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James Wisniewski's "Best Game" Gets 8-Game Suspension

We haven't touched on the whole James Wisniewski - Brent Seabrook hit much here, partially because I was having too much fun thinking about quotes from Major League, and partially because I didn't think there was too much to discuss. Pretty much everyone's in agreement -- Wisniewski attacked a guy without the puck, left his feet, and led with his elbow. It's so far beyond "not a hockey play" that any sort of justification about an earlier hit on Corey Perry is silly.

Word has come down that Wisniewski will be suspended for eight games. That's a pretty good length, especially considering the NHL's wishy washy standards. For comparison, Owen Nolan got 11 games for trying to decapitate Grant Marshall with his elbow back in 2001 -- the difference here is that Wisniewski was attacking during play, whereas Nolan struck Marshall on his way back to the bench.

What amazes me, perhaps more than anything else, is Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle is sticking up for Wisniewski:

"Wisniewski had two fights tonight. He probably was the first star in our mind. This was probably his best game as a Duck."

Ok, look, I understand that you gotta stick up for your guy and tow the party line. But wouldn't something like "Wisniewski was emotional after Chicago took out Corey Perry and perhaps he took it too far. We don't want anyone to get hurt." be a little more appropriate? Good on Bill Guerin, who stood up for what was right rather than towing the party line after the Matt Cooke incident. At some point, the bigger picture has to come into play. At some point, everyone in the league has to come to his senses and realize that some things go beyond team loyalty.

You'd like to think so, at least.

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Wait, you expect Randy Carlyle to be “appropriate”? I mean, for the love of god, if the Ducks went out, literally decapitated everyone on the other team, and then used their heads as hockey pucks, Carlyle will call it good, old-fashioned hitting hockey. This guy and his teams are traditionally the dirtiest in the league. Of course he thought Wiz was awesome last night.

"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott

by ZeroIndulgence on Mar 18, 2010 5:48 PM CDT reply actions  

It’s “toe the line,” as in stepping up to it. It’s meaning has been a bit corrupted. It referred to stepping up to the starting line of a race, or the line that prizefighters were supposed to stand on when they were ready for the fight to begin.

There’s your taste of ridiculous pedantry for the day. Other thasn that, I agree with every word.

by J. Michael Neal on Mar 18, 2010 6:45 PM CDT reply actions  

First, I agree with the suspension; it was well deserved. On the other hand, how did Seabrook’s hit on Perry escape any punishment? Not even a boarding minor? Perry could have suffered a serious concussion from that hit. Mitchell did on a similar play and Malkin was not suspended. So is boarding not a problem in NHL anymore?

by SJKel on Mar 18, 2010 7:07 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

I’m not contesting that point. I think the past week’s shown that I’m pretty unhappy with the lack of consistency in NHL officiating and ruling in these things. We all are, aren’t we?

by Mike Chen on Mar 18, 2010 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

Probably because it wasn’t an infraction in any way? Seabrook hit him on the shoulder, and Perry turned his back. That’s a clean hit.

I love how Wisniewski tried to defend his actions as “just trying to finish his check”. Yeah, because charging in from near the blue line and jumping into the hit is “just finishing”. Ugh.

by Resolute on Mar 19, 2010 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions  

So when has hitting someone on a shoulder become a defense for boarding? The rule makes no exception on which part of body is hit. As for turning his back, I’m talking about boarding, not checking from behind. A boarding can be called even if a player is facing the checker.

“42.1 Boarding – A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who checks an opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to be thrown violently in the boards”

by SJKel on Mar 19, 2010 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

Christ… if you want to interpret THAT hit as “thrown violently into the boards” then 95% of body checks thrown should be considered boarding.

by Resolute on Mar 19, 2010 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

Contrary to your belief, most of the hits don’t involve players “thrown violently into the boards”. There’s a difference between contact with the boards and thrown into the boards. A player skating 2 inches away from the boards cannot be “thrown” into them, but a player 2 feet or more away can.

by SJKel on Mar 20, 2010 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions  

Seabrook did not hit him completely on the shoulder...

I looked frame by frame and during some of the hit, Seabrook has him hit on the back, shoulder, and HEAD, using his stick…and add into the boards in the mix – obvious 5 minute boarding call and a suspension missed.

by stlfan on Mar 19, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

Well, ya know...

boarding stopped being a penalty after Ovechkin’s (less dangerous) hit.

by stlfan on Mar 19, 2010 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Sad, but true. The NHL has shown blatant favoritism time and time again.

by yankeeken on Mar 19, 2010 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

There’s no rule that says a coach has to stick up for anyone. Coaches are allowed to call their players idiots if the shoe fits.

by JustinM on Mar 19, 2010 8:12 AM CDT reply actions  

When are the coaches going to start taking some of the fall when a dirty headshot occurs? By calling Wisniewski the best player of the game, Carlyle’s kind of saying that hits like that are all right, even though they’re not. Carlyle should be suspended for failing to control Wisniewski, especially considering this isn’t Wisniewski’s first offense as a Duck.

Carlyle didn’t have to stick up for Wisniewski. He could have said nothing at all, but instead he practically endorses dirty headshots. Coaches are fined for instigators in the final five minutes of a game, so why shouldn’t they be fined or suspended for their players’ actions?

Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.

by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Mar 19, 2010 10:46 AM CDT reply actions  

If only Carlyle was suspended. That would be a godsend for the Ducks.

by yankeeken on Mar 19, 2010 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

Just another example of why, when these types of issues happen, we should prohibit people from even getting quotes from the players and coaches. They are so predictable, they dont even qualify as news anymore.

Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.

http://glensathersucks.com/
http://twitter.com/ThGeneralissimo

by poploser on Mar 19, 2010 1:47 PM CDT reply actions  


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