Ryan Wilson: The Actions Of Shawn Thornton And James Neal Have No Place In Hockey The NHL needs to throw the book at both James Neal and Shawn Thornton

Ryan Wilson: The Actions Of Shawn Thornton And James Neal Have No Place In Hockey
The NHL needs to throw the book at both James Neal and Shawn Thornton
- Ryan_Wilson

I hope Neal is suspended for a very long time.

That points system is stupid...

I hope Neal is suspended for a very long time.
- TimBits

Phone hearing.

5 or less.

TSN has a different angle on Neals knee. He didn't stick out his knee. He did skate right through him and made no effort to get out of the way. Won't change any minds I'm sure....

I hate the system of disipline currently employed by the NHL. But if a 30 game suspension was warrented for neal on the other one then thats no better. Neals play doesnt warrent him missing a third of the season. Hell, its almost hard to justify Thorntons assault as needing that many games. Neal deserves a suspension, as does Thornton... the league has to look at all incidents indivdually and be willing to make the tough calls... shanahan aint doing it. hire someone who will

I hate the system of disipline currently employed by the NHL. But if a 30 game suspension was warrented for neal on the other one then thats no better. Neals play doesnt warrent him missing a third of the season. Hell, its almost hard to justify Thorntons assault as needing that many games. Neal deserves a suspension, as does Thornton... the league has to look at all incidents indivdually and be willing to make the tough calls... shanahan aint doing it. hire someone who will
- ChrisMS

if it was Neals 1st suspendable hit, then you are right, its his 3rd time he has done something that warrants a suspension. Its the repeat nature of the system that causes the games to rack up.

If Thornton's actions were a response to the hit on Eriksson, and the knee on Marchand, what is the appropriate response from the Pens to Thornton? I know they don't play another regular season game, but I have to imagine this won't be forgotten anytime soon.

I hate the system of disipline currently employed by the NHL. But if a 30 game suspension was warrented for neal on the other one then thats no better. Neals play doesnt warrent him missing a third of the season. Hell, its almost hard to justify Thorntons assault as needing that many games. Neal deserves a suspension, as does Thornton... the league has to look at all incidents indivdually and be willing to make the tough calls... shanahan aint doing it. hire someone who will
- ChrisMS

Complacency solves nothing. Clearly the amount of games that the NHL currently gives out as punishment does not deter these acts of violence.

Neal is a multiple repeat offender under that Hockey Hurts system.

You can continue to trust the players to figure things out, I am choosing to take it out of their hands.

Solid blog, Ryan.

Both players deserve long suspensions and I hope they receive them.

Agreed. Unless the league's punishment is based solely upon result as opposed to action, both Thornton and Neal should get about the same number of games without pay.

I hope Orpik is ok. Eriksson as well.

That points system is stupid...
- TheGame316

why? Let me know. The idea is to give a clear idea of some consistency. What would you change?

It needs refining, no doubt, so any suggestions to improve it are great.

Shanahan needs to start making examples out of guys if the leagues suspension policy is to be taken seriously.

I'd say 20 games for Thornton and 10 for Neal

if it was Neals 1st suspendable hit, then you are right, its his 3rd time he has done something that warrants a suspension. Its the repeat nature of the system that causes the games to rack up.
- walshy66

I get that... but 30 games is still way to much. The idea of putting a system in place with points and multipliers is completely undoable for a game as fast as hockey. You taking into consideration that his previous suspensions were handed down by a person and could be flawed. neal does not deserve a 30 game suspension... thats way over the top.

Ryan, I really like how your not sticking up for your own player. I think that Neals excuse will be fine for a ton of Pens fans. Good write up.

TSN has a different angle on Neals knee. He didn't stick out his knee. He did skate right through him and made no effort to get out of the way. Won't change any minds I'm sure....
- madmike71

You don't think Neal should have made an attempt to not hit Marchand?

Tiops reporting Orpik out of hospital and traveling home with the team.

Complacency solves nothing. Clearly the amount of games that the NHL currently gives out as punishment does not deter these acts of violence.

Neal is a multiple repeat offender under that Hockey Hurts system.

You can continue to trust the players to figure things out, I am choosing to take it out of their hands.
- Ryan_Wilson

who said anyhting about the players figuring it out? But a point system that can't take the many many factors into consideration wont work either.

Tiops reporting Orpik out of hospital and traveling home with the team.
- madmike71

Nice. Good to hear.

I get that... but 30 games is still way to much. The idea of putting a system in place with points and multipliers is completely undoable for a game as fast as hockey. You taking into consideration that his previous suspensions were handed down by a person and could be flawed. neal does not deserve a 30 game suspension... thats way over the top.
- ChrisMS

Good points, but where do you start for a multiplier system? You want repeat offenders to get punished harder to stop them from repeating. I mean the only player I have whitness change his style is Cooke, and he did it cause his own club was going to turf him.

So the NHL has to come up with a punitive system that will be clear and concise and leave very little wiggle room.

The 30 games is only because of the 2012 playoffs, had he not done those he wouldnt be looking at that many games.

Man, I am just happy none of the Sabres, i.e. Kaleta and Scott, are involved this time!!!
Phewwwwww

You don't think Neal should have made an attempt to not hit Marchand?
- wolfhounds

yep he should have, I dont care if people say he was looking straight ahead, he knew exactly where Marchand's head was, he knew what he was going.

Its so frustrating to see.

who said anyhting about the players figuring it out? But a point system that can't take the many many factors into consideration wont work either.
- ChrisMS

Thornton should have gone after Neal, then likely most of this crap would have been avoided. Orpik's hit might have been borderline, but it was also bang/bang, and I don't consider him a dirty player at all, rather a solid, hard-hitting defender.

Ryan, I really like how your not sticking up for your own player. I think that Neals excuse will be fine for a ton of Pens fans. Good write up.
- poisondhearts37

I don't care what jerseys the players wear in regards to praise or criticism.

yep he should have, I dont care if people say he was looking straight ahead, he knew exactly where Marchand's head was, he knew what he was going.

Its so frustrating to see.
- walshy66

Neal did the same thing Steckel did. The oopsie daisy derrrr I was looking the other way excuse.

yep he should have, I dont care if people say he was looking straight ahead, he knew exactly where Marchand's head was, he knew what he was going.

Its so frustrating to see.
- walshy66

As an outsider, I think what Thornton did was more dirty!! IMO