Stunned: Weber Fined $2,500, Not Suspended
Fined $2,500. No suspension. Wow. I'm pissed. Really, really pissed. I don't usually want to win because the other team has a player suspended, but this was one of the dirtiest plays I've seen in the sport of hockey, period. I almost always side on a smaller suspension, and I don't think he should have gotten 3+ games for it, but this deserved one game. It was the definition of intent to injure one of Detroit's best players and in no way does it relate to a hockey play, whatsoever.
I'm too pissed to continue, so here's Winging It In Motown's take on it:
It was mentioned that the lack of any injury to Zetterberg played a large part in the decision, which is stupid on its face since it should be about the act itself, not the consequences. If I intend to push someone into oncoming traffic and they somehow manage to catch themselves before getting splattered by a bus, that doesn't mean I didn't do anything wrong. The act of fining Weber means the NHL is saying that he did something that required discipline beyond the minor penalty he received at the end of the game. By refusing to suspend him for a clearly intentional blow to the head (the force of which can be debated), the NHL is once again saying they are only interested in paying lip-service to head shots and concussions and actually don't give a rat's ass about player safety.
Think of it this way, Weber was just fined the same amount that every player on Detroit is taxed for playing a game in Nashville with Tennessee's Jock Tax. The tax charges players $2,500 for each game played in Tennessee with a maximum charge of $7,500.Hit the jump for some more hypocrisy by the NHL:
A wild player was suspended two games for an accidential high stick earlier this season. This is total horsesh!t and even fans in Nashville know it. Sully called it last night in his post and that sucks.
F'ck it. It's on now. Get 'em Suh.
Edited: Hit this link to see a near unanimous reaction of outrage from the media regarding this suspension. Highlights include:
Helene Elliott - Just when you think the NHL might be getting a clue, Weber gets fined but not suspended for atrocious shots to head of Zetterberg. Terrible.
Larry Brooks - Message from the NHL: You can drive a player’s head into the glass but you can’t curse in a post-game press conference.Michael Russo - ummm think if Sidney Crosby got his head smashed only 2500
Jesus.
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This might just get a good rivalry going like Colorado....... I am hoping to see some REAL fireworks now. If Commie was not traded then he would be the one answering the bell for the wings.
@Red_Wings-Devilmasta Aside from every game in the regular season after we traded him, this is the exact moment we need him for. He is (was) the only guy in our organization who really has the size and grit to really answer the bell with guys like that.
@Red_Wings-Devilmasta And that is one of the reasons why I hated that he was traded. PLAYOFFS
@Jay Argentina @Red_Wings-Devilmasta
Pff - Babcock wouldn't have played the guy anyway. Which is unfortunate; He was never given a chance out of the gate IMO
Let the ghost of Probert take over Abdelkader's fists for that fight and beat him dowwwwwn
We should wait till webers on the bench and have eriksson fall on rinne's knee, start a brawl and then weber will jump the boards and get suspended. Im so pissed!!! F'n hicks with sticks.
That's ridiculous! How can they fine Torts 25K for speaking his mind and then only make that ahole pay 2500 for intent to injure Z!!!! BS!!!
What a BS slap on the wrist ! ... dirty players like weber are a Disgrace to the game.
No worries! I've contacted Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckhard (new names, wasnt easy tracking them down) they remember the city well. They will be waiting for Weber as he exits the bus.
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Even though I KNEW this is all he was going to get (#becauseitsthecup) I've been furious since I read the "punishment" he received and proceeded to check out of class and spam Shanny and the NHL on Twitter. #becauseitsthecup is not an excuse for this.
Every sports analyst is shaking their head at this. I've seen tweets from fans around the league upset. The only ones NOT upset are Shea Weber, Trotz and the idiots in Nashville who can't even tell you what icing is.
@Twig how are we boycotting? I'm in.
I'm with both of you. I'm seriously considering not even watching the rest of the playoffs because I am so disgusted right now.
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His fine is the equivalent of putting a quarter in the swear jar.
I'm fully aware that this is the largest fine allowable by the CBA, but c'mon - what is the point of even doing that. I feel like Weber is going to laugh menacingly as he writes the check for this (probably on a arch-villian check too)
Just imagine for half a second - it's CROSBY's face gets imprinted into the glass.... still $2,500 fine for that? Double standards are driving this mad world...
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slamming a person's face into the boards = $2,500 fine. calling crosby an malkin whiners = $20,000 fine.
the boycott is on.
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I cant wait until they come to the Joe, Weber is going to get a greeting that would make Lemieux sh*t his pants.
I love Shanny, but this is such a load of bullshit. I hope the boys let things go for the next 2 games & then BAM!!!!! Out of nowhere, that douchenozzle gets Kronwalled. By Huds.
I'm glad Z wasn't hurt, but that shouldn't matter. Also? That crap about the penalty being assessed? SO WHAT?! IT'S NOT LIKE HE HAD TO ACTUALLY MISS ANY GAME TIME SERVING IT!!!!!
I'm also not surprise but I am so pissed about this. This is a horrible mistake made by the Department of Player "Safety". But here's an even harsher truth - nothing will be done to shitbag webber by the Wings either. Kronwall never checks defensemen, Bertuzzi won't start a premeditated fight, and don't hold out hope for Quincey, Ericsson, or Franzen to do anything. Our only hope is Abdelkader but I don't want him to get off his game by trying to take a run at webber. Therefore he gets off scott free, unless of course wings fans can find out where he lives.
Kronwall may not lay a huge hit on Weber...but look for him to nail some unsuspecting forward in return.
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The Wings should have lied and said Zetterberg was a game time decision for Game 2 as a result of that hit to the head.
@Lauren H Yeah sometimes seems being classy hurts them.. Goon team gets the breaks while the Wings just fight the good fight over and over.
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Guess who was also in the barn yesterday, who else but our favorite commissioner, Gary Screw-everything-up-and-over-Bettman. Guess Shea had some kind of (demonic) angel on his side then. So basically, if someone isn't hurt you can't get punished? Then I want 2009 back and the hooking penalty abolished. Zetters should've played possum for a bit to really drive home he was being assaulted, it works for Penguins when they get a 'high-stick' to the elbow. Throw back your head next time Z, make sure they see your agony!
I'm on a rant. I went to NHL's facebook page to see if they said anything about it (they didn't) but Nashville fans were over there bashing away at Detroit fans' "crying" over the loss and "hit" to Zetterberg. It took all my strength not to tear them a new one. I could've went on to call them classless backwoods country-singing yahoos, but I didn't. I could've went on to also degrade them on their hockey knowledge seeing as their "filler team" is about as seasoned as a my socks.
I'm waiting for Weber to get destroyed by Kronwall/Bertuzzi/Zetterberg himself/Franzen/Jimmy "Facewash" Howard/Quincey/Ericsson/etc. and when he gets left in a puddle of his sore limbs, there better be only a petty fine. Gordie Howe's socks! I HATE double-standards!
End rant.
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I'm not surprised. Angry, yes. but I didn't actually expect any suspension.
It's just really idiotic to me that suspensions seem to be doled out based on whether the other guy is injured or not. How does that promote player safety?
My intent was to prevent the feeling of disappointment when they let him go.
It didn't work. I'm still pissed.
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@drw91 It woudl have done the job and still been reasonable enough so that Nashville would have understood.
