b.shanafan14

AMEN. Thats what we were all arguing in the first place. Some people dismiss what they see with their own two eyes as Crosby haters overreacting or Sid getting a bad rap for following the rules. When he and Bettman devise a way to beat the system put in place, and then everyone proceeds to scoff at Lidstrom and Datsyuk of all players in the league for being greedy or lazy or neglectful of the fans, when the fact of the matter is such a loophole was never in play and its one thing, like egroen said, to be a Canadian in his 20s with no family asked to go rub elbows with the media that can't get enough of him in Montreal, of whom he was a fan when he was a kid, and telling Datsyuk (Russian) and Lidstrom (Swedish), both with families, both injured and both thoroughly ignored by the media that because Sidney had no problem making it here yesterday, you two better be on the next plane to Montreal to play the media's wallflowers or else you can't play for your fans, because that wouldn't be fair to the fans. This whole thing is moronic.

no thanks

Ovechkin has always been better than Crosby in my eyes, but no matter how much we argue that the NHL should spread the press around when praising its superstars, its always going to be 95% Crosby when you turn on the TV, which is unfortunate.

I knew the ratings were good, but I didn't know they were that good. I stand corrected on thinking that the Winter Classic couldn't compete with college bowl games.

Didn't watch the ASG Skills competition last night, just caught the highlights on TSN.ca this morning. AO is the man, funny guy, tho I think Getzlaf should have probably won.

HAHAHAHAHA WIN.

This. This is Bettman's Napoleon complex showing, like a spoiled girl who is mad when people can't come to her party. Nothing more. First the rule was an 'understanding', then it was an iron clad rule, then it has some a last minute change that allows players to simply show up in Montreal. I'll stick to my guns and guarantee that had Crosby not gone to Montreal ala him and Bettman's private call, there is no suspension at all. Bettman would never suspend his poster boy and drag his name through the mud as a 'selfish' superstar. In fact on TSN.ca the first I had heard about the suspension threats first thing yesterday they had already said "Pittsburgh won't test his patience" or something of the sort. And even if you say "why don't they just show up in Montreal" its not the same. Use the above scenarios given except its first thing Saturday morning on the weekend you could have possibly made up for it, and you get the phonecall saying you could make it up if you come straight to the office, but its the weekend you are out of town with your family or something. On the other hand, the other guy who is showing up to work the weekend knew since day one he missed, is right down the street and has no wife and kids to head home to that weekend. Unfortunately for you, you found out too late to change plans and even if you could you wouldn't because you don't see said family enough being that your job has you coming and going to a different city every other night.

Yeah, saw this and we all know its going to give that 'stop-fighting' ball speed, whether its related or not.

The rule is a load of bulls*** that apparently in Crosby's case is open to interpretation. The issue isn't that Bettman is suspending players who simply bowed out, its that the league is making an example of probably the two classiest players in its league for being legitimately injured and needing rest. Like it or not, there is a huge bias towards Crosby who is a Canadian poster boy with no wife and kids over two European veterans with legit injuries and with families of their own, not in the injury portion of the interpreted rule, but in the "Crosby showed up, why can't Lidstrom and Datsyuk" school of thought. With Lidstrom and Datsyuk, they have legit injuries, and being soft-spoken low-profilers that the media doesn't care about, their presence in the media circus is pointless and just serves to take them away from the rest and recuperation they need and the families they miss. Everyone needs to open their eyes and read past the bulls***: this is about Gary Bettman's ego and his inability to believe that his event is a laughing stock. His suspension of two talented and entertaining players from a regulation game that actually matters for the sake of policing a game that doesn't is transparent and counterproductive. If it was about punishing players for being "selfish" the punishment would be monetary, not taking said players away from their team and depriving their fans of the show they paid good money to see. I am usually pretty cordial and try not to step on many toes, but anyone who sees this as anything other than a pathetic commissioner satisfying his own Napoleon complex is complete and utter moron.

Well put Kenny, well put. This organization is class all the way, sticls by its players as it should.

Crosby has never had issue with playing Gary's favorite niece and sucking the dick of the NHL establishment even if it means throwing his peers under the bus, especially helps when those peers were the Norris and Selke winners that kept your already crowned 'dynasty' from mustering even a goal in your first two meetings in the Finals and then swiped up your top winger and clutch backup goaltender, not for more money but better company.

Sorry to hear about that. Exactly the point of many of us. Its not going to affect most fans that Lidstrom and Datsyuk aren't at the ASG, its going to affect the fans in Columbus on Tuesday who paid good money, but now won't get to see the two best players that would have played, funny its two players who have both been said that you need to "see them live to really appreciate them"

Check out the videos on TSN.ca, Sheldon Souray said it best: http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip132824#clip132824

This furthers my stance that the only reason any suspensions were handed out is because Crosby is already going. If Crosby wasn't going, the NHL would never suspend him. Its setting an example with two class acts to make sure next year players don't get injured around the all-star game. There is no point in Lidstrom and Datsyuk going to the ASG to rub elbows with the media because the media doesn't want to rub elbows with them. Datsyuk has been in the top 5 players in the league for a few years now, but how often does anyone try to talk about him?

The point isn't that Pavel is going to be better rested Tuesday than Sunday, its the fact that he is either going to be home resting it and treating his injury proactively or he is going to be spending that time traveling, not resting it, and taking a risk that there is absolutely no reason to take. Players have always bowed out with nagging injuries, plenty less serious than Pavel's. Rest a week, play Tuesday =/= travel, deal with ASG BS, more travel, play Tuesday

I need to see a Babcockian "get a-load of this bulls*** call" smile when asked about the suspension of Niklas "Norris" Lidstrom and 3 time Lady Byng winner Pavel Datsyuk over AN ALL-STAR GAME!

Exactly. Just more damage done. Typical counterproductive Gary Bettman. I'm not going to the game and I'm furious that Pavel's great run lately and entertaining hockey gets put on hold for, of all things from a Lady Byng winner the last 3 years, a suspension.

The issue isn't that injuries magically heal two days after the All-Star game, its that there is a difference between getting to rest and not risk further injury for a pointless game, or going to the pointless game and not resting said injury and risking its further agitation. Its not a black and white here today, gone tomorrow senario, more like its going to get better with a week off or its going to get worse. It used to be the discretion of the players and management. Here's something: I guarantee if Gary's favorite niece Crosby wasn't already planning on going to Montreal to further cram himself down the throat of hockey fans, this would have never come up. Its Bettman's way of breaking a few eggs to make an omelet (suspend a few players to bully players into going next year) as long as his favorite egg isn't in the mix.

This is nothing more than Bettman throwing a temper tantrum. Thats all. The media has decided to ignore Datsyuk for years because of the language thing and because Bettman deems him not as pretty to market as Sidney Crosby and Lidstrom is so under appreciated that the only place you'll see his name spelled right is on the Norris 6 times and the Stanley Cup 4 times. This has nothing to do with promoting the game to Bettman's favorite demographic, those who dislike hockey, and everything to do with Gary throwing a party that no one wants to go to. Solution: suspend two of the biggest class acts ever to play.

Bettman's move to suspend Datsyuk and Lidstrom is more destructive to the fans that give a s*** than them missing the All-Star game. Tell me, who wins in this situation? Its just Gary throwing a tantrum because he has planned a party, invited everyone and no one wants to go. "But who's going to play Yahtzee?"

haha LGP has a point. I'm definitely not watching a single all-star anything this weekend. As far as I'm concerned hockey is hibernating til Tuesday and Pavel and Nick get extra days rest at home with their families that they deserve and can come back with a vengeance against Dallas thursday. Still furious at Bettman, so much for another 82 game season from Pavel and Lidstrom and Datsyuk, two of the more soft-spoken gentlemen to ever play the game get a suspension.

When I read this on TSN.ca this morning I was so pissed. Your Norris Trophy and Lady Byng perennials decide to miss an All-star game, that ironically enough under Bettman's system no longer is entirely All-stars nor is it a real hockey game, its a advertising promotion and another dry-humping attempt at marketing hockey to those who don't like hockey. And what happens, they get suspended from games that do matter? One has been to 9 straight all-star games (thus skipping 9 straight all-star BREAKS) and is 38 years old with nagging aches and pains, so he decides to pass on a game to prepare for games that really matter for an organization and fans he cares about playing well for and he gets suspended a game for not flying to Montreal to kiss Gary's feet. The other is a superb gentleman of the game, soft-spoken Russian and arguably the best player on his team right now who was forced to sit out the 3rd period of the last game he played due to a hip injury and he is told he has to jump a flight to Montreal to rub elbows with the media that ignores him. Bettman is absolute doodoo, feces, caca, poopoo, bulls*** and should have been drummed out after his first lockout.

I'm for anything they want to do that isn't changing the size of the nets. Do whatever you want with the posts as long as its safe for the plays, just don't change the size.

Not a chance. Unless you lose three of Filppula, Franzen, Hudler and Samuelsson and kill our depth for one player we won a cup without.

Tough call, the guy was plenty talented enough to make the team, same with Helm and Ericcson, but thanks to the salary cap and some old players taking up roster spots there just wasn't room. Next season there definitely will be room and I was really looking forward to Leino in the red and white. But its hard to explain that to a guy who came over to play for the big club, knowing no one and ends up playing a whole season on a team similar to one he could have stayed home and played for. Hopefully he guts it out, but you can't blame him if he bolts.