No Suspension for Downie
Flyers’ forward Steve Downie will not be suspended for his apparent sucker-punch on Leafs’ winger Jason Blake on Saturday night.
TSN is reporting through sources while Tim Panaccio of The Philadelphia Inquirer seems to have confirmed it.
According to Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren, Downie was cut some slack by NHL VP Colin Campbell:
“We had a conversation with Mr. Campbell and that’s it. The rest will be between the league, the Flyers and Steve,” said general manager Paul Holmgren. “It was a good talk. It’s Steve’s [fourth] NHL game. He’s walking a fine line there, which is basically what he was told. My conversation with Steve was a little harsher than Colin Campbell’s.”
This isn’t the first time this season that Downie’s behavior has drawn the ire of Holmgren and at this rate it’s probably not going to be the last. He’s been a loose cannon since his junior days and he’s going to have to make some changes if he wants his talent to out-weigh his temper. The suspension he received for his hit on Dean McAmmond was questionable but his antics as of late are not.
