Boulerice gets 25 games

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Perfect amount of time, not too short (20) not too long (30).

[OsGOD 3]

He should have received more... at least Bert style suspension

well i hope Ryan makes a full recover.

GET WELL SOON RYAN!

[Draperfan 104]

He should have received more... at least Bert style suspension

Bert?...you mean everyones hero?

[auxlepli 17]

The suspension should have been more IMO.

[heikks86 21]

Downey knocks out Boulerice

[Guest micah]

25 games is what I predicted, and I think it's appropriate.

This works for me. I also think that this should be a one warning and your done sort of deal.

If they would have started applying your philosophy in 1950, we wouldn't have a big 9 hanging from the rafters today.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

25 is good, i dont think hell get much playin time even when he comes back

[Drake_Marcus 890]

boulerice is a goon, plain and simple. this isn't the first time he's done something like this. i'm happy with 25, but more would have been fine. cross-checking someone in the side of the head?!?! c'mon! players like boulerice are bad for the game.

Didn't he get banned for an entire OHL season for doing this exact s*** before? I think he messed the other dude up pretty bad too- shattered his nose and messed up his face even further.

[Turkey 0]

He was banned for life but the ban was largely symbolic because he was no longer eligible. The AHL made him sit a month or two, I think but then he could play. The guy he sticked in the face was nearly killed, not an exaggeration.

This is a guy who has been the subject of a criminal investigation for what he did on the ice.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

He was banned for life but the ban was largely symbolic because he was no longer eligible. The AHL made him sit a month or two, I think but then he could play. The guy he sticked in the face was nearly killed, not an exaggeration.

This is a guy who has been the subject of a criminal investigation for what he did on the ice.

So what you're saying is my memory of his actions in the OHL was actually very mild.

I knew he really messed that guy's face up when he did this back in the OHL, but wow, I guess he really messed that guy's face up.

[Opie 308]

Drake check out this video, watch the action behind the net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aNG4uOpwUI

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

should have been more like 40 IMO.

after what he did to long (i watched the vid), this guy needs to be kicked out of the league. BUT, how do we decide that. the second time someone pulls something like this we ban them for life? or first offense? or how do we judge the severity? its a very slippery slope, that is without question.

i was reading this article on espn bewteen cox and burnside...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=3059177

some pretty good ideas and viewpoints as to what should happen in situations like this.

one more offense and if he's not gone i will have lost ALL respect for those in charge.

and i agree: pronger does this 10 game MAX but more like 6. which is BULLLLLLL SH!T.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Drake check out this video, watch the action behind the net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aNG4uOpwUI

Disgusting. That's absolutely revolting and not even the most argumentative people here could side with that kind of bulls***.

[Opie 308]

should have been more like 40 IMO.

after what he did to long (i watched the vid), this guy needs to be kicked out of the league. BUT, how do we decide that. the second time someone pulls something like this we ban them for life? or first offense? or how do we judge the severity? its a very slippery slope, that is without question.

i was reading this article on espn bewteen cox and burnside...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=3059177

some pretty good ideas and viewpoints as to what should happen in situations like this.

one more offense and if he's not gone i will have lost ALL respect for those in charge.

and i agree: pronger does this 10 game MAX but more like 6. which is BULLLLLLL SH!T.

I loved this quote from Burnside:

I guess you're right. But the issue in these situations is about making the punishment fit the crime as opposed to making the punishment fit the criminal. If Daniel Briere had done this (OK, so he'd have had to get up on a box to take off Kesler's head as Boulerice did, but let's imagine it for a moment), would you still be advocating a lifetime ban? Don't think so. Let's assume Boulerice gets 20 or 30 games and the Flyers get along fine without him (this is a good segue into the changes in the lineup from last season), then they could release Boulerice and his career would effectively be over. At least until [Ducks GM] Brian Burke signs him.

Edited October 13, 2007 by Opie

[Guest Yzer19]

He was banned for life but the ban was largely symbolic because he was no longer eligible. The AHL made him sit a month or two, I think but then he could play. The guy he sticked in the face was nearly killed, not an exaggeration.

This is a guy who has been the subject of a criminal investigation for what he did on the ice.

And he's allowed to play in the NHL because? What a joke. Wasn't the other guy that took out the Senator player a Flyer too? What is with all these goons on the Flyers? Maybe the league should start fining the Flyers.

[commadore183 103]

25 games sounds nice to me, but I wouldn't mind if he saw more. Using a stick as a weapon is one of the worst sins in hockey. If you're not willing to drop the gloves to, at very least, show that you won't take s**t lying down, then get off the ice before you give the game another black eye (thankfully this incident wasn't worse).

Is it just me, or has there been a bit more of this illegal stick usage lately? The fast few years you almost never heard of this. Now, there's been two incidents in two years (as far as I can recall). Is it because there are younger players (as far as experience), or is it something else, such as players who have little control over their emotions.

Please tell me what I have typed has been an over-reaction by me. I don't want to think players are getting a little out of control with their emotions

[Guest DetroitIan]

Perfect suspension by the league. This is exactly what he deserves. There is no place for crap like that in the NHL. So IMO the only way to deter other players from reacting like that in the future, is to set an example and come down hard on Boulerice. 25 is just right. Then maybe next time he will think about endangering another players health out there.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

After watching the clip of what Boulerice did in the OHL, I change my answer.

This douchebag doesn't belong in the NHL.

25 games isn't enough.

If being suspended from the OHL didn't teach him control his temper and his stick, 25 games isn't going to either.

[vangvace 12]

25 games sounds nice to me, but I wouldn't mind if he saw more. Using a stick as a weapon is one of the worst sins in hockey. If you're not willing to drop the gloves to, at very least, show that you won't take s**t lying down, then get off the ice before you give the game another black eye (thankfully this incident wasn't worse).

Is it just me, or has there been a bit more of this illegal stick usage lately? The fast few years you almost never heard of this. Now, there's been two incidents in two years (as far as I can recall). Is it because there are younger players (as far as experience), or is it something else, such as players who have little control over their emotions.

Please tell me what I have typed has been an over-reaction by me. I don't want to think players are getting a little out of control with their emotions

Define lately Seriously though it seems to me that stickwork has become more and more common since around '95. (before then it's too fuzzy to remember) Look at how many slashes were causing injuries too. As for the reason... a change in the level or interpretation of respect is the cause IMO more than anything else.

25 games sounds about right to me for his first major f-up in almost a decade. I have a feeling the headhunting suspensions are going to be st NHL offense 20-30 games, 2nd 45-55, 3rd season or life. This is of course with an * because there may end up being exceptions to this.

Personally, I feel Heatley should be banned before him. (for now)

Edited October 14, 2007 by vangvace

[Kutcher 0]

Define lately Seriously though it seems to me that stickwork has become more and more common since around '95. (before then it's too fuzzy to remember) Look at how many slashes were causing injuries too. As for the reason... a change in the level or interpretation of respect is the cause IMO more than anything else.

25 games sounds about right to me for his first major f-up in almost a decade. I have a feeling the headhunting suspensions are going to be st NHL offense 20-30 games, 2nd 45-55, 3rd season or life. This is of course with an * because there may end up being exceptions to this.

Personally, I feel Heatley should be banned before him. (for now)

Heatley banned for life before Boulerice. May I ask why?

[Guest DetroitIan]

Heatley banned for life before Boulerice. May I ask why?

Gee, I dunno, maybe cause Heatley KILLED a player. And his own teammate. Even though it wasnt on purpose, he still ended a man's life. I definitely dont agree that Heatley should be banned. But if Dan Snyder's family wasnt so amazingly cool by not pressing charges, Heatley would have FOR SURE been charged with atleast manslaughter. If Snyder's parents were enraged about the situation, Heatley very well could be behind bars as we speak.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

After watching the clip of what Boulerice did in the OHL, I change my answer.

This douchebag doesn't belong in the NHL.

25 games isn't enough.

If being suspended from the OHL didn't teach him control his temper and his stick, 25 games isn't going to either.

[OsGOD 3]

Bert?...you mean everyones hero?

Yup... bert did his time... Boulerice should do the same.

Gee, I dunno, maybe cause Heatley KILLED a player. And his own teammate. Even though it wasnt on purpose, he still ended a man's life. I definitely dont agree that Heatley should be banned. But if Dan Snyder's family wasnt so amazingly cool by not pressing charges, Heatley would have FOR SURE been charged with atleast manslaughter. If Snyder's parents were enraged about the situation, Heatley very well could be behind bars as we speak.

He might actually have had to suffer Mark Bells penalty... go figure. Killer got off easy too

Edited October 14, 2007 by OsGOD

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Gee, I dunno, maybe cause Heatley KILLED a player. And his own teammate. Even though it wasnt on purpose, he still ended a man's life. I definitely dont agree that Heatley should be banned. But if Dan Snyder's family wasnt so amazingly cool by not pressing charges, Heatley would have FOR SURE been charged with atleast manslaughter. If Snyder's parents were enraged about the situation, Heatley very well could be behind bars as we speak.

But what Heatley did didn't happen on the ice. It was reckless and unbelievably bad judgement on his part, but he hasn't shown any horrible behavior while playig hockey.

so how is that relevant to how he plays the game?

Boulerice on the other hand has twice now tried to brain a guy with his stick during a game.

Edited October 15, 2007 by haroldsnepsts

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

But what Heatley did didn't happen on the ice. It was reckless and unbelievably bad judgement on his part, but he hasn't shown any horrible behavior while playig hockey.

so how is that relevant to how he plays the game?

Boulerice on the other hand has twice now tried to brain a guy with his stick during a game.

The NHL does have guidelines about off ice behavior. It's a joke that he wasn't even suspended for what he did. Even though this is completely off topic, and a whole different can of worms.