MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 (edited) Darren Dreger of TSN reporting that the Leafs have suspended Mark Bell indefinitely as he has been placed in Stage 2 of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse program. Edited September 4, 2007 by MacK_Attack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izzy24 44 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 So if he can't play anyway, can he serve his jail time now and get it over with? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Poor guy. His season hasent even started yet and 1.) hes suspended till who knows when, and 2.) hes going to jail after the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 So if he can't play anyway, can he serve his jail time now and get it over with? I suppose they could always speed that process up, but I would think that would depend on what kind of treatment he has to do for the substance abuse program. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superstarsingh 23 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 What a shame. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 On the purely hockey side, this does free up over $2 million in cap space for the Leafs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest REDWINGS4LYFE Report post Posted September 4, 2007 that sucks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 On the purely hockey side, this does free up over $2 million in cap space for the Leafs. Think they'll make a signing to maybe take his place with the cap space they now have? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 (edited) Think they'll make a signing to maybe take his place with the cap space they now have? Fergie has said that the only free agent he'd even consider at this point is Peter Forsberg, and he appears to be a Christmas signing. The Leafs have a glut at forward, even without Bell in the mix. They'll have like 18 forwards in camp who could realistically play in the NHL, or could at least challenge for a spot. 1. Sundin 2. Blake 3. Tucker 4. Wellwood 5. Steen 6. Antropov 7. Ponikarovsky 8. Stajan 9. Kilger 10. Devereaux 11. Battaglia 12. Belak 13. Salmelainen 14. Gamache 15. Newbury 16. Ondrus 17. Pohl 18. Jeremy Williams Then you have Mark Bell, which makes 19 forwards. They'll also have about 9 defencemen in camp with NHL capabilities. Edited September 4, 2007 by MacK_Attack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Fergie has said that the only free agent he'd even consider at this point is Peter Forsberg, and he appears to be a Christmas signing. The Leafs have a glut at forward, even without Bell in the mix. They'll have like 18 forwards in camp who could realistically play in the NHL, or could at least challenge for a spot. 1. Sundin 2. Blake 3. Tucker 4. Wellwood 5. Steen 6. Antropov 7. Ponikarovsky 8. Stajan 9. Kilger 10. Devereaux 11. Battaglia 12. Belak 13. Salmelainen 14. Gamache 15. Newbury 16. Ondrus 17. Pohl 18. Jeremy Williams Then you have Mark Bell, which makes 19 forwards. They'll also have about 9 defencemen in camp with NHL capabilities. Unfortunately for the Leafs, most of those NHL-capable guys are third and fourth liners and bottom-three defensemen. Using LGW TradingTM they could put together two lines full of all-stars, along with a top-four that includs only top-ten defensemen. And a Vezina contender in net. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyCrazy3033 168 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 That's awful. Seriously. A guy with so much talent and it goes to waste because of his nonsense actions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StaticWithABeat 0 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Crazy how fast a player can fall from grace...last off-season he was the highly sought-after budding power forward who was going to put San Jose over the top, now his career is falling to pieces...feels like Theo Fleury all over again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DetroitIan Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Good. Im glad they suspended him. He turned into one of the biggest bums in hockey. Get him outta here until he cleans up his act. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raidedredwing2 0 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Well at least we will get to see vick get minimal punishment for a felony Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Didn't half this board want him? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CopenhagenWing 38 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Yep. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Yzer19 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Crazy how fast a player can fall from grace...last off-season he was the highly sought-after budding power forward who was going to put San Jose over the top, now his career is falling to pieces...feels like Theo Fleury all over again. All it takes is one bad decision. I can't understand why a professional athlete would throw it all away like that. Bell's career is probably done now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 There have been some reports that indicate that this may be part of his plea agreement. Bell recently claimed in the Hockey News that he's been sober for almost a year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DEVILSWATERBOY 10 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 On the purely hockey side, this does free up over $2 million in cap space for the Leafs. Why would it free up 2 mill for the Leafs? when Fish went down the Wings had to pay him to the end of his contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Why would it free up 2 mill for the Leafs? when Fish went down the Wings had to pay him to the end of his contract. Because Bell is suspended, not injured. Chistov and others who have signed in Russia while under contract are the same thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izzy24 44 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 All it takes is one bad decision. I can't understand why a professional athlete would throw it all away like that. Bell's career is probably done now. All people, professional athletes or not, deal with the same issues and problems. If someone has a proclivity for "substance abuse" it's going to come through whether they are a garbage truck driver, professional athlete or investment banker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Ah well I still say its all s*** about the after affects of this hit and run drunkeness... At least I can still watch Miss Lohan drunken parties now since she did her 82mins of jail for all the s*** she pulled. Ah well... it is what it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyCrazy3033 168 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 Didn't half this board want him? I sure did. He IS a very good all around player and any team would of been lucky as heck to have him prior to his last few incidents. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted September 4, 2007 John Ferguson just confirmed on the FAN 590 that his placement into Stage 2 was required as part of his plea agreement. He has been in Stage 1 since he was charged with DUI and hit-and-run and has passed every blood-alcohol test admistered since that time. Fergie expects to have a Bell back before the season starts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
