OK, how many people REALLY think that Bettman and the Penguins are in bed together?

For fear of starting a conspiracy theory, it was kind of convenient that the Penguins won the Crosby draft. Didn't each team have the same odds that year? Pittsburgh get the 1st overall the year before as they "earned" it, but then the next year they win Crosby all as the team was on the verge of financial ruin and being courted for relocation.

__________________

Phaneufed ( 13 ®)
http://icehole13.blogspot.com/

Well really, Fleury, then Crosby, then Malkin...

Due to the inconsistency in suspensions, I fully believe that length of suspension is at least somewhat based on the amount of money you make, your marketability and what team you play for.

Why else would Matt Cooke be getting away with all this... He destroyed Donovan's acl and it wasn't even looked at. He has head hunted at least 5 players this year...

Pronger gets a pat on the back when he steps someone, or forearm shivers someone about to break around him in open ice for a break away in a stanley cup final game, while other more goonish players get 30+ games for stepping on people

true enough.

There is a rule of law and order, Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen as done.

did you say Sidney Crosby

This is how the lottery draft worked:

Three balls

* Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins

Two balls

* Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes

One ball

* Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals

Four teams had an equal chance to draft 1st overall. Pittsburgh won. Columbus fell to 6th overall, New York to 12th overall, and Buffalo to 13th overall.

Guerin thinks his teammate should have been suspended.

The Associated Press: Guerin: NHL should outlaw hits to head

And in case you need a laugh, this is from the article:

WTF?

Wow, they must have auto correct on or something..

I thought because that was the year of the lockout all teams had an equal chance to get 1st.

Okay think about this cause I can only say it once. Mario was playing with his own balls.

Julien should line Thornton up against Crosby from the very first shift he takes and tell him to run him until he lands on a stretcher the same way Savard did. I'd bet good money Campbell would do something then.

__________________
...Rob

The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs;
it's Don't Tread On Me.

I'm assuming the amount of lottery balls the teams had was based on how they did the year before. But it's kind of interesting that four teams had three lottery balls, and Pittsburgh conveniently got the 1st overall selection while Columbus got #6, and Buffalo and New York didn't pick until after #10..

I don't like to see anybody get hurt but Cooke needs to learn his lesson on these cheapshots. Fighting him won't help. Pittsburgh has two stars on their forward group: Crosby and Malkin. Obviously going after the posterboy of the NHL will cause more drama to the NHL head offices than if Malkin went down, so a player on Boston should really go after Crosby. If you can't get him with a blindside headshot, give him a hard two-hander on the hamstring. Show Cooke that if you mess with our stars, we'll mess with yours.

Mark Recchi spoke about the hit:

"I think it would be very different if Sidney Crosby got hit like that," Recchi said of the Penguins superstar. "It's pretty sad to say, but unfortunately that's the way it is."

Gotta like a guy like Guerin for speaking his mind...even if its a teammate we are talking about.

As for this comment from Campbell:

All I want to say is you took the wrong decision the 1st time to create that precedent.

The richards hit was fine.

I don't know why people keep comparing the two hits.

This hit was more like Bell on Alfredsson.

No hits to the head is fine with me, sorry. Even if the rule book says so. I can't pretend this is a part of the game. Don't get me wrong, I know some players don't intend to hurt others, but the lack of respect throughout this league in general is sad!

Intentional or not, as soon as the head is touched, there should be a call.

well that's just stupid, because if someone has you lined up, you could just stick your head in the way & get the call

Like they don't embellish calls already..please!

defense is already hard enough to play in this league.

if you prohibit head shots, it becomes that much harder. You have to keep guys honest. Guys will be afraid to hit other guys.
Guys already turn their backs to the board so guys won't hit them. enough *****ing up the league.

here's the difference Between the Booth hit & the Savard hit.

Richards form was perfect. He was following through with a bodycheck that just happened to catch Booth's head. (which wouldn't have even happened if Booth wasn't skating through the middle so obliviously)

The Savard hit was different because of Cooke's intentional targeting of the head with the forearm. Cooke knew the only part of Savard he could reach was the head & he reached for it.

If a player puts himself in a vulnerable position, mercy should be the decision of the person hitting them. It's called a vulnerable position because you're not supposed to put yourself in one & if you do, you should be well aware of it & also responsible for the consequences.

Look at the Brandon sutter hit. Doug Weight was following through with a bodycheck, which would've been body-on-body, but because Sutter is ignorant that Weight is about to hit him, he reaches for the puck at the last second, exposing his head & he gets knocked out.

So you're telling me because of Sutter's lack of personal responsibility & lack of awareness of the play, Weight should be punished?

That is laughable.

__________________

I'll agree to disagree with you ..Lets leave it at that. We both have our reasons for having the opinions we have and I respect your views.