Turkey

I'm not sure if I would count minor league infractions toward my "one warning and done" rule. I think it would be case by case. In this case, since Boulerice's total lack of control has already nearly killed someone, I think I would probably have banned him.

This works for me. I also think that this should be a one warning and your done sort of deal. If someone like Simon or Boulerice does it again they are done for good. I agree with some of you when it comes to being suspicious that this same standard won't be used against a star player. I would love to watch Pronger crying in the pressbox.

But aren't tough guys like Boulerice on the ice to prevent rampant stick infractions? I'm so confused! In all seriousness, this guy took a baseball swing to the face of an opponent while playing for the Plymouth Whalers. He apparently enjoys this sort of thing. Article

I love that the NHL's big plan is to offer a premium service that no one except current fans will pay for. Way to reach out to a broader audience guys.

I agree, for the most part, and I'm happy to see it. Parity makes me happy.

I admit that I wasn't watching hockey in the 80s. I had the bad fortune to grow up in a non-hockey household (In Michigan! Horrors!) and didn't discover this awesome sport until college. That said, I can say that I've been pretty happy with the games I've seen this year. Maybe it's just still the honeymoon stage of the season but the games I've seen have had fairly good end to end play and a high pace. That's what I look for in a good game. In addition, I've seen some games with a high level of (clean) hitting. That has also made me happy. I love hitting, speed, and flow. I've been getting those things so far, I guess.

Anyone that has spoken with me on this before knows that I am not a fighting proponent. This video, to me, just emphasizes the fact that the so-called "code" doesn't really exist anymore in the NHL. It may have existed at some point, I don' t know enough about the past to say for sure, but it doesn't now.

Yes, I was just about to post this. Gives a whole new meaning to the "Hockey Fights Cancer" ads doesn't it? Seriously, to be playing after a diagnosis like this is really impressive.

Better early in the season than late. Franzen should recover and have the majority of the season to show his stuff. Let's just wish the Mule quick healing.

People who resort to fighting when they "get frustrated and lose their temper" often find society remarkably unwilling to accept that as an excuse. Just saying. That's really not a defense. Lots of sports are fast. Lots of sports (all) can be frustrating for the players. Hockey is not special in that regard. There is fighting in hockey because there has been for a long time and for no other reason. Doing something just because it's always been done isn't really a very rational thing.

That game winning goal was really exciting 2-on-0 tastiness. I'd say Calgary deserved to lose, despite waking up a bit in the second half of the game. They turned the puck over constantly, even in their own zone, and they were in the box a lot for dumb lazy penalties. P.S. the ex-pride of detroit Anders Erickson totally turned the puck over for that game winner. Man, how did we let that one get away?

Someone has just put their finger on the inherent weakness in bivalent reasoning. Nothing comes down to either/or. That said, if the Flyers make the playoffs it will be a tremendous accomplishment for them. It's an accomplishment for any team that hasn't made them recently to make them. I think some of us who love the Wings may be a little spoiled due to the fact that our boys are always in the Cup hunt. Making the playoffs and loosing in the first round may be disappointing (as Atlanta) but it doesn't make you a "dud".

See...now when I hear "Drake" I think dragon. Oh well, I agree that the guy already has one of the coolest names ever and doesn't need any help. If we must, I vote we call him Mr. Punchy or Ol' Smashface.

I watched the game on Versus and I didn't have any problems. Then again, I work for a .com and stare at a screen all day anyway. My eyes are so abused they don't care about anything anymore.

I agree with NN's post, not surprisingly. Frankly, the argument that a person can't talk about a thing unless they've done it is patently absurd. If that was true most people wouldn't be doing a whole lot of talking about anything would they? I'm still waiting for a logical reason why the fighting is necessary. I don't hate it with a passion but I don't see why it should be necessary. I wouldn't miss it if it was gone and you can't deny that it would be a heck of a lot easier to market a game where the players didn't periodically stop to brawl.

Confirmed at TSN, one month out. tsn.ca

I can't even express how delighted I'd be if we moved to the east. Omg, so delighted.

The problem, with stars anyway, is that they make so much stinking money that they don't really feel the economic impact of a suspension. For a player like Downie that's less true. He probably won't get it because he just a big doofus. Three strikes and you're out I say. You commit a truly heinous act, like this hit, three times and you don't play again. End of story.

GST is right from what I see. There is a distinction between incidental contact with the head (bad but not always avoidable without removing hitting) and deliberate head strikes with the intent to injure. To be clear, there is no way a player would do what Downie did, i.e. leap into another players head and smash it, unless they were planning to hurt them. The NHL doesn't want to see hits to the head that stem from a clear intent to hurt. As someone else said, the reason checking is in the game is to separate a player from the puck. It isn't in the game because hitting people is just neato. There's a purpose. Once players start hitting for any reason outside that purpose the act is punishable, either by suspension, penalty, or whatever. The difference is clear enough to me.

Actually, there's no confusion assuming the AHL allows him to play. They can call him up on Flyers game days when there isn't an AHL game. He's calle up but doesn't play, it counts as a game missed. They do that 20 times and the suspension is over. The question is whether the AHL will also suspend him. They can do so if they want. They can also lengthen or shorten the suspension, if they want.

Things can get heated in a debate like this but let's stay away from personal attacks and language that doesn't meet the forum's standards. It would be a shame to have to kill this thread. I think it's a debate that should be had. Not singling anybody out here.

Yes, I'm just hoping it's actually true. I'm not going to assume it though. If it happens, I'll dance in the streets. If it doesn't...I won't be totally shocked.

Or they enjoy watching brutality. I'd rather watch athletes play a sport at a high level than watch meatheads try to maim each other. Downie is a thug. He has no concern for the well-being of other players. Someone who enjoys watching him lay people out like this clearly shares that lake of regard for other people. I understand that some people think it's fun to watch people get seriously hurt. I don't share that opinion. Even more importantly, until hockey manages to become a responsible sport where nonsense like this is very, very rare, it will never be anymore than a second teir sport in the USA. That's my opinion.

Here's hoping that Grig sees the light and plays in GR. I still think this kid can be a star if he adapts. He's got the smarts and hopefully the rest will come with time. If he pitches a fit and goes back to Russia, I bet we don't see him again.

Games played in the AHL do not count. If he goes down to the minors and is then brought up, I think it starts counting then. Or...something...I think....lol