Paul Stewart: Suspension for Lucic was Overkill

Agreed 100%. Not suspension worthy. In addition I think calling it a sucker punch is a stretch. A sucker punch is a punch that you do not see coming. Lucic went straight at Sherwood as they were facing each other, then punched him. Now if Sherwood could not foresee this possibility, as Lucic approached after Sherwood jammed his stick at Rittich - then he is an idiot!

2 games for Looch was definitely overkill, as much respect as I have for the DoPS, they dropped the ball pretty hard on this one.

you mention other suckerpunches, I remember the tie domi one in Samuelsson (who was one of the really dirty players back then, remember the knee on Cam Neely?). I remember Beukeboom in the Rangers getting suckered pretty bad (can't remember who was responsible on that one, was it matt Johnson maybe?).

either way, an opposing player poking at your goalie is gonna ruffle some feathers, and Lucic did what anyone else would have done, protect their goalie and give the other guy a shot.

I rest my case ..

I agree but Looxh has a history of
Doing dumb things on the ice, I’m sure that played a factor

Agree Paul, 100%!

My views on the current state of hockey have been well chronicled in Pauls’ blogs. The powers of the NHL have pretty much eliminated fighting altogether, and that’s sad. Not the staged, stupid stuff, but the retaliation for liberties taken stuff that the game sorely needs. It’s all in the name of growing the game with casual or corporate fans, while the old school, or diehards suffer. Witness the money that is made across the league, while attendance dwindles. It’s a microcosm of our whole society. No one is personally responsible anymore. It’s always someone or something else’s fault. The days of being personally responsible, and held accountable for what one does is necessary! You screw up, or take liberties you shouldn’t, and someone is willing to adjust your outlook as my dad would say.

The old school way worked. As we can see, this “new” way doesn’t!

(I exit the soap box with a lamented sigh!)

I think because there's almost no fighting anymore is the exact reason he was suspended. If it was even into the early 00's before the lost season it's probably a fight, maybe a line brawl, but since there's no fighting anymore, guys aren't used to getting popped in the mouth for a jab at a loose puck; the worst that happens now is someone will grab you, have some unkind words, and maybe a face wash at worst. Even bad hits from behind into the boards don't result in dropped gloves anymore, just a lot of posturing, yelling, and a shove or two.

My feelings about Lucic on these boards is no secret. So, full disclosure : I do not like Lucic.

I respect Stewie's experience and agree with him the overwhelming majority of the time.

IMO, I would have liked to see Lucic get a 5-min major and a game misconduct for it. That is an acceptable penalty in a league that is moving away from enforcer roles in favor of more well-rounded players who happen to be tough and can fight in addition to scoring a few odd goals or being good at faceoffs.

As far as supplemental discipline goes, I think a fine would have been called for, but not necessarily a suspension. As much as I don't like Lucic, I agree with Stewie on this point. If there had been a serious injury, then...

Lucic is a repeat offender with a history of cheap shots and thuggish behavior. His one-sided game was masked by the surrounding squad of Bruins' elite talent at that time. Once he left the Bruins, his true nature as a player was exposed for what it always was - a thug and cheapshot artist who can skate without falling down. I think the league would be correct to take an increasingly hard line against him for new offenses.

My feelings about Lucic on these boards is no secret. So, full disclosure : I do not like Lucic.

I respect Stewie's experience and agree with him the overwhelming majority of the time.

IMO, I would have liked to see Lucic get a 5-min major and a game misconduct for it. That is an acceptable penalty in a league that is moving away from enforcer roles in favor of more well-rounded players who happen to be tough and can fight in addition to scoring a few odd goals or being good at faceoffs.

As far as supplemental discipline goes, I think a fine would have been called for, but not necessarily a suspension. As much as I don't like Lucic, I agree with Stewie on this point. If there had been a serious injury, then...

Lucic is a repeat offender with a history of cheap shots and thuggish behavior. His one-sided game was masked by the surrounding squad of Bruins' elite talent at that time. Once he left the Bruins, his true nature as a player was exposed for what it always was - a thug and cheapshot artist who can skate without falling down. I think the league would be correct to take an increasingly hard line against him for new offenses.
- GalacticStone

Are you saying it should be an enhancer, or a prerequisite for a suspension?

The current rule that is basically "he didn't get injured, so no harm, no foul" is asinine, people get lucky, and unlucky. The act itself should be punished, not the outcome, except maybe as an enhancer. So say what Lucic did is a 1 game suspension normally, and if there had been an injury it gets increased to 5. Something like that.

Are you saying it should be an enhancer, or a prerequisite for a suspension?

The current rule that is basically "he didn't get injured, so no harm, no foul" is asinine, people get lucky, and unlucky. The act itself should be punished, not the outcome, except maybe as an enhancer. So say what Lucic did is a 1 game suspension normally, and if there had been an injury it gets increased to 5. Something like that.
- Wetbandit1

You have a point.

Let's just ban Lucic for life and get it over with before he cripples or kills somebody.