Panthers' Eric Selleck Suspended One Game for Leaving Bench to Start Fight

[chilly666]

NEW YORK -- Florida Panthers forward Eric Selleck has been suspended for one game for leaving the bench on a legal line change for the purpose of starting a fight with Carolina Hurricanes forward Kevin Westgarth during NHL Game No. 431 in Carolina on Tuesday, March 19, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 17:02 of the third period. Selleck was assessed a two-minute minor for instigating plus a five-minute major for fighting and game misconduct under Rule 46.12 (Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time [or Anytime in Overtime]) and will serve the automatic one-game suspension in addition to the one-game sanction outlined above.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Selleck will forfeit $5,945.94. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

[skacore]

Yeah bet he regrets that one... I think Westgarth may have "suspended" him for at least 1 game anyways

[ValJamesRules]

So, does the coach get fined as well?

If so, there has to be no quicker way to get into the doghouse.

[brymaster1]

So he gets two games in total, on for the auto suspension,and one for leaving the bench to start a fight. Damn, kid had a rough first game.

[everblades2]

Originally Posted by ValJamesRules

So, does the coach get fined as well?

If so, there has to be no quicker way to get into the doghouse.

I believe so. Isn't it $10,000?

[JKidd]

Jumping the boards to instigate for your first fight, then getting dropped like a sack of taters should be punishment enough, IMO.

Shanny should have let this one go.

[majew17]

Do you know of anyone else to get suspended in their very 1st NHL game?

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by JKidd

Jumping the boards to instigate for your first fight, then getting dropped like a sack of taters should be punishment enough, IMO.

Shanny should have let this one go.

No sense expecting Shanahan to be reasonable though.

[NJDevils17]

The ref should have done him a favor and given up 2 for roughing instead of an instigator. We've seen roughing used as an instigator replacement many times this year anyway.

[Phila26Flyers]

First player in NHL history to be suspended twice as long as his playing career?

[ThrowdownSJ408]

oh boy this poor guy. he will miss more than 2 games with head injury. the league nad teams are very protective over those now.

[4thLineGoon]

Another example of referees completely not understanding the instigator. The rule is there to prevent jumpings. Westgarth had his gloves off first, despite Selleck being the aggressor. So that suspension is a joke. As is the "leaving the bench on a legal line change with the purpose of starting an altercation." How the f*ck this rule got put in place is beyond me, it's absolutely ludicrous and probably half the fights that take place could be categorized under this, including nearly every fight that comes off a faceoff.

But whatever NHL, keep using old brawl clips to hype up your sh*tty, non-existant rivalries that you continuously try to fabricate.

[Stevens Lindros]

What Selleck really lost here was money, he was going to sit at least 2 games anyway after having his bell rung just to be safe.

[slashtrey]

Most embarrassing 1st game in the NHL ever.

[Stevens Lindros]

People can say what they want but we'd all take that game if we had the chance. Congrats kid on your first NHL game and fight!