MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I agree with your point, but Bettman makes me hate him exponentially by the day. As Doug just mentioned on 97.1 too, who knows where Pavel and Nick even are right now with a week off. They may have gone to the motherland to see family and now they have to try and change plans to get back to Montreal. They would have been warned long before today. This "rule" isn't a secret among those involved in the league. It's been around for a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Im not a lawyer but to me that holds about as much water as a sieve. I bet the NHL backs off after the NHLPA lawyers have something to say. That's very obvious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Well it is their job to be at a event that they where chosen for (not by the fans) that is very important to their boss... so no big deal just off ice stuff they have to do. Exactly. Even if their contract doesn't have a specific clause about ASG participation, I'm sure it has text about participating in publicity events for the league. Not that big of a deal. Bettman went about it in a dick way, per usual, but the ASG is a massive publicity event (or at least attempt) for the NHL. Barring serious injury, the guys should be there. And if they're so injured that it would be difficult to attend the event, then they'd likely miss the next game anyway. And as others have stated, Bettman isn't forcing them to play. He just wants them to be there for all the other publicity events. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The whole thing came crashing down this year when they let the fans of a few teams stuff the ballot boxes. This resulted in teams of all stars missing many of the actual stars. Then the players as well as the fans decided that the entire thing was a farce and started declining invitations. What the league is left with is an all star game missing most of their stars and a fan base that has completely lost interest. I'm a big fan but I have no interest in watching Aneheim and Chicago play against Montreal. I expect dismal television ratings. They need to rethink the entire team. What a debacle. An all star game without most of the stars... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I attribute this to retail jobs saying you won't get paid for the Holiday if you miss the scheduled day before and/or day after said holiday......... with that said... this is almost better than the "sloppy seconds" suspension... almost.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Wing 1,521 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 In all honesty I'd rather watch the USA women's national team play the Canadian women's national team. Those are normally close, intense games with meaning. I'm loathe to watch a 13-11 scorefest. I think Betteman realizes the all star game is pointless but rather than fixing it, he'll just insist everyone come regardless of injury even just to stand around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chase 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 This is stupid. Whatever, just sit out a game then. More rest for Nick and Pav, they could always use it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) Why does Bettman have to do this publicly? That is my question. Man, it really makes me hate him. So if Datsyuk and Lidstrom attend now, Bettman has really thrown his weight around and shown these guys "what for!'. Yeah, Datsyuk and Lidstrom are really deserving of being publiclly humiliated this way, especially Lidstrom, who has been to close to ten of these now. What the hell, Napolean? Edited January 23, 2009 by egroen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 dats already missed a fair portion of the last game (hence our ass kicking) why does he need to sit out again or get suspended? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
up2here 41 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 dats already missed a fair portion of the last game (hence our ass kicking) why does he need to sit out again or get suspended? Good point and another reason why this is likely all bark no bite. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
up2here 41 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 That's very obvious. Is it that obvious? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 They would have been warned long before today. This "rule" isn't a secret among those involved in the league. It's been around for a while. I was just wondering if maybe they were under the impression there was an exemption for injuries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Good point and another reason why this is likely all bark no bite. Yeah i mean its not like he missed the first and then came back to finish the game... he didn't even FINISH the last game due to injury. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Is it that obvious? Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 There hurt, they shouldnt have to go. They werent voted in by the fans because they dont play for Montreal or Chicago/Anaheim, they were put in as alternates. They went last year, they have no reason to go, this is stupid first off by Bettman to make it public, and just to have the rule anyway. There are alot of other guys that want to go, let them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
up2here 41 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Yes. Well if it makes you feel any better its obvious youre not a lawyer either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 They just want them to go to Montreal and take part in off-ice stuff. Meet 'n greets, stuff like that. That's reasonable enough. It's the way in which they're doing it that lacks class. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 What is pretty damn interesting is that this news is not on www.nhl.com I am not questioning the validity of the threat, but that Bettman does not want any negative impact on the ASG. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest E_S_A_D Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Gary Bettman is making $5,900,000 a year plus $400,000 yearly deposited into his savings retirement. You can research it, I know it to be fact. He also happens to be the most inept Executive in the History of the National Hockey League. I am not sure how Pierre McGuire's boyfriend ever got this position to begin with knowing 0 about hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Well it is their job to be at a event that they where chosen for (not by the fans) that is very important to their boss... so no big deal just off ice stuff they have to do. True, people forget after their lovefest that this is their jobs. When my boss telling me to do something I can't just not do it. Paval may be hurt, but last i check Lids didn't look slow at all the last game. Just go to it and be the bigger man guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 I sense panic from Bettman. The Stanley Cup champions have no representation. It makes the game look like a joke even to people who don't follow hockey. The rest of us already know that, of course, what with the voting and all. Has this suspension issue even come up before? Have there ever been players who didn't miss games due to their injuries (or other reasons that kept them out) that have been suspended? Or have all players who skipped the ASG prior to this missed a game before or after? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Well if it makes you feel any better its obvious youre not a lawyer either. Yeah, ok. This is the type of situation that is better handled with a phone call than a press release. I have no doubt the NHL would be within their right to take action, especially if Nick and Dats were just there for meet and greets. But it makes everyone involved look bad when it appears that the NHL is threatening the players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The NHLPA lawyers will eat this alive. Apparently the NHL invited at least one more Red Wing after Datsyuk and Lidstrom could not make it -- will whomever that person is be suspended as well? It really infuriates me that Bettman is treating someone like Datsyuk and especially Lidstrom like they are pampered prima donnas. Lidstrom has really earned this sort of disrespect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jocu 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 God forbid they don't show up to a weekend created for the fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DatsMyWings13 4 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Well if it's for the fans then every player form every team should be there for all this off ice stuff. If you have an injury I just don't see the problem with skipping this event and rehabbing the injury where you feel comfortable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
