Unfortunately he's 6'6" and his elbow caught him flush in the head. Being big is an advantage when it comes to reach and strength and numerous other things, unfortunately its also a disadvantage in a case like this when you act instinctively and pop another guy in the face with your elbow/forearm. You can't use the "i'm bigger then he is" as an excuse. CP wasn't being dirty on the play, but he is responsible for his body, and he was reckless when he hit McAmmond in the head.
Unfortunately the size of players isn't a mitigating factor when it comes to discipline, otherwise it would be fair game to go after the little guys since afterall "my elbow is naturally at their head level." One of the responsibilities of a player is to be in control of his body at all times. Now obviously thats impossible, but at the same time you must be held accountable for the results of your actions. In this case, it can be argued that CP was reckless as he tried to step into McAmmond as he shot the puck. It looked like CP realized he was going to be in tough to get a piece of McAmmond with his shoulder/body/hip/whatever so he reached out a little to try and chip him off stride. In this case he got a little unlucky in that his elbow/forearm caught McAmmond right in the head. I wouldn't personally call it a deliberate attempt to injure or anything, but it was still what I'd call reckless, and with his prior record from the Detroit series, a second reckless offense in the playoffs deserved the one-game suspension.
Fair enough; the height of players shouldn't be a mitigating factor when it comes to discipline. I agree. But it is, obviously, a factor in what results, thus leading to major penalties and worse, suspensions. Size matters.
I disagreed with how the Holmstrom disciplines were handled, on the ice and afterward. I'm a rebel and I'll never, ever, ever be any good.
It's also tough when its your team getting hurt by losing a player in a key playoffs game. I know I'm always pissed off when I see one of "my players" wronged out on the ice.
For example, I know last year against San Jose when Laraque ran Cheechoo into the glass and cut him up good I was pissed off since my reasoning was that "Is it Laraque's fault that hes so damn strong that he can throw a guy through the galss?" A year later though, I can see that inspite of their being no malice in Lraque's actions in that game, he deserved the penalty he got (in that case it was five and a game). Maybe in the summer, after the Ducks have more then likely twirled around the ice with the Cup you'll be able to see things from my perspective.
That being said, if any Oilers ever get a suspension for pretty well anything, I admit not that I'll be pissed off with the league for suspending my guy.
I told ya'll it was going to be a suspension. It was clear to me.
Now Beauchemin gots to step up fo real. I mean BIG time. He has been pretty solid, but imagine how much responsibilty he has now. O'Donnell same thang. These are the key players in the next game on Anaheim's part. I'ma be watching these guys with my binoculaars and magnifying glass for real man.
How about bringing Parros in on game 4, do a little mind playin tricks on that game 4 man. Kunitz is out so why not? That game will be a difficult one, so why not try something spectacular? Parros would scare some dudes out there man. I think RC might even try this move. I mean the man has already tried a guy called Miller, give Parros a chance too dog.
How about bringing Parros in on game 4, do a little mind playin tricks on that game 4 man. Kunitz is out so why not? That game will be a difficult one, so why not try something spectacular? Parros would scare some dudes out there man. I think RC might even try this move. I mean the man has already tried a guy called Miller, give Parros a chance too dog.
Carlyle said Kunitz only has an abdominal bruise and is likely to play.
Carlyle said Kunitz only has an abdominal bruise and is likely to play.
Oh that's kinda deep sir. Thought he was out for good this time. I don't know if dressing him is so intelligent though, maybe some ready for war warrior who is 100% healthy would be better man.
It's good to see the NHL taking action against the hit, but what Burkie said about his talk with Colin Campbell was alarming. It sounds like a serious injury is what's needed to make him look at a tape or take any action against the ugly play. How many careers must end before the NHL realize they have to protect their players.
"Q. What was the reaction, defense Colin gave to you for not suspending or reviewing the Chris Neil hit?
BRIAN BURKE: He didn't give me one.
Q. He brought it up?
BRIAN BURKE: I brought it up.
Q. He didn't say anything back?
BRIAN BURKE: He said the player wasn't injured, so mind my own business. Obviously I didn't share that view."
One game suspension. The NHL did not even follow their own policy which required at least two games as he is a repeat offender. The Ducks caught a break because Campbell cannot read and apply his own policy.
I don't know how to link it, but the Neil hit is on the NHL highlights on the NHL mainpage. You can't just watch the "hit" highlight, it doesn't show how bad it is. If you watch the "whole game" highlights, start around 2:00 in, it shows it in regular and slo-mo.
it looked like a total charge, but he had his gloves up not his elbows. It was a missed two minute penalty, not a major penalty worthy of suplementary discipline.
I am seriously dissapointed in the NHL's disciplinary group, that they gave Pronger a repeat offender only 1 game. It should have been more games.
I have to ask you...why? It didn't look like there was any forethought involved in the instinctive elbow/forearm. With his prior record it made the league have to take some action. If the Holmstrom incident hadn't happened I doubt he gets any suspension at all, therefor the repeat offender really cost him a game where it probably wouldn't have otherwise.
OK, to play devil's advocate to those complaining about repeat offenders, with the 0 or 2 argument. Let's say that the Homlstrom hit never happened, the NHL looked at this hit, and said "hmm... he deserves 1/2 a game suspension." It also looks at Neil's hit and decides to give him 1/2 a game as well. But, it rounds down, so both would not be suspended. Why half a game? Well maybe the hit was worth 1 game in the regular season but they approximate that 1 postseason game is worth 2 regular season games.
Now add the Holmstrom hit. They could say "double the suspension," in which case Pronger now gets 1 game. Or they could say the Holmstrom hit adds 1 full game, making Pronger get 1.5 games, but rounded down to 1.
It's possible that Pronger DID get an increased suspension.
OK, to play devil's advocate to those complaining about repeat offenders, with the 0 or 2 argument. Let's say that the Homlstrom hit never happened, the NHL looked at this hit, and said "hmm... he deserves 1/2 a game suspension." It also looks at Neil's hit and decides to give him 1/2 a game as well. But, it rounds down, so both would not be suspended. Why half a game? Well maybe the hit was worth 1 game in the regular season but they approximate that 1 postseason game is worth 2 regular season games.
Now add the Holmstrom hit. They could say "double the suspension," in which case Pronger now gets 1 game. Or they could say the Holmstrom hit adds 1 full game, making Pronger get 1.5 games, but rounded down to 1.
It's possible that Pronger DID get an increased suspension.
Maybe the NHL looked at the Pronger hit and said "well he's 6'6", give him 6 games." Then they determined that a SCF game was equivalent to 6 games. So they gave Pronger the 1 game suspension.
Then they looked at the Chris Neil hit and said "well the gap between his teeth is 2 teeth wide, that's worthy of a 2-game suspension". But that's only 1/3 of a SCF game, so they rounded that figure down to 0 games.
Therefore, it's possible that Pronger DID get an increased suspension!!!
I don't know how to link it, but the Neil hit is on the NHL highlights on the NHL mainpage. You can't just watch the "hit" highlight, it doesn't show how bad it is. If you watch the "whole game" highlights, start around 2:00 in, it shows it in regular and slo-mo.
Headshot, elbow, and charge all in one play.
Charge yes! Headshot and elbow... only because Macdonald cowarded and fell over which made neil's upper body collide with Macdonalds head.
Brian Burke is just pulling his usual stunt, and being a jackass.
Pronger was trying to injure... like he has before, and like he will do again, and again, and again!
Charge yes! Headshot and elbow... only because Macdonald cowarded and fell over which made neil's upper body collide with Macdonalds head.
Brian Burke is just pulling his usual stunt, and being a jackass.
Pronger was trying to injure... like he has before, and like he will do again, and again, and again!
If you watch the tape, MacDonald who has a history of concussions spun around avoiding Neild's forearm and possibly saved his career. What a coward!
I don't think any Ducks fan will say Pronger don't deserve his suspension. However, the consistency is the league is bull. Game 3 was another example of the crap Anaheim has had to deal with all playoffs.
I think people get into a tizzy over players gettng their clocks cleaned, but they forget that it's part of the sport, and will continue to be.
Like it or not.
I am a Sens fan, so it sucks to see McCammond out for probably the series. It really sucks...he is an impact player. Pronger plays with a serious edge. So does Neil. So do most players.
I can tell you guys right now...Pronger is the devil to Ottawa fans, but if he wore a Sens jersey, he would be toast of the town.
That's sports. Well...that's CONTACT sports.
I think Pronger was lucky to get away with one game. Being his second offence and all.
Hopefully McCammond can get back into the series. Hopefully, (from my persepctive) Pronger gets his clock cleaned.
This is why the instigator rule sucks. The league can't suspend everyone. The players should be taking care of business.
I think people get into a tizzy over players gettng their clocks cleaned, but they forget that it's part of the sport, and will continue to be.
Like it or not.
I am a Sens fan, so it sucks to see McCammond out for probably the series. It really sucks...he is an impact player. Pronger plays with a serious edge. So does Neil. So do most players.
I can tell you guys right now...Pronger is the devil to Ottawa fans, but if he wore a Sens jersey, he would be toast of the town.
That's sports. Well...that's CONTACT sports.
I think Pronger was lucky to get away with one game. Being his second offence and all.
Hopefully McCammond can get back into the series. Hopefully, (from my persepctive) Pronger gets his clock cleaned.
This is why the instigator rule sucks. The league can't suspend everyone. The players should be taking care of business.
The friendliest Sens post in a while, but pronger's not really going to get his clock cleaned by anyone. He's too big. Maybe McGratton, but it wouldn't be worth it for pronger to fight him, so he wouldn't. These teams also aren't going to play the "injure the other team" game. The two games after Pronger nailed Holmstrom were the tamest Detroit played imo.
Pronger has now been suspended 7 times for incidents ranging from blatant, forceful cross-checks to the face, to vicious elbows.
7 times suspended for vicious shots, usually to the head area. Any "benfit of the doubt" that might be extended to a player in a given situation should not apply to this 7 time suspended player. When someone is looking at their 7th incident, there is no doubt that intent plays a part, simply because after 6 suspensions you'd think he would be extra careful if he really was a victim of circumstance. There's no excuse.
The league showed cowardice in not giving him at least two games, let alone the rest of the post-season. The message sent here is "We will not tolerate head shots, unless you're in a really important game, then we'll give you a reduced sentence."
There's one guy to blame for Andy Mac's "near tragedy" and that's the stupid Ducks defenceman who held the puck 'way too long behind the net, and then gave Andy that horrid suicide pass just as Neil arrived. MacDonald was smart enough to duck under the hit (thus making it look like a head shot, when in fact Neil's hands were chest high the whole time). If Andy stayed upright, he would have been crushed, but it would have been a perfectly clean hit by the standards of this series. As it was, Neil barely made contact at all as he flew over the bailing MacDonald. A strict ref might have given Neil two for charging, but any talk of a suspension is ridiculous -- just Burke spreading a bit more of his fertilizer.
Too many attacks on Pronger as a person. Too much trolling and Flaming. Anymore discussion of the suspension can be taken to the thread at the Stanley Cup Board.
The Ducks caught a break because Campbell cannot read and apply his own policy.
