20 games for Downie

[Kutcher 0]

Two wrongs definitely don't make a right. Simon should have gotten more and he shouldn't be playing in the preseason. At least the NHL got things right and actually punished this nut Downie. Let's remember, the kid is a repeat offender (suspended for more than 20 OHL games). I have no problem holding that record against him. The chump needs to learn someday or he needs to find a new line of work.

Repeat offender how? It's his first crime in the NHL, therefore should be treated as such. The NHL totally over reacted , as did most of the players, this just f***s them later when idiots like pronger do the same thing and will get 5 games.

Also Hank, the league should not determine a suspension based on the time of the season that it occurs. If this hit happens in the playoffs , regardless of who the players are, they better get 20 ******* games . That would be the NHL growing balls. Not this absolutely ludicrous suspension of 20 games for a hit that was not that bad, not that bad at all.

[StaticWithABeat 0]

Damn, NHL's not messing around on this one...Downie is inevitably going to get very familiar with the disciplinary committee during his career, good thing they're dropping the hammer on him now so he learns to control himself. If they really want to send a message they should tell him his next offense will earn him 5 minutes alone in a room with Brian McGrattan.

[Opie 308]

I think because he was brand new to the league they wanted to let him know that he was not going to be able to play like that in the NHL.

[Gizmo 21]

"Money Quote" from the Hockey News:

There will be the usual hue and cry from those who think the NHL is going soft, but this was no ordinary hit. This was a search-and-destroy mission carried out by a player with a long history of violent behavior and one who was hell-bent on getting his pound of flesh after being hit from behind not long before.

[Hank 0]

Also Hank, the league should not determine a suspension based on the time of the season that it occurs. If this hit happens in the playoffs , regardless of who the players are, they better get 20 ******* games . That would be the NHL growing balls. Not this absolutely ludicrous suspension of 20 games for a hit that was not that bad, not that bad at all.

I agree. But I think it'll be a long, long time before that ever happens.

But I do think you have to look into a players past even if it wasn't in the NHL. A 5 game or even a 10 game suspension would teach someone like Downie nothing. He'll still make that hit over and over again. 20 games will make this caveman think twice before losing his cool. And it also serves a notice to the entire league that you better watch how you conduct yourself.

Saying all of this, I do feel bad for Downie. Not only does have to serve 20 games but he gets to look forward to eating a few McGratton right-hands in the not so distant future.

"Money Quote" from the Hockey News:

Wow! That quote was perfection. I hope Downie reads all of this. That is, if he CAN read.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Hank

[Kutcher 0]

I agree. But I think it'll be a long, long time before that ever happens.

But I do think you have to look into a players past even if it wasn't in the NHL. A 5 game or even a 10 game suspension would teach someone like Downie nothing. He'll still make that hit over and over again. 20 games will make this caveman think twice before losing his cool. And it also serves a notice to the entire league that you better watch how you conduct yourself.

Saying all of this, I do feel bad for Downie. Not only does have to serve 20 games but he gets to look forward to eating a few McGratton right-hands in the not so distant future.

Wow! That quote was perfection. I hope Downie reads all of this. That is, if he CAN read.

It will be a long time, your right.

A suspension won't do anything, he is a loose cannon, what he need is a 5 game suspension, and to take his lumps. he won't learn untill he gains respect. Suspensions don't teach respect.

I think Philly should set him up with a mentor to try and make this kid realize he has a special talent and an opportunity to showcase that to the rest of the league.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

It will be a long time, your right.

A suspension won't do anything, he is a loose cannon, what he need is a 5 game suspension, and to take his lumps. he won't learn untill he gains respect. Suspensions don't teach respect.

I think Philly should set him up with a mentor to try and make this kid realize he has a special talent and an opportunity to showcase that to the rest of the league.

So you're saying that he hasn't received his lumps before, being a loose cannon and all? He gathered up 22 games of suspensions in his last hockey league, so what makes you think he never got his lumps in those situations but will now?

It doesn't matter though. The point of this suspension is NOT to teach him a lesson. The point is to make a firm point about bulls*** jumping hits to the jaw that show zero respect for the safety of the other players on the ice. s*** like that is pandemic in the modern NHL but would never have been tolerated in the harder, tough as nails NHL of old.

Causing severe head trauma IS NOT PART OF THE GAME. I don't want the NHL to turn into the NFL where injuries eat up thousands of man-games a year.

[puckbags 863]

Excuse me for being totally ignorant but I have watched this hit 100 times and besides the fact he was out for blood and that he left his feet slightly (he was going so fast how could he have not left his feet) I don't see a whole lot wrong with this hit. I don't like his intentions at all but I have seen hits that are 10 times worse than that where guys don't even get suspended. His elbows weren't flying, his stick wasn't swinging, I just don't see what the big deal is. McCammond had his head down and got smoked. If Downie makes that exact same hit and MCammond gets up right away or this same hit was made on Chris Simon or some other goon people on this site are saying "wow this Downie kid can sure hit get him on our team". The suspension is just another joke in the long line of joke suspensions this league hands out. No consistency at all!! We ***** how soft this league has become and now everytime a guy hits another guy in this area of the ice when he is counting his skate laces someone is going to get suspended. WHAT A JOKE!

Edited September 28, 2007 by puckbags

[Curban915 0]

[Opie 308]

I have seen players going full tilt hit a guy and yes they will leave their feet, but usually it is not so drastic that they end up parallel to the ice 4.5 feet above it.

Two things that make the hit an intent to injure:

1. Shoulder to the head, he easily could have buried his shoulder into McAmmond's chest, seeing as they are both 5'11. You can say McAmmond's head was down, that means he was looking down, not bent over tying his skates. Yes he should have kept his head on a swivel I agree, but when Downie hit him, from what I saw and read, he had every intention of hurting him. If he hits him in the chest and he knocks McAmmond out or hurts him badly, it is easy to call it a good hard clean hit.

2. The force with which he takes off from the ground, You have got to have a lot of force behind you to end up parallel to the ice. The man did not slightly leave his feat, if you watch the slow mo that was posted, you can see a good 2-3 inches of daylight between his skates and the ice.

I think part of what Downie was trying to do was say "Hey no one f***s with me" and he wanted to show the rest of the league to leave him alone.

I agree the league is far too inconsistent on these suspensions, and a lot of it has to do with who the offender and the victim are. But that is just like the rest of our society.

EDIT: Clarity

Edited September 28, 2007 by Opie

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

not that i disagree with the ruling. actually i agree completely.

BUT i also dont take from it, that this is the new precedent being set. the only thing it says to me is: "as long as the hit/violation is perpetrated by a no-body we'll hand down a large punishment. However, if the crime is committed by an NHL star/rising star, we'll let it slide."

thats the only thing that pisses me off.

mclennan got 5 games. granted the season was over but thats a joke. it should have been 15. and if it was done by kipper he might have gotten 2-3. such was the case with pronger...

its def a step in the right direction but we aren't quite there yet.

[Skiing - Puck 0]

I think Downie should appeal this. While I do think he should have been suspended, it should not have been for 20 gaes, that far too much. I think between five and ten would be suffient. It was his first incident in the NHL and was not that bad of a hit in comparison to some other hits.

[Turkey 0]

I fail to see why this being his first NHL offense makes this somehow more tolerable. He is an adult, he can take responsibility. In addition he is a repeat offender in the OHL. Why should the NHL just ignore that fact?

I agree that there is an unacceptable disparity between the punishment handed out to stars and that handed out to a rookie but, as I said before, two wrongs don't make a right. I rather get it wrong on Pronger and right on Downie than get is wrong on both of them.

[Kp-Wings 3]

I think the suspension comes to pass on one main point: Downie is a nobody player that will be lucky to ever crack an NHL roster. Prongers hits during last seasons playoffs on Holmstrom and McAmmond were probably just as bad, if not worse, but due to the fact that Pronger is a much better player, he get's off easy.

As much as I usually disagree with Grapes, he is right on one thing: star players get star treatment. I rememeber last season Ovechkin cross-checked Briere from behind into the bench door, that actually opened up as he hit it. Briere is lucky he didn't he get his face sliced off. Afterwords, Paul Gaustad fights Ovechkin, and he is then kicked out of the game. As for Ovechkin? Nothing. No minor penalty, nothing. It's ridiculous how screwed up the NHL is with it's line of punishments.

Prongers hits last season desereved longer then what he got, but because he's a good player, he doesn't get a very lofty suspension. Downie sucks ass: he'd be lucky to ever crack an NHL outside of Philly. He will probably make the Flyers because he fits the bill for "Flyers hockey". But regardless, he get's a much larger suspension because he's not a very good player. Same thing with Chris Simon. If, say, Pronger did what Simon did last season to Hollweg, he wouldn't get s***.

I don't know what it is with the NHL. Unless their afraid that if a star player get's suspended for too long they won't be able to market him, it really makes no sense with these rollercoaster punishments they hand out. At least try to keep some consistancy.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[Turkey 0]

The thing that baffles me about Pronger is that he could easily check you through a wall with a clean hit. He's enormous. He definitely does not have to go for the head or hit dirty to get the job done. He says he has to play his game to help his team win but that's bunk. He does it to put the fear into the other team and to possibly put a player out of the game.

He could get the job done with clean hits.

[wingslogo19 281]

20 games seems right. This guy is a head case and has been while playing junior hockey

[sticknmove 0]

LOL, 20 games, wow. Overkill much? this is something else, whatever. this is a joke, absolute joke. How many games did Hunter get for his cross check ? this is sending a message, a message that depending on what night, and what city, and wether or not the other guy can take a hit and leave on his own 2 feet (like homer did after prongers hit, which i though was equally dirty) will determine your suspension length. 20 frigging games, give me a break.

Also if you are going to start supporting this sh*t then you better go both ways cause I have 3 kronwall clips of hits similar to this, (not as bad, but leaving the feet and leading with the shoulder to head), a clip of Quincey doing this (well if we are judging Downie by his play up to the NHL we will hold everyone to this standard) and about a reel of chelios for ya.

Edited September 28, 2007 by sticknmove

[Kp-Wings 3]

20 games seems right. This guy is a head case and has been while playing junior hockey

Exactly. The guy is like a small mad dinosaur on skates. It really makes you wonder why Philly actually used a 1st round draft pick on him: he sucks.

The suspension is certainly justified. I hate Downie. All he can do is trash talk, and if he actually does drop the gloves, he keeps his visor on. He's such a puss.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

LOL, 20 games, wow. Overkill much? this is something else, whatever. this is a joke, absolute joke. How many games did Hunter get for his cross check ? this is sending a message, a message that depending on what night, and what city, and wether or not the other guy can take a hit and leave on his own 2 feet (like homer did after prongers hit, which i though was equally dirty) will determine your suspension length. 20 frigging games, give me a break.

Also if you are going to start supporting this sh*t then you better go both ways cause I have 3 kronwall clips of hits similar to this, (not as bad, but leaving the feet and leading with the shoulder to head), a clip of Quincey doing this (well if we are judging Downie by his play up to the NHL we will hold everyone to this standard) and about a reel of chelios for ya.

Stick, its 2007 bro, step into the hear and now already. What Hunter got back in the what, fuggin early 90's shouldn't have anything to do with this. The question we should be asking of the league is what would somebody get today if they pulled that. I think you might find a different punishment after today's ruling. Then this would make more sense.

People keep going back to old suspensions and using them like they were gospel. Perhaps some of those suspensions were a joke and should not be used for comparison?

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Thats a good amount of time. f*** you Downie

But, if Pronger hits someone with an Elbow this year, he'd better get the same or more, or its just stupid.

[tony 3]

dosnt matter theyll never hand out a supension like that to a major star

[Yemack 1]

Players are getting bigger faster, equipments are like weapons in these days.... well Im sure you've heard all that already

IMO the technicalities of the hit were NOT what got him 20 but Downie showing absolutely no respect for fellow players was.

It's not about being tough and gritty, this guy cleary needs to control his temper and learn some respect and discipline.

Beside, the league was trying to send a message and this was the perfect opportunity for it.

Anyway I hope Downie learned something from this and comeback strong.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Yemack

[Donaldjr2448 43]

so if he is assigned to the AHL does the suspension still tick away?

I do believe it does stick! However he could go overseas and play, but since hes under contract that won't happen either, so basically he sits for 2 months!

Also, I kinda glad the NHL did suspend him for 20 games, however like many of you have said, the NHL needs to be more consistant! IE *** Pronger, Jordin PooPoo, I just hope this is the spring board that keeps the cheapshots down. Don't get me wrong I like hard hitting, but there is no reason why a guy needs to strap on 30 pounds of hard plastic padding and then go out and hit people with this Legion of Doom shoulder pads. Look at Chelios and Shannys shoulder pads, those are hockey pads!!!!

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

This is one of the biggest problems that NHL has: inconsistency.

The NHL is a joke when it comes enforcing it's "rules". Whether it be not calling games the same way during the regular season and playoffs, or on a suspension such as this.

Giving Dowie 20 games puts that hit into the same category as Dale Hunter, Todd Bertuzzi, Marty McSorley, Chris Simon, and Brad May. Yet still, they say this hit was worse than what Dave Brown, and Tie Domi did. (Click HERE to see what I'm talking about.)

Regardless of your standpoint on the hit, this suspension has to seem over the top.

Anyone else remember the hit Jordin Tootoo placed on Mike Modano last season, and the ensuing sucker punch? That was a 5 game suspension.

This suspension is far too harsh, especially when you look at the NHL's past record of suspensions.

[Guest jaytan]

Chris Pronger's laughing.