Bettman suspends Lidstrom, Datsyuk 1-game each

[OsGOD 3]

Apparently, that rule has been in effect for a while now. From what I gather, if the player/players don't miss the games before or the game after the ASG for an injury, they would be suspended. I could be wrong, so some other posters will correct me.

had to be made with in the last 360 days then... Cause that didn't stop brodeur from playing game before and game after AND missing the ASG due to wanting to rest...... last year!!!!

[lets go pavel 2]

We all know they're not injured, especially Nick. The league needs its stars to appear for things like this. Can't just bow out.

Oh? Then where was Datsyuk during the 3rd period of last game? And how do you know how Lidstrom is?

[edicius 3,269]

They should play by the rules - why would we be upset if they have to miss a game for missing the All Star game? The league would look like more of a joke if they opted not to suspend them.

It's not a rule though. It's an "understanding". There's a definite gray area there and I don't know why Kelly is bending over for Bettman on this one.

[lets go pavel 2]

If they are hurt, they shouldn't be playing, All Star games or otherwise. If they are healthy, they should be. Playing in the All star game is an unfortunate side affect of being in a carreer where you are among the best at what you do and making Brazilions of dollars. so they have to play in one powderpuff exhibition game a year, is that so bad?

WTF? If a player chooses to play hurt ina game that matters, why should that be held against him?

[Opie 308]

What is all of this crap about suspending Brodeur he didn't miss either game around the ASG.

How can the league lie like that and reporters not call them out.

Brodeur started the game before and the game after the ASG and Tim Thomas took his place at the ASG??

WTF???

[egroen 384]

Campbell said he felt bad for Lidstrom, who has played in 10 All-Star games and often brings his family to the event.

"Unfortunately he's caught up in this," Campbell said.

But, the league's top disciplinarian said players who are voted or named to All-Star rosters have an obligation to attend if they aren't injured.

What the f*** is going on??? The Wings issued public statements that BOTH are injured.

[redwings1914 18]

Just when the NHL seems to be getting its act together, along comes the poisoned dwarf to

put it down again. If it wasn't bad enough by the way the ASG teams were selected, this rule really does beggar belief.

To really piss the dwarf off I wish Babs would 'ring in sick' tonight as well.

I wish they would just go back to how they started the format, the previous Cup champs vs the rest of the best players in the league.

[esteef 2,679]

This could all easily be solved by having the ASG after the season is over. Then guys wouldn't skip it for "rest".

esteef

[Reds4Life 51]

f*** you Garry Bettman.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Oh? Then where was Datsyuk during the 3rd period of last game? And how do you know how Lidstrom is?

well, the point still stands that they could at least go and sign autographs and make appearances and stuff.

if they're too injured to handle even that, the they'd be missing a game anyway...

Still kind of funny thought. Lidstrom and Datsyuk, then NHL's new bad boys. Only 7 more suspensions to go until they catch Pronger!

[b.shanafan14 733]

I can not believe Bettman wants to give a black eye to Niklas Lidstrom and the three-time reigning Lady Byng winner. I am really pissed. These guys would go their entire careers without a suspension, until this.

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.

[lets go pavel 2]

well, the point still stands that they could at least go and sign autographs and make appearances and stuff.

if they're too injured to handle even that, the they'd be missing a game anyway...

Still kind of funny thought. Lidstrom and Datsyuk, then NHL's new bad boys. Only 7 more suspensions to go until they catch Pronger!

I agree, they could ... but when have they been required to do so in the past, or else been suspended?

[55fan 5,133]

This explains a lot:

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman imposed the policy, established at last year's general managers' meetings, to legitimize injury claims and improve All-Star wekend attendance. All-Stars must have missed at least the last game before the All-Star break in order to be excused; otherwise, they must sit out the first following regular-season game.

Players invited to the YoungStars competition are still exempt from the policy, and several have bowed out of the event, including Columbus goalie Steve Mason and Washington center Nicklas Backstrom.

Thanks for that link, Gizmo.

Now we know why Brodour wasn't suspended, and why Backstrom won't be. Was this sudden injury thing becoming epidemic? Perhaps Allstarjokeitis?

[Gizmo 21]

Will Nick Bäckström of the caps also be suspended, he's in sweden right now and won't attend, he was voted in the 2nd year youngster team :S

Per EPSN article, the "YoungStars" are exempted from sanctioning.

[edicius 3,269]

had to be made with in the last 360 days then... Cause that didn't stop brodeur from playing game before and game after AND missing the ASG due to wanting to rest...... last year!!!!

*nod* The ESPN article that was just linked stated that the "rule" was created last year. Is it a friggin' official rule or is it an "understanding"?

It just comes down to this: Bettman was pissy that Crosby wasn't coming to Montreal, so to force him to come, the team that beat Crosby in the SCF has to pay the price. Doesn't quite seem right, does it?

[FinRedWing 172]

Which is interesting that Kelly said that, as Osgod just refuted it with the game recaps from last season. I'm turning into more and more of a conspiracy theorist with each passing day...

Really? Wow!

Anyway,I blame Bettman,Crosby & Burke for this (as usual)

[OsGOD 3]

Last season, Kelly said, Martin Brodeur sat out the first game after the break because he missed the All-Star game in Atlanta. As long as the players are still paid, Kelly said, the disciplinary action is allowed.

Thats bulls***...i am looking at the first game back for the Devils summary (GAME 50 Jan 29th, 2008)... Marty Played... they lost but he still played. Are they hoping us fans don't check up on their statements????

Devils 2007-2008 Schedule : Check out Jan 29th, 2008...tell me who the goalie was?????

[edicius 3,269]

Now we know why Brodeur wasn't suspended, and why Backstrom won't be. Was this sudden injury thing becoming epidemic? Perhaps Allstarjokeitis?

I just want to know why Kelly blatantly lied about Brodeur.

[commadore183 103]

had to be made with in the last 360 days then... Cause that didn't stop brodeur from playing game before and game after AND missing the ASG due to wanting to rest...... last year!!!!

Yeah, that ESPN article said that the rule was instituted last year after the ASG after a meeting with the GMs. Sucks that the first players to run afoul of the rule would be Datsyuk and Lidstrom.

[Opie 308]

This could all easily be solved by having the ASG after the season is over. Then guys wouldn't skip it for "rest".

esteef

Amen, brother!!

OR Get rid of the whole thing altogether!

ASGs were great before the advent of Cable and internet streaming. It was done so that fans from all parts of the country could see the best players play. Now if you want to see the best players play, you can find a way.

I hate all ASGs/Pro bowls/ exhibitions in F-ing Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka wants the best players in the world to play at their rinks, I have an idea.

Go out, get a s*** load of sponsors and start your own league, when it is better than the NHL the players will show up and people in Sri Lanka can watch the best players in the world, until then shut you cake-hole and buy center ice.

[Phazon 24]

I just want to know why Kelly blatantly lied about Brodeur.

yeah that was just low.

But not as low as those f***ers at hfboards that hate the red wings.

Edited January 23, 2009 by Phazon

[drwscc 212]

This could all easily be solved by having the ASG after the season is over. Then guys wouldn't skip it for "rest".

esteef

I bet the two teams who were in the SCF would definitely skip it. They have little enough time as it is to rest up before the next season starts.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

well, the point still stands that they could at least go and sign autographs and make appearances and stuff.

if they're too injured to handle even that, the they'd be missing a game anyway...

Lidstrom and Datsyuk shouldn't have an obligation to any fans but their own.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

This is a huge joke, the NHL All Star Game is a huge joke. It has been that way for as long as I can remember.

First of all, move the All Star Game for the NHL into the post season like the NFL does.

Secondly, let the fans have ONE VOTE each. This will not be perfect, but each registered e-mail is only allowed to vote once, sure some real big losers will sign up for a few e-mails, but it won't be "vote as often as you like so long as you wait a minute between votes". That is an absolute joke. That's when you get some real big losers in Anaheim who sit in their basement and stuff the ballot for Getzlaf and Niedermayer. Now don't get me wrong, Getzlaf is not a horrible choice for a starter, but Niedermayer has no business being at an All Star game anymore (not as a starter).

Now we get into suspensions for players who decline to come?!? Give me a freakin' break! So if Datsyuk has a hip flexor issue that happens the game before the All Star break and would benefit from that time off to heal and be ready for the second half, why in God's name would you punish a player for thinking of his team first? Same goes for Lidstrom. They weren't even named starters which is the biggest joke of all.

Bettman has to go, I say Shanahan would be a great replacement because he knows what is good for this game and he is young, so he'd be an energetic commish.

Let's look at some "suspect" players in the all-star game this year...

Western Conference:

Toews - He has had a sophomore slump this season, didn't score in something like the first 15 games of the season. He's a 60-70 point player this season.

Brown - Has 33 points right now...

Hejduk - Started out decently but has cooled off significantly like he has every season

Modano - Is having a decent season, will put up around 60 points.

Tkachuk - Started out the hottest goal scorer, but cooled off quickly, currently has less than 40 points. Hasn't even scored 20 goals, with the hot start he had in mind.

Niedermayer - Over the hill, doesn't produce like he used to. There are a handful of players who deserve the starting spot over him.

Robidas - As an injury reserve, he is not even considered a top producing defensemen, at all.

Giguere - Has had pretty much one of the worst seasons of his career this year. It's pretty bad when your backup Hiller is getting more starts lately than your starting goaltender is.

Eastern Conference:

Kovalev - Was dynamite last season. This season has been poor on the production side and plays with an offensive team. Hudler has more goals and assists than Kovalev at this point. Kovalve - 33 points Hudler - 39 points

Staal - As far as Eric Staal goes, he is a borderline choice to go. He has had a terrible offensive season for his standards. Only has 35 points in 48 games played.

Komisarek - Let's face it, he's only a starter because it's in Montreal. But that is not the reason why we have an All Star game, it's not a hometown thing, it's supposed to be the "BEST PLAYERS"... Komisarek is by far the worst starter choice this year.

Western All-Stars that make sense:

Getzlaf Boyle

Datsyuk Lidstrom

Marleau

Thornton Weber

Iginla Rafalski

Hossa

Sedin Souray

Koivu Campbell

Doan

Cammalleri

Nash

Kane

Backstrom

Luongo

Nabokov

Reserves: Setoguchi, Phaneuf

Eastern All-Stars that make sense:

Malkin Markov

Crosby Green

Ovechkin

Semin Streit

Savard Chara

Parise

Krejci Bouwmeester

Carter Kuba

Kovalchuk

St Louis

Heatley

Vanek

Thomas

Price

Miller

Reserves: Elias, Wideman

These are the appropriate all-stars in my own opinion, I don't expect everyone to agree with this, but if I'm thinking of an entertaining all-star game, I want all the top offensive and creative players out there. Try to get as good a representation of all the teams in the NHL as you can, but if they don't belong in the same league as the above players they either should not be there or they're rooks and they should be in the youngstars game.

[Guest micah]

WTF? If a player chooses to play hurt ina game that matters, why should that be held against him?

What are you talking about, a hypothetical? Must be because the Wings have the third best record in the league and it's January. The Columbus game is not a "game that matters".

The All Star game is more important to the NHL than the Jackets vs Wings game is. If there were no NHL, you would never have heard of Pavel Datsyuk and Nick Lidstrom would still be in Sweeden. I don't think asking them to come showboat in one exhibition game is asking too much of them.

I'm great at what I do. Occasionally my employer expects me to make a presentation or shake some hands at a meet and greet. While it isn't exactly opart of my job, it is in the best interest of my employer, and also in the best interest of my industry - so I man up and do it. Yes - I could die in a plane crash on the way, but who said life is without risk?