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Like I said earlier, the result makes everything look worse. Think Bertuzzi on Moore. If McCarty beat Lemieux into a stretcher with those punches (which I'm sure he wouldn't have minded doing), the entire situation would be looked upon differently. Instead of seeing it as a great hockey memory, a lot of people would see it as another instance of hockey brutality with a tragic result. Also, remember Weber ramming Zetterberg's head in the glass. If Zetterberg was taken away on a stretcher, I can see Weber getting 10 games out of that. Instead, he got s***. Here, we have gloved punches which seriously hurt a player. We see gloved punches all the time that don't do nearly as much damage, if at all. I do think Thornton should be suspended, but this incident wouldn't even be on the news if Orpik didn't get hurt so badly.

So pathetic - the NHL is reviewing Neal's "kneeing" incident within the rule for kneeing? How is this any different that a deliberate elbow to the head blindside? So what if it was a knee. Should be an in person hearing with over 5 games suspension. He will get 2 for a dirtier play than most - a lot of head shots can be unintentional and end up being penalized a lot worse.

You think you could knock off the baiting, it's obnoxious?

So should Neal then because he intended to injure.

Why didn't anyone go after #87 at the 1:57 mark for slew footing Marchand? Oh yeah, because he took his ***** ass off the ice shorty after... You can see the video in better clarity and a slightly different angle at NHL.com ( http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=694881&navid=nhl:topheads ). You can see Crosby trip up Marchand right before the knee to the head by Neal, then like the good captain he is heads to the bench as soon as he gets a hint of an ensuing scrum. You'll find more guts in a piece of roadkill. This whole ordeal was a mess and I'm glad nobody got seriously injured, but let's give credit where it's due.

Getzlaf's terrible 'stache makes the whole thing even worse.

As would I, and I'd even do a better job with the toilets than Conklin, and Hudler wouldn't have needed to remind me about the stairs, either.

He's got better memory than I do: I'd forgotten he was ever on the team!

I think Claud Julien nailed it, basically said: Thornton obviously crossed the line, but so did team Bettman known as the Penguins. If Shanahan wants to send a message: Thornton: 10 games - disgusting and he knows it Neal: 8 games - that wasn't kneeing this was an intent with the head as principal point of contact according to rule #48 ..didn't even show any remorse what an idiot Orpik: phone hearing = less than 5 games I am sure it's also just bad luck, that everytime a game goes out of hand the Penguins are involved...maybe thats the Mario L. & Sindy C. bonus... Personally, I still love the type of grit and caring McCarty has shown that's the type of team bounding I love to watch. Like Downey said, you can hit the players but if you cross the line someone will come out and make you pay for it. Sometimes I think people are forgetting, that this hockey not a sport for the soccer mums and dads of the world

My job allows us to read at our desks when things get slow, and as such I've been reading the Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series. The book series (as I'm sure many of you know) is fantastic, and has had me REALLY wanting to play a game that was in the same genre as ASOIAF... So, after being pretty much severely burned out on Skyrim in June, I finally swung back around and pulled it out of the box again. Still had a few things to finish up in Dawnguard, and still have the civil war to finish, and several other miscellaneous quests. Even after all this time, this game is STILL lights-out. The only other game I've ever spent this much time in was Final Fantasy X.

For what its worth: http://www.capgeek.com/buyout-calculator/?player_id=812&buyout_y=2014&buyout_m=06&buyout_d=15 I'm assuming that means he is not a compliance buyout and instead we'll be on the hook for the following cap-hits if we buy Weiss out in June: 2014-15: $2,108,333 2015-16: $608,333 2016-17: $608,333 2017-18: $2,608,333 2018-19: $1,708,333 2019-20: $1,708,333 2020-21: $1,708,333 2021-22: $1,708,333 Overall, not bad, especially since the cap will likely rise in the coming years. Then again, it probably looks so "good" because this season we are accustom to paying Tootoo $1.9M in the minors, similar with Eaves, another $1.75M for an empty Cleary #71 sweater floating around, and $3M for Samuelsson....

Ha. Not when we're playing against teams playing a back to back.

Agreed. Mattias Janmark is tearing up the Elite league at 20 too...I think both those guys are underrated. Our defence prospects are incredible and its arguable, based on what I've read, that Backman could be as good as any of them. Right now though, I'd say the list looks something like this. 1. Sproul...exceeding all expectations. 2. Ouellett/Backman...same type playerr, different league. 3. Almquist In 3-4 years, I'd expect... Dekeyser Sproul Kronwall Ericsson Ouellett. Backman Lol. Facts...facts are sweet.

Agreed. And forwards who move the puck well are referred to as play-makers. But getting back to Helm. He’s definitely not a play-making forward, But after Datsyuk and Zetterberg, so far this year, he’s been the third best “possession” forward IMO. Meaning he’s integral in moving the puck forward into the offensive zone, hanging on to the puck, and making offence happen. I think that Crymson’s original statement about our top 3 puck moving forwards being out is mostly accurate regardless of how we define Helm’s style of play. edit to add: Ultimately, by definition, DeKeyser fits the bill, and his absence hurts possibly even more than Helm. Captain Obvious here, I know.

And I wouldn't want to trade him yet. We are just 1/3 in his first season with the Wings and I simply refuse to believe that a player who scored around 50 points in every year of his career isn't able to produce this number in our system. Plus we still don't know if there is some kind of injury bothering him.

@HackswithHaggs: Shawn Thornton in near tears after game: "I made a mistake. I can't say I'm sorry enough times. That's all I can say right now" #BruinsTalk "I made a mistake and slew footed a guy and then punched his face a few times" Really? Both Thornton and Neal were seriously out of line, and I hope they get anally penetrated with fines and suspensions. And just an honest question to those questioning why Orpik was so hurt--have you ever been clipped on the sweet spot? It's instant lights out, which would understandably lead to precautionary measures involving a stretcher regardless of whether or not there were long lasting effects from the hit. Let's not blame the victims here. There were bulls*** moves on both sides, both of which should be rightly punished. No excuses.

All I have to say about this one is that when Hammer Hands gets your only goal, you done played like ass. If by alien you mean a giant turd nug, then yeah, there's an alien between Q's ears.

Neal deserves 10 games too for his cowardly knee and run. Neal is just as much a piece of garbage as Thornton.

No you didn't. Here's what you said in May, 2012. Months after he'd been traded for, and while he was a free agent. "Offer him a 5 year $3M per contract. A bit less money, but more security and more money to make the team better. If he doesn't agree, then let him decide what he wants to do. Get the 1st and 3rd round draft picks if he signs for more that elsewhere...Win-Win situation." Here's where you said it: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/72457-will-the-wings-keep-kyle-quincey/?hl=%2Bquincey+%2Btrade#entry2299045. Apparently when you say you "soured soon after" what you really mean is that it would be a "win" if the Wings had re-signed him for FIVE years at 3 million dollars. Get real dude.

Holland won't buy out Franzen just to use his last buyout because he's not retarded. When it's game 7 in the third period Babcock will want Franzen on the ice a lot more than Alfredsson. Cause you know, he's smart. He doesn't hold grudges against players for 3 years because he didn't have an unbelievable playoff run 3 years in a row

I thought the recapture was worse than it is. It's actually not that bad. His cap-hit through to 2020 based on year retiring. 2015- 1.45m 2016- 2m 2017-2.6m 2018- 2.95m 2019- 2.95 With Franzen being the X factor he can be for us and the cap expecting to rise as high as 80m in the next few years, he's definitely worth keeping.

Everyone keeps on being so wrong about Franzen but continue to keep speaking about him. You'd think after you've been wrong so many times you'd keep your comments to yourself. It must be embarrassing. Franzen is a true power forward and the only one on this team. He won't be bought out because holland isn't stupid. Him retiring early and giving the team a 3M cap penalty will be peanuts by that time with the cap going way up. Also considering having a player of Franzen's caliber would usually demand 5.5M see what Weiss was able to demand. His Defense is very undervalued on this board. He's big, strong, one of the best shots and great play maker. If this guy was on any other team he would be some of your guys wet dream to be on this team for 3.9M a year

Ya I agree Tatar and nyquist doing all the work while he floats is a good combination as long as he floats to the right spot...

You have no idea how much posts like this make me smile. Facts, stats, and solid discussion based on them. I hoped Commie would succeed here. When he didn't, I was glad he got a chance in Tampa. We had to bring up Smith for a look-see. We're like that with out future players that are ripening. If you get hired as a 7th defenseman, and you don't play yourself into a higher position, you're going to end up with 7th defenseman games and minutes.

Babcock buries people faster than Triple-H