Suspension? I Predict No, Here's Why
First off, I never feel morally, ethically, honourably or chivalrously clean when I wish a player from an opposing team be suspended, especially if no one was hurt. I’m a Red Wings fan and I let the league take care of its own business and know that my team will bring it no matter the circumstances. So when someone sticks a knee out on Kronner, hits White from behind along the boards or catches Stuart with an unnecessarily high hit to the head late I’m not calling for justice because I just want to move on.
That being said, in the playoffs I react differently. In the playoffs, I see this:
Read More of why the NHL won't act.
And I say – By definition, that is a suspension. By the very NHL defined “message sending at the end of games [losses],” that is a suspendable play. And I find myself hoping for it.
Now see this:
And I say this – Though I respect Shea Weber (Bog I wish he were a Wing) that is a senseless play. And I’m thankful nobody was hurt, but I do find myself, once again in the playoffs, hoping there is a suspension. Just an absolutely uncalled for and dirty move. Not to mention they had the game won at that point. It’s a good think Henrik Zetterberg isn’t me, because I would have reacted with less composure and class than Z did there.
My expectation is that this won’t be suspended, much like the above highlight of Malkin (on the same player as Fate would have it), because the NHL has an agenda that doesn’t always follow its own “definitions.” I predict they drop the ball on this one and yet again fail to bring justice to boneheaded plays, but that’s just me. I’m typically pessimistic after losses. Curious as to what you lot think, and remember to try and leave your emotions out of it (it's the Red Wings way).
Most importantly, LGRW.
I really don't see a suspension coming to Weber nor do i think there should be. With that being said, i'm shocked (not really) that the refs, who had been calling such a tight game for 60 minutes can see Weber go after hank like that and only give 2 minutes. Weber lost his cool and had intent to hurt hank which should have been at least 4 minutes or even a major. Bettman must have been at the other end of the ice...or left early to beat traffic.
Hmmm...hopefully there will be some home cookin' from old Shanahan... help your friends out! Weber is a dirty bird.
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If this act was done by someone with a "name" like Bertuzzi, then there would be a suspension. I doubt the league will have the guts to suspend Nashville's captain, even if he committed this cheap shot on our possible future captain. It will be interesting to see if the NHL can truly be objective in this instance. There should with out a doubt be a suspension.
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Poorly managed game by the officials to begin with. Weber knows better and if he doesnt then anyone that wishes he would wear the Winged Wheel is off their rocker. That was a classless play no matter how you look at it. If the league is trying to clean the goon out of of the game then they cannot allow these incidents to happen without punishment.
There will be suspensions if Wings will try to get even with Weber. Weber, in the meantime will not be suspended. Such a clear message to everyone form the NHL. Players safety my ass...
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You say it was a senseless play, but it wasn't a play at all. Thats not a play, that's assault. If he wasn't wearing hockey gear, he would be arrested. If I was zetterberg, my lawyers would be the first people I called. "Play", bullshit that was just violence for the sake of it.
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I am really surprised no one has brought up the Hunter hit on Turgeon. Hunter got 21 games and Turgeon had a seperated shoulder. From my understanding Zetterberg is fine, but the act was still there. The league must look past the time of year and look at the fact that Weber used the boards as a weapon and treat it as such. Hunter got 21 games, Simon got 30 games. The NHL needs to make the same statement that the name doesn't matter and the time of year doesn't matter and level a punishment to fit the act. Weber should feel very lucky that Zetterberg was not hurt or he may be missing more than a few game in the post season given the new stiffer head injury rules (that should also play a role in the suspension). I have defended the league many times over the year, and rarely put myself out there saying they must suspend someone (Quincey was one of the few I said was a must, Smith was another), if they do not act I will still watch, I won't start chatting conspiracy, but I also will not take the head shot rule serious or their effort to clean up the game.
Knowing what I know about playoff hockey I'll guess no suspension but man I'm hoping for one
Knowing what I know about playoff hockey I'll guess no suspension but man I'm hoping for one
OMG. Weber should be suspended for the rest of the series. Crap like this is uncalled for. Lets Go Wings.
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BluesForTheCup April 12, 2012 at 2:02AMFollow
Weber acted like an idiot. I do not like the Wings but that was just a cheap shot. Totally uncalled for and classless. Barry Trotz's comments were a disgrace too. I'm afraid this will ignite this Wings team in the end... Trotz should also be fined for his stupid comments.
This is a response by someone named well you see it .... a BLUES fan. While reading the news about Helm on the post with the link in the Recap I decided to check the next story to see the comments on the Weber incident. I hope he is right about it igniting the Wings.
Josh I think we have a piece of Gold for the next Movie poster...... something like McCarty smashing Claude lemuex's face in, but replace it with weber and put Abby's "I'll Murder You" look in there or keep McCarty in there. With a Flaming Winged wheel. "Ignite the Wings and you will end up face down in a pool of your own blood"
Also lets get some Helm dropping until he returns..... I leave that up to photoshop man but I might just work on my own ....at least try since I do have the skills for it just not quite the greatest creativity or quick production.
I predict 1 game. I think he deserves a series-long suspension and jail time, personally, but that isn't going to happen. That play was so egregious I don't think the league can turn the other way. Even from Gary's perspective- isn't this playoff season supposed to be the most exposure the NHL has ever gotten with every game on a national telecast? They don't want the perception to be that it is "Slapshot," so I think they'll feel compelled to do something. That said, they aren't going to remove a team's captain and best player for more than 1 game in the playoffs. This IS the NHL here...
If a Red Wing player had done this to a Nashville player, I would expect a suspension, and I expect a suspension here as well.
Whether or not that happens may be a different story...But the NHL needs to realize that if this were Crosby who got head slammed, Weber would be gone for at least 3 games, and Crosby could have been sidelined again.
Here's to hoping they make the right call!
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How on earth will Shanahan agree with Weber that it wasn't intentional? There's no way it's not intentional. Punching a guy in the back of the head and then grabbing his head and slamming it into the boards is as intentional as it gets. He should get 2 games minimum but will probably only get one. If the NHL does nothing, it is basically like sending a message to the players that they can do whatever they want in the playoffs and don't have to worry about being suspended for it.
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@Lauren H I completely agree. I can understand the head punch in the heat of the moment, that was retaliatory, but the head slam wasn't. But I still don't think the league is going to suspend a captain in the playoffs regardless of it being the right thing to do... And I wholly disagree with that.
Weber is like Pronger. You absolutely hate his guts if he isn't on the team. But if you have him, he is your favorite player. Any of the nay sayers would be quickly be converted if he landed in Detroit.
Other than Parise, Weber would be the second best fit for the team for a long term contract going forward.
I don't know what is going to happen here. But Weber should get one. If it were just the punch, nothing but the 2 minutes. But to actually grab a guys head and slam it into the glass? I think the league would do itself a grave disservice to not call this a "head shot". What better way to cause a concussion than to not only target your opponents head, but isolate it with your own two hands so that all impact force is delivered to the frontal lobe?
@magnum9 I must disagree with you: I NEVER have wanted Weber as a Red Wing. I have NEVER had any respect for him and if he ever became a Wing, I really don't know what I'd do. I would lose respect for whoever decided he was the type of player that the Wings need. He always appeared a bit smarmy to me and too full of himself. Didn't like him before and after tonight, I dislike him even more. I also believe he will NOT be suspended--that just is not in the script for these playoffs.
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@magnum9 I was thinking about that after the game. I can live with the punch to the head. Is it a tremendously unsportsmanlike thing to do? Absolutely, but not suspension worthy. The punch with the head slam is too much and if the league doesn't do something, they're going to take a lot of heat.
As for your comment about Weber, I have absolutely no respect for him as a player anymore. I don't care if he's Lidstrom's twin, I don't want someone like that on our team.
In my personal opinion, if Weber isn't suspended, then this entire year is a failure for Brendan Shanahan and the league in regards to player discipline. I think for that reason alone Weber will get at least one game. The play was completely uncalled for and unwarranted, happened after the play/game, and directly targeted the head. Yes, it's the playoffs, but if this league cares about player safety, then that point is moot. I think the only thing going for Weber is that Zetterberg wasn't injured on the play (that we know), though he was hit hard enough that the strap on his helmet was completely torn loose on the one side. If Shanny wants to send a message, this is the time to do it.
@thebiglachovsky The refs sure were sending a message tonight, so let's hope that he follows that trend.
We all know what I think by now. I don't think he will be suspended "because its the cup" (grumble) and Z thankfully wasn't injured on the play.
But it was dangerous and unnecessary and the definition of what the NHL is trying to get rid of, and he SHOULD be suspended (#SuspendWeber). It needs to be reviewed and I think it will be, but that's as far as it will get. The playoffs have a different set of ambiguous and arbitrary rules in the NHL's eyes.
Am I the only one that sees a problem with him becoming a wing and wanting sutter over that dbag because sutter has a higher hockey iq?
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@KevinMichael No, you're not. Thankfully. Weber's just such a bigger, physical guy that his presence alone is more of a "force." But this shit is a "lia-f***ing-bility man", to quote Rocco from Boondock Saints.
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@brendanksullivan @KevinMichael Also his shot in Practice is a liability..... just to point the obvious out on that too. If it was his shot on eaves then it would not have been(I really dont want to finish that thought) .
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@KevinMichael No, I never wanted Weber. I REALLY don't want Weber now. I would take Suter though...
Well there are two different people in charge of handling these suspensions... That being said both of these deserved suspensions but when you see shanny in charge I believe he has enough integrity to make sure the game of hockey is not getting degraded.
If a Wing did that I would still be upset because it is uncalled for. If nothing happens then I am looking to see Kronwall LEVEL him in the next game with a clean massive hit. Boneheaded plays need to be dealt with one way or another. I wish we still had some McCarty guy to show the other teams what they wont be allowed to do.
@Red_Wings-Devilmasta If he's not suspended then it tells the teams and players that they're responsible for doing their own policing... I prefer this to the NHL taking such a big role, but if it's up left to the players for take care of it themselves, then they better make Weber pay. Also, in the post game interviews, Keating spoke to Kronner, and while he was calm and polite as always, his eyes could have shot lasers... he was furious... better watch your back Weber.
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Best case scenario, 1 game. Likely scenario, nothing. crappy move by Weber, dang I really liked him too.
