Thrashers' Boulton Suspended for Six Games

[VodkaFish]

TORONTO - Atlanta Thrashers forward Eric Boulton has been suspended for six games, without pay, as a result of being assessed a game misconduct penalty during NHL game #100 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 20.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Boulton will forfeit $15,306.12. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

"It is clear Mr. Boulton’s actions were careless and caused injury to his opponent,” said NHL Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. “There is no circumstance that can justify this type of action."

Boulton was assessed a major penalty for delivering an elbow to the head of Tampa Bay player Paul Ranger at 17:29 of the third period.

Boulton, who has already served one game, Oct. 22 against New Jersey, also will miss: Oct. 25 at New York Islanders; Oct. 27 at Pittsburgh; Oct. 29 against Tampa Bay; Nov. 1 at Tampa Bay and Nov. 4 at Washington. He will be eligible to return Nov. 5 at Philadelphia.

[canuckfan]

It was a brutal elbow. Considering Boulton's actions during the Leafs game, you had to know the league was going to come down hard on the guy. Harsh, but fair, I think.

Too bad, I have him in a couple of goon pools.

[red-dog]

I hate Finnish TV. We got nothing about this incident, and I've yet to see what caused all this. If anyone knows where to get hold of some footage, I'd be really greatful.

As far as I'm concerned elbowing is nothing new, concussions are nothing new, and accidental injuries are nothing new. All this put together doesn't really sound all that bad, but like I said, I have no idea how the situation got started and how Boulton actually went about.

[IntoLegend]

Ranger has a glass jaw, Boulton barley clipped him, IMO the 5 minute major and game misconduct he recieved during the game should have been where this incident should have been left. This suspension is ludacris.

[Humpzilla]

Six games for that elbow is just ridiculous. The only reason this is a six game suspension and not a 3 or 4 is because Paul Ranger has the chin of a pee-wee hockey player...

[Baronking]

I heard a comment by one of the guys on OLN during the intermission, saying the suspension should have been much higher because...get this...Boulton hasnt scored many goals in the NHL (he actually have his goal total compared to games played for his career) The nhl is slowly eliminating all physical play in the game with the messages they are sending to players. This is supposed to be a mans sport. The jaw will heal, now get out and play hockey like it should be played.

[HordiBrusk29]

I actually thought he would end up with more games. That being said, I am glad he didn't.

Although I bet you if Ranger were the one to elbow Boulton there wouldn't be a suspension at all...

[EpeeBill]

I think the suspension is warranted. This wasn't a "physical play," it was cheap shot thrown at an unsuspecting player in the waning moments of a blow out.

If they were up on the boards fighting for the puck that would be one thing. But the puck was gone and they were both turning to skate up ice.

I am a little concerned about the length of the suspension, though. So early in the season, this is going be the 'bench mark' for suspensions for the rest of the year. Sometime in the next couple months, somebody is going to do something worse and the penalty will have to be higher. We could end up with an awful lot of 10+ game suspensions. That would really be bad.

[Tucker_316]

I dont care what kind of jaw you have, when you arent suspecting that, and eric is flying towards you with his elbow up, you are going down for the count. To think otherwise is clueless. Deserving suspension.

[Dr Hook]

God, I would hate to think how the league would handle such incidents as Hunter - Turgeon, Lemieux - Draper, Johnson - Beukeboom, this day and age.

[Humpzilla]

AMPA, Fla. (CP) - Tampa rookie defenceman Paul Ranger says suspended Atlanta tough guy Eric Boulton phoned him over the weekend to apologize for his cheap shot in last Thursday's game.

"He called and felt pretty bad," Ranger told the St. Petersburg Times. "He apologized. I don't think he meant to cheap shot me or anything. It was a natural kind of reaction (from him). I kind of fumbled for the puck, and he tried to catch a piece of me."

Ranger, 21, sustained a Grade 1 concussion and a hairline fracture in his jaw. Ranger said he has seen the hit on tape and doesn't enjoy watching himself "get popped and twist" to the ice.

"If I would have just dropped to the ice it probably wouldn't have been so bad," Ranger told the Tampa Tribune. "But I twisted on the way day and that scared me a little bit."

Ranger has recovered well and could actually play as early as Thursday against New Jersey.

[Fighting Wombats]

I think the 6 games is just about right for him. Probably is this many games because of what happend in the Tor-Atl game. I see the league trying to send him a message with this suspension.