Pittsburgh at Detroit 5/31/09

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by Hav42

Long time listener, first time caller...

As a Wings fan and a fighting fan ......

Those are mutually exclusive.

[FightsMcGee]

I don't think anyone should be suspended for fighting at the end of a game but this is what the NHL has turned it into and they don't even follow their own rules. If you don't see a problem with that, you seriously don't understand tradition and integrity in sports.

Just hire Vince McMahon as the commisioner and make its "sports entertainment" transformation complete.

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by FightsMcGee

It doesn't matter. The rules are simple, when you bend, change or make exceptions, the integrity of the game is in question.

The rules also say that instigators can be taken back upon further review, which happened in this case, similar to technicals being taken away in the NBA which has happened a handful of times so far in their playoffs. You are right though about the integrity of the game...there isn't any left.

[Churla27]

Originally Posted by Mike Tython

The rules also say that instigators can be taken back upon further review, which happened in this case, similar to technicals being taken away in the NBA which has happened a handful of times so far in their playoffs. You are right though about the integrity of the game...there isn't any left.

that's where the double standard comes in. I think it's funny how the NHL is "allowed to review" the instigator penalty. What they are saying is that if a superstar gets the instigator they will be exempt while fighters will always be suspended. Think about it. If the "review" the instigator rule wasnt there then all players would be subject to the rule, and for one game the teams top player is gone. believe me the NHL wouldnt stand for that. F-ck the NHL

[ShelleyFan45]

Originally Posted by Churla27

I think what he was trying to point out is that enforcers no matter what get suspended for instigating fights in the last 5 minutes while "SUPERSTARS" like Malkin can get away with it every game if he wanted to.

Exactly. I don't think anyone should be suspended for instigating a fight in the last five minutes of a game. That rule is beyond retarded. But you gotta believe if this was Donald Brashear going after Zetterberg and not Malkin doing it he would have been suspended so fast. It's bull****. The problem people have with the NHL is the total hypocrisy when it comes to suspensions and fines. I was actually shocked that Campbell/Bettman didn't suspend Scott Walker, but was glad they didn't.

[FightsMcGee]

Originally Posted by Mike Tython

You are right though about the integrity of the game...there isn't any left.

Its true. And I understand its under review and all that but there is no way they were suspending him whether they thought it was "message sending" or not. The broadcast crew made a mistake then by saying "hes trying to pump his team up and get a message out for game 4" because I was under the impression that the league frowned upon that.

[Churla27]

Originally Posted by ShelleyFan45

I don't think anyone should be suspended for instigating a fight in the last five minutes of a game. That rule is beyond retarded. But you gotta believe if this was Donald Brashear going after Zetterberg and not Malkin doing it he would have been suspended so fast. It's bull****. The problem people have with the NHL is the total hypocrisy when it comes to suspensions and fines. I was actually shocked that Campbell/Bettman didn't suspend Scott Walker, but was glad they didn't.

agree with this completely

[FightsMcGee]

People are starting to come around that the NHL as whole has no idea what they are doing. The players don't know whats legal and whats not anymore. The refs obviously have no idea. The actual league head honchos bend and twist things and try to fool people with double standards and what not. The league seriously has no foundation. It's shot and they are trying to rebuild it but its a mess.

[FightsMcGee]

"The intent of the rule is pretty obvious - was the action premeditated, was it sending a message," explained NHL on TSN's Bob McKenzie following the game. "Evgeni Malkin was on the ice trying to score a goal at the end of the game. This one was born more out of frustration, then it was the Penguins trying to orchestrate some late game shenanigans, that is what the rule was put in place for and that is why the NHL reserves the right to rescind the rule if they feel the spirit of the rule is not being violated."

It took them, what 5 mins to come up with this? At least soccer they call the player in when they want to appeal a red card (and thats why as ***** as soccer is, it is a well built machine). The league is making this **** up as they go along.

[Churla27]

Originally Posted by FightsMcGee

People are starting to come around that the NHL as whole has no idea what they are doing. The players don't know whats legal and whats not anymore. The refs obviously have no idea. The actual league head honchos bend and twist things and try to fool people with double standards and what not. The league seriously has no foundation. It's shot and they are trying to rebuild it but its a mess.

I agree. It seems to me like the NHL is trying so friggin hard to please non hockey fans that they are lost themselves with double standard rules and regulations. It's a joke.

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by FightsMcGee

People are starting to come around that the NHL as whole has no idea what they are doing. The players don't know whats legal and whats not anymore. The refs obviously have no idea. The actual league head honchos bend and twist things and try to fool people with double standards and what not. The league seriously has no foundation. It's shot and they are trying to rebuild it but its a mess.

Agreed.

With regards to the whole instigator thing, Babcock in his press conference said he didn't think Malkin would be suspended (which was before the official announcement that he wouldn't be) and not because of who Malkin is but because it's just a part of the game with emotions running high and stuff like that. I agree with him, not to say that it isn't fishy that the instigator got taken away, but I don't think it should have been one to start with.

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by Churla27

I agree. It seems to me like the NHL is trying so friggin hard to please non hockey fans that they are lost themselves with double standard rules and regulations. It's a joke.

At the same time, it had to be pretty cool for a non hockey fan to get to see two superstars throwing some punches at each other. The fans that don't know the rules/don't care about the rules, probably at least enjoyed that scrap.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by Mike Tython

At the same time, it had to be pretty cool for a non hockey fan to get to see two superstars throwing some punches at each other. The fans that don't know the rules/don't care about the rules, probably at least enjoyed that scrap.

Why would a non-hockeyfan be watching ?

[Hav42]

Originally Posted by Jack Schitt

Those are mutually exclusive.

Not so much exclusive as depressing these days. :-\

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by Jack Schitt

Why would a non-hockeyfan be watching ?

Maybe "non hockey fan" isn't the right expression, but I'm sure there were at least a dozen people watching around the world who tuned in that aren't the biggest NHL watchers.