Bettman suspends Lidstrom, Datsyuk 1-game each

[elriqo28 2]

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

I try to give Bettman the benefit of the doubt in most situations, but this is just stupid.

never give him the benefit of the doubt, he is a class 1 A-hole, hell bent on destroying anything good about this league. He is a sack licking piece of used ****** and I hope he chokes on his own balls!

[savaking72 0]

Dats and Lids get 8 days off instead of 6. We are playing the blue jackets of all teams. We should be fine. I say, thanks Bettman for letting our guys rest the 2 extra days. I just can't wait to see the wings play the caps next saturday, and the two of them will be rested up with a game under their belts. Thanks Bettman, for trying to be an *******.

[lets go pavel 2]

Duck Guy, I see where you're coming from, and while many of us disagree in principle with injured players being required to show up at all, I think most of us at least understand where the league is coming from. I think what many of us are pissed about here is the timing of everything, and how the poor timing has led to two of our players being villified by the league ...

-Bettman told ALL GMs this at beginning of the season... If one of your players is selected for the all star game and can not make it because of an injury they have to sit out the game before the break OR the game after if they dont attend

No, the understanding was that they had to PLAY. Lidstrom and Datsyuk were not going to play, and neither was Crosby. The Wings assumed they would all have to sit a game, and were okay with that, even if they didn't like it. Until ....

-He is saying hey lids/dats/crosby if you can make it to the game and just do some photos and what not you can play without the 1 game suspension.

---did he add the just show up part and not play? Yes sure he did with this option crosby/lids/dats could still sit out the all star game and play the game after the break

Yes, and look at the timing. The Wings last game was Wednesday, do you think they sat around the Joe twiddling their thumbs for a couple days just in case Bettman decided to amend the rules? Lidstrom and Datsyuk, knowing they couldn't play in the ASG and were going to have to miss a game, were long gone when this whole exception popped up. I still don't agree that injured players should have to be there, but I understand where the league is coming from and see the merit in the exception ... if it's made available to all the players and in time for them to use it. It wasn't, which brings us to ...

-Since Dats / Lids DID play in the game before the break AND will not be going to the all star game for the photos and stuffs they are out for 1 game after the break

I have no problem with them having to miss a game because they didn't play in the ASG. I don't like it, but that was the rule the GM's agreed to. But Crosby should be out too. I understand that Bettman created the exception in reality to help the teams and players avoid the suspension, and if that had been in the understanding since the last GM meeting as well I would not be complaining. But it wasn't, and the unfortunate side effect of the late timing is that it makes Lidstrom and Datsyuk's "crimes" out to be worse than they are.

If the rule is that you have to miss a game if you don't PLAY in the ASG, then Lidstrom and Datsyuk miss a game. They aren't being suspended, their integrity and priorities aren't being questioned, and quite frankly we aren't having a 17 page discussion about it (more like 5 pages bitching about the rule). This was the rule they were operating under when they made their plans for what to do during the break.

But when the rule gets changed at the last minute to "all you have to do is show up", it makes Lidstrom and Datsyuk look all that much worse for not being there, even though they didn't know about the exception ahead of time. How many posts in this thread have said "all they had to do was get on a plane and shake a few hands". Yes, that is all they had to do, had they known about it in time to actually do that. But they were injured and under the impression that they would have to miss a game, so the logical thing for them to do was take the time and rest up. By the time the exception presents itself, it's too late. Again, the issue here is the timing ...

[Canadian_Yzerman_Fan 7]

WINGS FANS, MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!

WRITE TO THE NHL AND TELL THEM IF YOU ARE DISPLEASED AND WHY!

for instance, i just wrote the following message:

Hello,

I did not see an appropriate subject line for this email and as a result I have a feeling it may end up being discarded and ignored quite easily. As a company/league that would not exist without its fans, I implore you to take this seriously and to see that it gets deserved attention by someone able to respond on this specific matter.

I am writing in regards to the two Detroit Red Wings players that are facing suspension for missing out on the NHL All-Star game. I am aware that the league has heard plenty of agreement/disagreement from all sorts of directions, but I feel that the most important perspective is getting the least attention - that of the FANS! With the economy what it is right now, fans that are making a concession by only being able to go to one or two games all season have the right to see their players play. When the league suspends them for missing an exhibition event due to injury you are not punishing the players or teams as much as you are punishing the fans. I hope that the NHL has considered this and is thinking of how this affects the fans and how they are spending their money. It would be nice to know if those with tickets for Tuesdays game between the Red Wings and Blue Jackets have been issued an opportunity for a full refund on their tickets. If I bought tickets to see U2 and found out that the record company wasn't letting Bono participate in the concert because he missed a scheduled TV interview and autograph session due to having the flu, you had better believe I would want my money back.

The only players that should be compelled to make a special trip to participate in the off-ice activities (at the ASG) when injured are those that have been voted in by the fans - because that is who they should be held accountable to. That being said, of course people understand when there are exceptions with good reason and the NHL has no shortage of talent for an event like this. For what the event is, having a few players miss out will not harm anything because there are so many great candidates that can step into their place.

I hope this email and this point do not fall on deaf ears, and that the league cares how fans like myself are affected by these decisions. Further, I would appreciate a response from an NHL representative that is actually accountable for matters such as this.

Thank you.

[VM1138 1,921]

The point is that Crosby isn't spending the time vacationing. He was a first team all-star selection by the fans and they want to see him regardless. Its his duty to show up this weekend. Its not about a burden of proof of injury, its about a marketing opportunity for the NHL which is severely hindered if its stars are not there. Bettman wants the all-stars to show up for the fans, if they can't play that's fine - but he thinks they ought to show up if they are selected.

Not saying I agree with it, but vilifying Crosby because he showed up is retarded. Lids and Dats had the some chance to get on the plane today as Crosby did, but they chose not to. I bet there would have been a lot of disappointed kids in Montreal if Crosby didn't even show face, and he wouldn't have if Bettman hadn't put this rule in place.

Crosby showed up because of an exception. There was no rule that all you had to do was show up and meet and greet. It came about AFTER Lidstrom and Datsyuk already made other plans. Crosby is being villified because he had a special rule made for him that makes us look bad, and then he cops an attitude about it.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I haven't read all the pages in this thread, and I don't villify Bettman over everything like a lot do in here, generally speaking, and stay out of the blame Bettman game, but these suspensions are silly I think.

True I'm probably biased since they are players of my favorite team, but these guys aren't employed by NHL execs or higher ups, they report and are employed by the team they play for, the Detroit Red Wings.

They shouldn't have to report to Bettman or higher ups.

But, this is just one doof's opinion so I dunno...

[esteef 2,679]

So, any new believers in the notion that Crosby gets special treatment?

esteef

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

So, any new believers in the notion that Crosby gets special treatment?

esteef

I don't play the Crosby disliking game like people do in here either but it honestly wouldn't shock me.

[VM1138 1,921]

I posted this on other thread about this but might as well post it here...

-Bettman told ALL GMs this at beginning of the season... If one of your players is selected for the all star game and can not make it because of an injury they have to sit out the game before the break OR the game after if they dont attend

-He is saying hey lids/dats/crosby if you can make it to the game and just do some photos and what not you can play without the 1 game suspension.

-Since Dats / Lids DID play in the game before the break AND will not be going to the all star game for the photos and stuffs they are out for 1 game after the break

---did he add the just show up part and not play? Yes sure he did with this option crosby/lids/dats could still sit out the all star game and play the game after the break

ROAR ok i promise my last post on this subject haha..

I am not trying to make any enemys here I am just telling you how I see it so if I disagree with you or cant see why people dont see it my way dont take it personally I still like you all ^^ even if you are wrong hahaha J/K ^^

I see your point, and it's valid. But I think you're leaving out one critical element here: He didn't tell them they could just show up and do meet and greets until AFTER they already planned on not going. He told Crosby alone, and then word spread. AFTER they already had other plans.

Do you really think io's fair to make up a new rule and then expect them to drop their families at the last minute?

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

What kind of clown college ******* league is the NHL becoming?

the ASG is a goddamned exhibition. To cost players an ACTUAL GAME THAT COUNTS because they are missing an EXHIBITION due to an INJURY (a legit one too) is garbage.

I swear to God Gary Bettman was sent to the NHL by David Stern to destroy it. This is ******* ridiculous.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I see your point, and it's valid. But I think you're leaving out one critical element here: He didn't tell them they could just show up and do meet and greets until AFTER they already planned on not going. He told Crosby alone, and then word spread. AFTER they already had other plans.

Do you really think io's fair to make up a new rule and then expect them to drop their families at the last minute?

Where is there any evidence of this???

Here's an excerpt from Mlive from yesterday:

"I have trouble asking players to go to Montreal who are injured. I don't even know where the two of them are."

Holland said he explained all this to NHL vice-president Colin Campbell earlier this week.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/01/ho...rikes_back.html

Basically it's a bad rule that Lidstrom and Datsyuk got caught in.

[Krystal 41]

Where is there any evidence of this???

Here's an excerpt from Mlive from yesterday:

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/01/ho...rikes_back.html

Basically it's a bad rule that Lidstrom and Datsyuk got caught in.

This was stated earlier in the thread, but had no link supporting the info.

According to TSN, there was a conference call between the League, Pittsburgh and The NHLPA. The question from Pittsburgh was: what does Crosby have to do in order to play Tuesday?

That leads me to believe the loophole was - in fact - made in that conference call. When that call happened.. I don't know, but up until Thursday or so, Crosby wasn't going to attend at all. Well long enough for the guys to be either home, overseas with their families, maybe taking a small vacation with their wives/kids.. I know I wouldn't be spending a week off work sitting in front of my computer checking out TSN.ca to see news on the All-Star game I'd be enjoying myself, and I'd be very disappointed in a league that'll make spur of the moment decisions for someone who wants to skip the All-Star game (just like myself and my teammate - all of whom are injured in some capacity) but they'll let him merely attend to avoid a suspension when we're not given that luxury until the absolute last minute. It should have been answered to Pittsburgh that they can't amend the rules for Crosby if he doesn't play.. -OR- allow the lapse in the rules to prevent the suspension, but to also negate suspensions for Dats and Lids because the option to just attend wasn't given to them in a timely fashion.

It's like pulling someone over for speeding - WHILE the cops are switching the speed limit signs. Nobody knows they're changing it, except the people in charge.. and they can determine who to f*** and who to let slide.

[egroen 384]

Where is there any evidence of this???

The fact Crosby obviously had no idea he had to be there Friday, and was not planning on coming until Saturday or Sunday.

Crosby was going to be attending anyways (it's big bucks for him), but it certainly does not sound like he was attending because of the "exception" to the rule, which he was unaware of, as he admitted. Obviously Datsyuk, Lidstrom and Holland were aware they could be suspended for not playing, but they were also obviously not aware of the "exception", which did not come out until Friday.

Bettman and Colin Campbell can do whatever they want for the most part in terms of these little rules -- they can make exceptions to it, like they did with Crosby, and they can choose to enforce it for Lidstrom and Datsyuk.

It does outrage me that Crosby gets an exception, but two players of the likes of Datsyuk and Lidstrom are publicly villified now by Bettman. These are two guys that are injured, and Bettman could have just as easily made an exception for them as well, but he chose to be the hardass, and come down on them once it was ensured Crosby was on a plane to Montreal. The timing of it all really stinks.

Go to some different news media sites and Lidstrom and Datsyuk are being dragged through the mud here, while Crosby comes off as a saint. It is infuriating. Lidstrom is being treated like a petulant, spoiled rock star who is lieing about his injury.

Bettman could have handled this in a completely different manner, and as always, instead, he does exactly the worst thing for the sport.

Edited January 24, 2009 by egroen

[commadore183 103]

The fact Crosby obviously had no idea he had to be there Friday, and was not planning on coming until Saturday or Sunday.

Crosby was going to be attending anyways (it's big bucks for him), but it certainly does not sound like he was attending because of the "exception" to the rule, which he was unaware of, as he admitted. Obviously Datsyuk, Lidstrom and Holland were aware they could be suspended for not playing, but they were also obviously not aware of the "exception", which did not come out until Friday.

Bettman and Colin Campbell can do whatever they want for the most part in terms of these little rules -- they can make exceptions to it, like they did with Crosby, and they can choose to enforce it for Lidstrom and Datsyuk.

It does outrage me that Crosby gets an exception, but two players of the likes of Datsyuk and Lidstrom are publicly villified now by Bettman. These are two guys that are injured, and Bettman could have just as easily made an exception for them as well, but he chose to be the hardass, and come down on them once it was ensured Crosby was on a plane to Montreal. The timing of it all really stinks.

And the bolded part is what has many, if not damn near all of us, enraged over, is that Bettman sprung this on the teams YESTERDAY, not last week or last year (when they made the rule).

Another thing is that you have to miss a game before or after the ASG to confirm your injury, but doesn't mention if you get injured in the before the ASG, like what happened to Datsyuk. Surely there should be an exception if you miss X amount of minutes in the game prior to the ASG. I hope Holland and the GM bring that point up in the next GM meeting.

Again, many of us are pissed at the timing of this exception, not that Lidstrom and Datsyuk will be suspended, and what looks like favoritism towards Crosby, even if there isn't any.

[egroen 384]

And the bolded part is what has many, if not damn near all of us, enraged over, is that Bettman sprung this on the teams YESTERDAY, not last week or last year (when they made the rule).

Another thing is that you have to miss a game before or after the ASG to confirm your injury, but doesn't mention if you get injured in the before the ASG, like what happened to Datsyuk. Surely there should be an exception if you miss X amount of minutes in the game prior to the ASG. I hope Holland and the GM bring that point up in the next GM meeting.

Again, many of us are pissed at the timing of this exception, not that Lidstrom and Datsyuk will be suspended, and what looks like favoritism towards Crosby, even if there isn't any.

That's just the thing - Bettman and Campbell could make an exception for Datsyuk because he was injured *in* the game preceding the ASG - Shane Doan has publicly stated Datsyuk was skating hurt in that game, after some hits. He could also make an exception because Lidstrom has a tear in his elbow - literally the type of thing you rest for a few days and it can be better. But instead of considering exceptions for them, he gives the exception to his golden boy and publicly treats Datsyuk and Lidstrom like spoiled brats because there are not 20 year-olds willing to come at Bettman's beck-and-call.

You are barely even hearing that Datsyuk and Lidstrom are actually injured in the news reports - just that they decided to abandon the NHL and its fans.

Edited January 24, 2009 by egroen

[Nev 1,085]

The fact Crosby obviously had no idea he had to be there Friday, and was not planning on coming until Saturday or Sunday.

Crosby was going to be attending anyways (it's big bucks for him), but it certainly does not sound like he was attending because of the "exception" to the rule, which he was unaware of, as he admitted. Obviously Datsyuk, Lidstrom and Holland were aware they could be suspended for not playing, but they were also obviously not aware of the "exception", which did not come out until Friday.

Bettman and Colin Campbell can do whatever they want for the most part in terms of these little rules -- they can make exceptions to it, like they did with Crosby, and they can choose to enforce it for Lidstrom and Datsyuk.

It does outrage me that Crosby gets an exception, but two players of the likes of Datsyuk and Lidstrom are publicly villified now by Bettman. These are two guys that are injured, and Bettman could have just as easily made an exception for them as well, but he chose to be the hardass, and come down on them once it was ensured Crosby was on a plane to Montreal. The timing of it all really stinks.

Go to some different news media sites and Lidstrom and Datsyuk are being dragged through the mud here, while Crosby comes off as a saint. It is infuriating. Lidstrom is being treated like a petulant, spoiled rock star who is lieing about his injury.

Bettman could have handled this in a completely different manner, and as always, instead, he does exactly the worst thing for the sport.

Post of the year.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

You are barely even hearing that Datsyuk and Lidstrom are actually injured in the news reports - just that they decided to abandon the NHL and its fans.

while it pains me to say this and yes I admit it is a bit premature, but Lids and Dats should really reconsider the league they are playing in. This level of pettiness is only going to get worse - not better.

Just think about it for a second - WHO, exactly, is going to notice this slight and how Lids and Dats are being treated? The same league that signed Jaromir Jagr perhaps? How about any of the dozen or so Euro leagues that are constantly trying to lure NHL players away? Do you think the European-born players might listen a bit more after this fiasco?

[Doc Holiday 0]

while it pains me to say this and yes I admit it is a bit premature, but Lids and Dats should really reconsider the league they are playing in. This level of pettiness is only going to get worse - not better.

Just think about it for a second - WHO, exactly, is going to notice this slight and how Lids and Dats are being treated? The same league that signed Jaromir Jagr perhaps? How about any of the dozen or so Euro leagues that are constantly trying to lure NHL players away? Do you think the European-born players might listen a bit more after this fiasco?

[egroen 384]

http://watch.tsn.ca/#clip132854

The video, "Sending a Message" has Colin Campbell talking about the suspension to Lidstrom and Datsyuk. Twice, he states that a player must miss a game immediately before or after the ASG if tht player does not play because of an injury -- to validate that injury. This was the rule, or policy, that Bettman created last February and presented to the GMs.

Nothing about an "exception" and that somehow being present at the All Star Game validates your injury.

Edited January 24, 2009 by egroen

[DyingAlive 27]

Well, to look on the brightside of things..Will anyone from GR be called up for the game?

With 2 defenseman and 2 forwards out for our next game. You would think that we would need to call up atleast 1 forward for the game. Thoughts?

[Doc Holiday 0]

Well, to look on the brightside of things..Will anyone from GR be called up for the game?

With 2 defenseman and 2 forwards out for our next game. You would think that we would need to call up atleast 1 forward for the game. Thoughts?

We don't have the cap space.

[Stockholm-wing 0]

So Bettmans (M)allstar game is tonight.

I heard a rumour that in order to get selected to the game you had to have slept with at least on of the zambonidrivers at the Bell Centre.

If this is true then I´m upset with Bettman. Why did he only tell some players about this (Price, Komisarek and Markov).

i don´t know if the rumour is true but how do you otherwise explain those names beeing on the roster?

If that´s the best the east have to offer I don´t think any team from the east reaches the SFC this year!

[55fan 5,133]

We don't have the cap space.

Actually, with Mac and Cheli having been on LTIR this season, Kenny has squirrled away some space. He was saving it for emergencies. His original statement (back when the rule was if you can't play, you have to miss the next game) was that the Wings would just have to deal with that. He said then that Mule wouldn't be ready, but that he'd deal with it.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

After reading this entire thread..... all I can say is f*** you Bettman

[Phazon 24]

while it pains me to say this and yes I admit it is a bit premature, but Lids and Dats should really reconsider the league they are playing in. This level of pettiness is only going to get worse - not better.

Just think about it for a second - WHO, exactly, is going to notice this slight and how Lids and Dats are being treated? The same league that signed Jaromir Jagr perhaps? How about any of the dozen or so Euro leagues that are constantly trying to lure NHL players away? Do you think the European-born players might listen a bit more after this fiasco?

how can you even say that after lidstrom been 10 allstar games?