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Souray, Campbell, Lecavalier and Kovalev have all supported their fellow players. JS Giguere and Sidney Crosby are the only ones to throw them under the bus, so far.

Except that rule also applies to Crosby, who is also not playing because of an injury. So they make this "exception" out of the blue, today, after Crosby and Bettman have a phone conversation.

The Wings do have plenty of money available to play some GR guys for one game, if need be. Holland has been conserving as much cap space as he can... it just sucks to use it for this BS. Thank god this game is against Columbus, where the Wings actually still have a chance, even without their top two guys.

I have never been a Bettman "suporter" but I have never really hated the man. Despite losing 1 1/2 seasons during his tenure, despite his ill-advised expansion, despite his efforts to diminish fighting from the game, despite his unabashed and unthankful exploitation of the Red Wings for the sake of the rest of the league, depite his banning of the octopus tradition... but this one makes me really ******* despise this guy. He makes a clear exception for Sidney Crosby, because he is able to make it out of Lemieux's basement for the weekend, but does not consider excusing the reigning three-time Lady Byng winner and the captain, who has definied the word "class" for the last 15 years, made it to every single awards presentation and appeared at ten All Star games and has done everything imaginable to be an exemplarary example of the NHL to the world -- those guys need to be made an example of. f*** you Bettman.

Interesting. I like the rule, because without it you would not see a single Hab from the past twenty years Consider: Morenz Beliveau M.Richard Geoffrion H.Richard Lafluer Lalonde Lemaire Joilat Lach Gainey Shutt Harvey Robinson B.Bouchard Savard Lapointe Johnson Jacques Plante Ken Dryden/Patrick Roy And that is leaving off a ton of Hall of Famers.

No, it's not. The one game suspension was a rule created last year. The exception was created today.

I believe the rule is you must play in the game if you are voted in or named as a player. A player not playing because of an injury must also miss the game immediately preceding or following the ASG. The exception, which was just created today, states: If you attend the All STAR GAME, or your name is Sidney Crosby, you do not have to miss a game if you are injured.

Not Crosby? SUSPENDED!!!

From every reference I have seen to the rule, it is pretty cut and dry. If a player does not PLAY in the All Star Game because of an injury, they must miss either the preceding or following game. Yet out of thin air today, there is an exception to the rule... and it just happens to be that since Crosby is there in Montreal, he is the exception. In other words, Bettman is willing to make an exception for Crosby, but obviously not for Datsyuk and Lidstrom.

MUST READ: http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/01/ho..._back.html#more I have never heard Holland this pissed, quite honestly. Good for him!

Actually, it sounds like an "exception" to the injury rule was created out of thin air BECAUSE Crosby was going to actually be there.

You are an idiot for obvious reasons. Unlike the other major sports, more than 60% of the NHL's revenues comes directly from ticket sales. Advertising is a shockingly low figure for the NHL. Lidstrom and Datsyuk did more for the NHL by giving them the highest rated Stanley Cup finals since the last time the Wings were in it, and for giving them the highest rated game (the Winter Classic) since 1989. The ratings for the ASG last year were lower than regular season games, even in Canada... and that was with Datsyuk and Lidstrom playing.

Because he talked on the phone with Bettman, who made sure Crosby was coming before laying down the hammer.

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock...by_in_montreal/ I actually thought this was a joke when I first read it. Oh, and Crosby is pretty sure he'll be well enough to play at Pittsburgh's first game!

Didn't you just say players have always hated it and tried to get out of it? Or could it possibly be the All Star game has become more and more of a joke, especially now where ballot stuffing is easier than ever? Whether they are hurt or not... and god forbid you actually believe a captain of a team who has been there around ten times already as well as a perennial Lady Byng winner, along with their doctors, when they say they are injured... this is not an action that is worthy of a suspension.

It's a big f*cking problem, as they are supended with pay -- and happen to be the Wings two most expensive players. Holland has cap room to bring some guys up for a game, but it screws the Wings over in that they have been trying to conserve as much cap space as possible.

Really? Then why have they not felt the need to start handing out suspensions until this very year?

The Red Wings have issued a public statement that Datsyuk and Lidstrom are injured. Why are you being a jackass? Do you think they made it up with no medical staff involved whatsoever?

What the hell are you talking about? Since when des making the All Star game more enticing for the players involve allowing hits in the game? Who ever said or implied that? Don't allow bogus voting - that is the number one way they can make it more legitimate.

So you just assume everyone is lieing and throw out suspensions? Or maybe they could put some energy into creating an ASG that is not a farce, and that players actually want to attend.

Sure... because all injuries last an entire week, right?

A suspension will permanently be in their records and you can write them off for the Lady Byng award. Yeah, it might not mean as much as it used to, but I think it is still an honor, considering some of the greats who have received it in the past.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...uspend_red.html Good for Holland.

It is not as simple as "showing up". This involves getting on a plane, traveling to another country and going from event to event amongst thousands of people, as well as staying in a hotel room away from your family and doctor. I'm sorry - but if I am injured or sick, that is about the last thing that would be good for me.

What the f*** is going on??? The Wings issued public statements that BOTH are injured.