MONTREAL — Fourteen minutes. That’s the amount of time the NHL begrudged the Philadelphia Flyers for doing something nice for their fans.
Those 14 minutes cost the Flyers $25,000. So much for making the game more fan friendly.
On Feb. 6, the Flyers held “Ron Hextall Night” at a game with the Washington Capitals at Wachovia Center. They were honoring their longtime goaltender by placing him into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Usually, the ceremony honoring a former player, coach, or executive takes place before the game is set to begin.
They had a 14 minute extra long 1st period intermission? So it was a 30 minute long intermission? Every team knows these rules, they can either avoid them or pay the price. Don't get the article.
It's pretty sad when the league chooses to crap on their history. Also, they were doing it for the fans as well. So basically history of the game and the fans aren't important to them.
Maybe it's because the league doesn't like Hextall because he's too violent for the 'new' NHL.
Oh my god, I'm sure the Flyers knew this would be coming, but my god, how much does the NHL have its own head shoved up its collective ass? I mean, have they hit the upper intestine yet?
Can you imagine the NBA fining the Bulls for honoring MJ or the MLB fining the Giants for honoring Willie Mays?
The state of the league is beyond pathetic. It's a damn shame that my 2 favorite leagues (NHL and EPL) are run by complete and total morons.
Someone hit it right on the button on the main board thread. They basically said that the 25k was going to hurt the Flyers a lot less than the negative publicity would hurt the league.
Stupid move by the NHL, a warning would of been enough, it's a slap in the face, the amount of money is irrelevant.
Hextall owns
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zm0VDV5ymmk
First couple of seconds is all that matters
Posted on the main board about this subject, but I just had to post it here as well
Why wasn't Hextall honored prior to the game, like every other team that has honored a player? If its in the rule book, its in the rule book.....regardless of how classless it is, if you make an exception once, than other teams aren't going to abide by the rules also, its not classless its policing IMO.
I think you also have to take into consideration the fact that Philly is essentially the only rebelious team in the league. If any team, Philly is the organization that needs to be disciplined. Clarke and Company were more than likely fully aware of the rule, and intentionally shunned it. No doubt in my mind that the behaviour (along with the other ones early this season) is nothing more than a attempt to revive the "Broad Street Bully" reputation. Although its not surprising, you fans seem to revel in the thought of your team being "Bad Ass". I am not saying it's a bad thing, IMO its good for hockey, its entertainment, but I think the revival attempt is definitely there.
******* up tight NHL.
I hope the next time they honor someone they run long again. just tell the NHL **** you.
I'm pretty sure that's what happened here. League told the flyers they would be fined in advance and Holmgren told them to **** themselves. Fine is pathetic but who cares? Flyers can afford it the league looks like a jerk. I like that.
