quoted statement. Expect more refusals to be man tomorrow by that grub.

I stated this in the Pens blog, the NHL has no integrity. How many teams can tell you of times where penalties were given against & not for for the same incident. How many times when known tough guys get their bells rung & get no penalty - but they have done it plenty of times & got away with it????? EXACTLY my point. How many times a player gets his bell rung & no penalty? Or checked, slashed slew foot etc?

Suspensions are an absolute joke. But he said sorry, but he's a clean player, but, but, but ,but. A penalty is a penalty no matter who it is. If it's bad enough then it requires review, & if it is serious then each offence should have a standard sanction - elbow to head 4 weeks, knee on knee 10 weeks etc, straight off the bat then if injury occurs to the 'victim', the sanction starts after the injured player returns to play - it is simple. You put a player out you don't play till he comes back! If it was an accident (yes I'm sure it was every time), then you won't accidentally do it again.

Rinaldo coming out saying that is unforgivable - look for a retraction tomorrow & a 'but that's not what I meant'. Good on you champ, you intended to cause damage & guess what you did! You need a vacation friend maybe for 12 months!

Here in Australia we have problems with judicial hearings where 1 player gets 1 suspension, then another player with similar charge gets something different. So it's not an isolated issue but here it's a lot more consistent than the NHL. We also have a grading system where offences are graded so the player knows if he gets caught elbowing he is up for X amount of weeks. Also with the grades is a points system where offences have value, so if you repeatedly offend you sit on the sidelines longer - it's a little more in depth than that but you get the gist. In the NHL your lucky if the offence is even looked at due to no injury. Skating on very thin ice pardon the pun.

As you say Ryan, you reap what you sow & the inability or the intentions of the arbitration system currently operating is endangering the health of every NHL player that steps on the ice.

Ridding the game of fights is a false economy as it will heighten the amount of injuries by the cheap shot artists (Rinaldo today, Carcillo last week), due to the refs not penalising. No fights means more niggle & grubby tactics that kill games - trust me it has happened here!

What might be an idea is any player getting a game misconduct leaves for the game & is NOT replaced on the ice. 5v4 or 5v3 for the remainder. What coach in the NHL wants to play short handed ALL game?

Send the message it's overdue!

It's a shame because it's a great game that is losing its shine. Once the reputation is damaged it will be very hard to get back & you know what, the money train might just head to another track!
- Aussiepenguin

Honestly, I'm just embarrassed now to be an NHL fan. That is so over the top. But congrats NHL. You are getting what you want.

Honestly, I'm just embarrassed now to be an NHL fan. That is so over the top. But congrats NHL. You are getting what you want.
- Sell My Monkey

And I have a Letang guernsey! But it's not about him.

Is it just me or were lease problems not as common place before the instigator was added? Back when every team dressed a guy who was truly scary.

Interesting... Why is it a safety concern? Happens a lot when players get injured in warm ups, or when players get hammered by idiots in the first period and can't return to the game.
- coleyusa

Exactly, so the player safety issue is fatigue and muscle injuries. That is as much a safety issue if you deliberately force a team to play short for a number of games. Opens up a whole lot of legal problems for players post career for certain injuries.

Exactly, so the player safety issue is fatigue and muscle injuries. That is as much a safety issue if you deliberately force a team to play short for a number of games. Opens up a whole lot of legal problems for players post career for certain injuries.
- walshy66

Just a question, playing a player 5 minutes a night is that putting strain on other players when that player can play 10 & relieve other players ice time?

On the flip side D men playing 25-29 minutes a game, stress on their bodies?

Is playing short an issue?

Great blog, agreed 100%.

Signed a diehard Flyers Fan

By the way does spaling or sutter surrender any money to the players that actually played last night? Those guys hid all night. id put bennett in the same bpat but he got the gimme from malkin. downie shpuld have an a and be in the top six. Scuderi and adams plaued great. dress pl3 agaonst the flyers from now on. i know he wont stop amything but atleast he could hurt someone.

It's ok to be a soft team if you make them pay. I don't consider Detroit a physical team if you put them on the power play for almost an entire period they don't lose that game. I may be reading to much into it but this teams construction needs some adjustments for a playoff run. I'm not mad at rinaldo Id have done the same thing and why not. The hit was one thing the comments after the game were even more idiotic. Guess he knows he was getting 4-6 anyway and that's that. Good game plan by the flyers. I keep thinking one of these times that poop isn't going to work .

Is it just me or were lease problems not as common place before the instigator was added? Back when every team dressed a guy who was truly scary.
- Grinder47

They were just as common, people were just more accepting of that sort of thing.

And you never saw hits from behind because guys had no helmets.

Just a question, playing a player 5 minutes a night is that putting strain on other players when that player can play 10 & relieve other players ice time?

On the flip side D men playing 25-29 minutes a game, stress on their bodies?

Is playing short an issue?
- Aussiepenguin

Yes it is.

Why is it imperative to have 4 lines in the nhl today?

Hiding your 3rd pairing and riding your top 4 is a recipe for disaster.

If that is Letang that is the aggressor instead of Renaldo are you still calling for a major suspension? I doubt it.
- hunter3333

Don't suppose you read the article where he cites examples of him calling out Penguins players eh?

The hit was terrible. It cometely deflated the penguins. He's bragging about and he's right. Somethings wrong with this team still. U don't come out and get a 10-0 shot advantage then fall right off a cliff because of a dirty hit........there was alot of bullcrap goin on from both sides. Im tired of watching these type games. EveryoNE in here and all around the league knew this was coming....why can't someone prevent the it.....not just the league....coaches, refs, captains, owners, gms

Agree 100%. Players like Rinaldo and downie have no buisness in the league.