by Jes

Paul Stewart, the former enforcer and popular (with the players) ex-referee had some choice comments about the Chris Pronger situation.

His thinking: Pronger wouldn't have gone all stompy if the game had more enforcers and he wouldn't have to protect himself. Uh-huh

You might expect a referee to have pretty keen insight into the situation, but Stewart ends up sounding more like an old codger like Donald Cherry than anything.

Stewart, the director of officials for the NCAA's Eastern Conference, told Hockey Night In Canada Radio on Sirius late Monday that the incident is a direct result of the NHL's desire to reduce fighting and, in turn, eliminate the role of the enforcer.

"It is sort of childish the way that he stomped on the guy," Stewart said. "Would [Jean] Beliveau have done that?

"I don't think so because they had No. 22 playing for them — God rest his soul, John Ferguson — and players knew they weren't going to take allowances with them."

Stewart believes the enforcer plays a key role in the NHL because "if you run [Sidney] Crosby or if you run [Alexander] Ovechkin or if you run, sadly, a Patrice Bergeron, you have to face a guy.

"[Wayne] Gretzky had [Marty] McSorley and he had [Dave] Semenko. Nowadays, they're trying to outlaw these guys."

Let's chop this up like spinach ...

1. Does Chris Pronger not have any 'protection' in Anaheim? Brad May, George Parros, Travis Moen ... Anaheim is not lacking with pugilistic talent. The fact that anyone could think Pronger is in any danger is akin to believing we actually live in a true democracy. Pure garbage.

2. If anyone needed protecting, it was Ryan Kesler, who was lying on the ice in a prone position for Pronger to stomp on his leg.

3. Remember when the Blues had Kelly Chase and Tony Twist? Even then, Pronger was cheap and vicious with his stick.

Oh, and this Paul Stewart gem is delicious.

Asked when he noticed the shift away from on-ice enforcers, Stewart responded: "The culture changed when the helmets went on, when the glass went up, when the goaltenders went out back of the net and started playing the puck with an expectation of not being confronted."

Yeah, let's go back to not wearing helmets and having a whole bunch of fractured skulls. Just ask Norm Green how that feels.

Paul Stewart ... what a moron.

Hockey isn't suddenly more violent now that enforcers' roles have drastically been reduced. Yes, stick fouls 'appear' to be increasing, but that doesn't excuse Chris Pronger or Chris Simon from committing one of hockey's ultimate no-no's.

If the NHL really wants to crack down on vicious and violent fouls, then the suspension system needs to be revamped, opened up, and harsher. The reason Pronger does what he does is because he knows he can get away with it. Do you think a 2-3 game suspension for a check from behind is going to deter anyone? No.

Start handing out 25-30 game suspensions and you'll see the cheap crap start to fade away.

Labels: Chris Pronger, Paul Stewart, suspensions

by Jes

If you had guessed 25 games as the length of the suspension Colin Campbell would hand out to Jesse Boulerice, you'd be right.

The NHL Hand of Justice tapped three Icatian townsfolk and destroyed a good chunk of Boulerice's season.

National Hockey League disciplinarian Colin Campbell has handed Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice a 25-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler in the head Wednesday night.

It's the longest suspension handed out in NHL history for an on-ice incident. New York Islanders forward Chris Simon also got 25 games for his two-handed slash to the face of Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers last season.

Is it nearly enough? To me, it certainly is not. I don't care if the previous maximum was 25, why should the NHL continue to put a glass ceiling on suspensions?

Boulerice is a pure thug, and he's almost killed people with his actions. Stick-swinging should never be tolerated, and 25-games, while severe in NHL terms, is not nearly sufficient to send a real message. Boulerice will be back, and will enjoy a nice vacation.

As a side topic, why do players named JESSE always suck? Jesse Boulerice, Jesse Belanger, Jesse Schultz...crap, crap, and more crap.

Labels: Colin Campbell, Jesse Boulerice, suspensions, Violence

by Jes

Todd Simpson?

Yeah, it seems that the New York Islanders were desperate enough to try and sign Todd Simpson to save their flailing playoff hopes.

Unfortunately, the NHL decided to deny the transfer, but not because of timing issues...

A suspension given to New York Islanders defenceman Todd Simpson when he was in the German Ice Hockey League was upheld by the NHL on last night, preventing him from making his debut with the Islanders.

Simpson, signed Thursday by the Islanders for the final week of the regular season, was suspended indefinitely after receiving a penalty for abuse of an official while playing in the Hannover Scorpions' last post-season game.

The International Ice Hockey told the NHL that the German league will hold a hearing tomorrow and asked that the suspension be upheld. The NHL honoured the request and said it will review the decision following the hearing and then determine Simpson's status in North America.

think that it's great that the NHL is upholding Simpson's German suspension. Why should Simpson be allowed to run away from the bad deeds he did, just because they were done overseas? If the IIHF and the NHL are going to have a good relationship, the various leagues need to respect each other and back each other up in cases like this.

(Cross-Posted to The Fanhouse)

Labels: Islanders, NHL, suspensions, Todd Simpson

So, Colon Cleansing gave Chris Simon the Marty McSorely treatment.

From TSN.ca:

New York Islanders forward Chris Simon has been suspended for the remainder of the 2006-07 regular season and the entirety of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Simon is suspended a minimum of 25 games, including Saturday night's game against Washington plus the 14 that remain in the 2006-07 regular season. If the Islanders do not qualify for the 2007 playoffs, or play fewer than 10 playoff games in the 2007 playoffs, Simon would serve additional games at the start of the 2007-08 regular season to satisfy the minimum term of the suspension.

This is exactly the suspension that is deserved for this action. Some might feel its not fair enough, some may say it's too harsh, but like Goldilocks, I think it's JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUST RIGHT!

''The National Hockey League will not accept the use of a stick in the manner and fashion in which Mr. Simon used his Thursday night,'' said Colin Campbell, NHL Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations. ''As a consequence of his actions, Mr. Simon has forfeited the privilege of playing in an NHL game again this season, regardless of how many games the Islanders ultimately play.''

Now, I wish that the NHL would consistantly adhere to this standard more often. Why is it that only the 'goons' merit such harsh penalties? Hmm?? I'll be happier once I see this kind of penalty handed out more often.

Labels: Chris Simon, NHL, suspensions

Wild man's world is cryin' in pain
What you gonna do when everybody's insane
So afraid of one who's so afraid of you
What you gonna do...

Per Sherry over at Scarlett Ice, Colon Cleansing has spun the Wheel of Injustice and Chrissy Simon has been suspended indefinitely, pending a hearing.

From the NHL:

New York Islanders forward Chris Simon has been suspended indefinitely without pay, pending a hearing, after being assessed a Match penalty for deliberate injury of New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg during NHL Game #1009 Thursday night.

The penalty was assessed at 13:29 of the third period.

A date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled.

So, will Chris Simon be made a sacrificial lamb ala Marty McSoreloser? It's very likely. It's very easy for the NHL to suspend a goon (although Cam Janssen might not agree and bodycheck me into next week) who the league won't really miss as supposed to a star player. We'll have to wait and see how much actual punishment comes down in Colon's Court of Confusion.

How much would Alex Ovechkin get if he pulled the same stunt? 3 games at most...

Labels: Chris Simon, suspensions