Brendan Shanahan sets a bad precedence for not suspending Tom Wilson

Brendan Shanahan explained why the NHL's Department of Player Safety will not suspend Tom Wilson for his hit to injure on Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn. I totally disagree with this, but oh well. None of us should be shocked by this decision, Shanny gets them wrong about half of the time.

Related articles

• Tom Wilson avoids suspension for hit on Brayden Schenn (cbc.ca)
• Tom Wilson's hit on Brayden Schenn, Ouch! Injury Ninja held at Bay (thehockeywriters.com)

(Video) Washington's Tom Wilson pounds Brayden Schenn into the boards

This is a blatant charging, and it's also a checking from behind penalty. If the NHL's Department of Player Safety doesn't suspend Tom Wilson for this dangerous hit on Brayden Schenn, they're derelict in their duties. There's no sense to these types of hits.

Someone is going to get killed on the ice and it's not going to be from a fight, it's going to be from a dangerous hit like this. Personally, I am more offended by these types of hockey plays than to goons dropping the gloves in a staged fight.

Tom Wilson sent a text to Brayden Schenn apologizing for last nights hit. Schenn accepted his apology, and said... http://t.co/J81RpNrk9F
— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) December 18, 2013

(Video) Canadiens Alexei Emelin's elbows the Flyers Steve Downie.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin's connect with the elbows on Philadelphia Flyers forward Steve Downie. Emelin was give a five-minute major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct. You have to wonder if there will be a call from the NHL's Department of Player Safety? Personally, I don't think it's worthy of a suspension. But the video is not very good either.

EDIT: After watching this video, Emelin clearly caught Downie with a chicken wing elbow. This the kind of hits that the NHL is looking to eliminate from the game of hockey. Emelin might be getting a game or two for that hit.

Are goalie fights a thing of the past?

Apparently, after Philadelphia Flyer's goalie Ray Emery fought Washington Capital’s goalie Braden Holtby last Friday night in Philadelphia, goalies fights could now be a thing of the past. You have got to be kidding me?!? This is what happens when we have an incident and then we have an over reaction. So, when Patrick Roy fought Chris Osgood, no one seemed to care.

League sources tell me #NHL will discuss 10-game suspension for goalies leaving their zone to fight much like player leaving bench rule #bn
— gary lawless (@garylawless) November 4, 2013

Goalies Ray Emery and Braden Holtby fight (Video)

While the game between SCSU and UND was on going on last night, my twitter feed blew up with this game and incident. Nothing beats a good ole fashion Donnybrook in my opinion.That being said, Emery might be getting a call from the department of player safety for this one.

This is one thing about the sport of hockey, when the score gets out of hand you had better tighten the chin strap and keep you head on a swivel. Some say that Flyers goalie Ray Emery had no business skating down the ice and challenging Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby to a fight. They’re probably right.

(Video) Rangers Benoit Pouliot Hit On Flyers Max Talbot

Rangers forward Benoit Pouliot hits Phialdelphia Flyers forward Max Talbot from behind, into the boards. Scarey moment for Max Talbert. I don't think that Pouliot will be facing a suspension, but you never know. None-the-less, it was a dangerous hit.

Andrew MacWilliam lights up a Flyer with a huge hit

There's an old saying, it's better to be the hammer than the nail. Former UND defenseman Andrew MacWilliam drops Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossmann with a huge hit along the boards.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Sick Nazem Kadri goal

After signing a nice new two-year contract for a reported $5.8 million, Nazem Kadri took to the ice to show off his offensive skills. Nice, slick goal. Looks like the Flyers still have problems in net as well.

Zdeno Chara scores on his own goal against the Flyers

Not a very proud moment for the Boston Bruins as defenseman Zdeno Chara scores on his own net. It was also a bad display of goaltending by Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin. The Flyers scored two goals in seven seconds during the second period to take a 3-1 lead into the third period.

Sweet Matt Read Goal

Check out this sweet goal by former BSU Beavers and current Philadelphia Flyers forward Matt Read. That was Read's 11th goal of the season and it broke a 1-1 tie. The Flyers would score again, seven seconds later, when Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara would basically shoot the puck into his own net, to chase Bruins goalie Anton Khudobin.

Ryan White Lights up Kent Huskins; Will White be getting a ban from the NHL?

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Last night, the Habs Goon/forward Ryan White caught Flyers defenseman Kent Huskins in the head with this dirty check. You have to wonder if the NHL will be giving White a very long suspension? White was given a Match Penalty for this bushleague hit on Huskins. These are also the types of hits, that the NHL is trying to eliminate.

Yesterday, the Flyers GM announced that Kent Huskins is out with a concussion as a result of the dirty White hit.

Today we find out that NHL department of Player Safety has requested in-person meeting with the Canadiens’ Ryan White, which is not a good sign for White.



S/T to Kukla’s Korner for the videos. Last night, White played a grand total of 1:31 and racked up 20 minutes in penalties. You have to wonder if this is the last time that the Canadiens will see this one-dimensional player on the ice this season, if ever.

Ryan Carter knees Zac Rinaldo

The Devils forward Ryan Carter knees Flyers forward Zach Zac Rinaldo, who ironically, took runs at three different players on his trip up the ice, then gets hit in the knee with this hit by former Minnesota State Maverick Ryan Carter. Notice, no one comes to Zac Rinaldo aid, who in my opinion is a reckless player.

Harry Zolnierczyk destroys Mike Lundin, Suspended four games

My first question is, why are the refs immediately rescuing Harry Zolnierczyk after he destroys Mike Lundin with this dirty elbow? Zolnierczyk is the one that laid out Lundin with the dirty hit, he's the one that should be the one fighting Kaspars Daugavins or Senators tough guy Chris Neil for that matter. I guess Harry Zolnierczyk is going to have to wait because he has been suspended by the National Hockey League for four games for his effort.

Capitals coach fine with Zolnierczyk hit on Mathieu Perreault

In the waning moments of last night’s game, Flyers forward Harry Zolnierczy was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for a hit that he put on Capitals forward Mathieu Perreault. Apparently, Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates is fine with the hit and didn’t think it was a dirty hit. After reviewing the hit again, I guess, I am fine, with the hit too then.

monumentalnetwork.com --- In the game’s final minute, Perreault was coming through the neutral zone when Philadelphia winger Harry Zolnierczyk checked the Washington center hard. Zolnierczyk was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct, but Oates didn’t see anything wrong with the hit.

“I don’t think it’s dirty at all,” says Oates. “It’s the product of our whole game, quite honestly. There’s 30 seconds left, the game’s over and Matty [Perreault] thought that he could stickhandle through the team. That’s not what we do, all of us tonight. Guys are sitting there waiting for you and you get hit.

Harry Zolnierczyk knee on Mathieu Perreault

From the replay, it does look like the Flyers forward Harry Zolnierczyk catches Capitals forward Mathieu Perreault with a "dirty" knee check, just like Taylor Hall hit Cal Clutterbuck. It's a bit of a different angle so it's not as cut an dry in my opinion. If I was a betting man, and I am, I think a suspension is coming for Zolnierczyk

I would imagine that The NHL's Department of Player Safety will take a look at this hit. It's an unnecessary hit at the end of the game.

Brayden Schenn is the first player suspended

Well that didn't take lone. Just three days into the lockout shortened 2013 season, Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn is the first player suspended by Brendan Shannahan. Actually, I have no problem with the suspension and this suspension should set the tone going forward.

After 247 days, the @nhlshanahan account is back in use. The lockout is officially over!
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) January 23, 2013

Drew Stafford vs. Scott Hartnell

These kinds of hits have to be banned from hockey. Buffalo forward Tyler Ennis is 157 pounds soaking wet, and Flyers forward Scott Hartnell is a bull at 210 pounds, and he buries Ennis from behind.  No penalty on the play. You have to give former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford credit for answering the call. 

Bettman proves that he is a ________!

If you had any hope of the CBA getting hammered out by the September 15, 2012 - those hopes were squashed today. This is the zinger that Commissioner Gary Bettman uttered today at the end of 90 minute negotiating session between the NHL Owners and the NHLPA.

Gary Bettman:"we believe that we are paying the players more that we should be."
— Renaud P Lavoie (@RenLavoieRDS) August 23, 2012

Jesse Spector of the Sporting News has a really good story on Bettman's comments that he made today and lets just say that the NHL's Commissioner isn't going to make a lot of friends with the fans and with the players.

Based on the comments that Bettman made today - we can say that the good will is over and it's game on now.

As fans we just hope that we don't have another lost season. As it stands right now, Bettman is bound and determined to lock the players out because he can.

Jesse Spector Sporting News --- Another difference between Bettman of early August and Bettman of late August is that the younger Bettman expressed a “need” to lower costs, which was understandable. For teams that are struggling financially now, or that would be in several years under the current system as leaguewide revenues outpace local revenues, spending to the NHL’s salary floor is becoming an annual challenge. Seven teams finished 2011-12 under the projected $54.2 million floor for 2012-13 under the current CBA.

Contrast that with Thursday, and “we think we’re paying too much in salaries.” That’s a shift from a statement of plain-to-see fact to difficult-to-grasp opinion, and one that comes off as entirely hypocritical in the face of the $196 million the Minnesota Wild spent this summer on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, or the Nashville Predators’ matching the Philadelphia Flyers’ $110 million offer to Shea Weber.

The counterargument to that is that teams are just playing by the rules of the current CBA, trying to compete as best they can. But the NHL’s owners did not become owners by making stupid business decisions, and it would be a lot easier for Bettman to make his case if star players were only getting offers from teams in the biggest markets. There’s a salary cap and a salary floor, and when the small-market Predators talk about wanting to be a cap team, it doesn’t do much for the case that the players are currently overpaid.

I agree with Spector – seriously – how can these NHL owners pay these outrageous salaries to the NHL players and then turn around and in the next breath say that they are paying too much in player costs? It makes no sense what-so-ever – or at least from a sane person’s point of view.

Let’s not forget that they want to also limit player salaries to five years also – so what do they do they turn around and sign players to 6,7,8.9, 10-13 year deals.

I don’t think I am missing the point – if you’re hurting financially you don’t go out and spend a bunch of money that you claim that you don’t have.

Is anyone taking these guys serious when they wheel their representative – who is pompous, condescending, mealy mouth jerk – this is also the same guy that has preceded over two other work stoppages and in his smug way say’s that the NHL owners are paying players too much and they need to wheel back the players salaries and oh yeah the Edmonton Oilers just paid Taylor Hall who has played in the NHL a grand total of two seasons 6 million a year over 7 season.

Subban to the Flyers?

If Boston Bruins fans didn’t have enough reason to hate the Philadelphia Flyers already – I am sure that if the Flyers signed P.K. Subban to an offer sheet and they were able to land the Hab’s mouthy defenseman – this would give ample reasons to Bruins fans to hate them even more.

It seems that this story is taking on a life of its own – Hab’s defenseman P.K. Subban, was offered a contract by the Montreal Canadians last week for two years’ worth 5.5 million or 2.75 million a year, however, Subban has not yet agreed to the terms and or signed a new contract. Could the Flyers next offer sheet be going to P.K. Subban?

Chris Nichols, Sports Net --- According to French sports network RDS, Subban reportedly turned down a two-year $5.5 million offer last week.

Enter the Philadelphia Flyers who appear in need of a top defenseman and who have not shied away from extending offer sheets in the past.

Just last month Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren signed Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber to a 14-year $110 million offer sheet, only to have the Predators match less than a week later.

In 1997 the Flyers landed Chris Gratton with an offer sheet, while in 2006 the Flyers agreed on an offer sheet with Ryan Kesler which the Vancouver Canucks eventually matched.

So could the Flyers extend another offer sheet this summer, this time to either Carlson or Subban?

It will be interesting to see what the Flyers do – this week they lost another defenseman Andrej Meszaros for an unknown time after he had surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon. The Flyers also don’t know if Chris Pronger will ever play hockey again – to top it all off the Flyers lost former Denver Pioneer Matt Carle to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Who is going to sign P.K. Subban?

PK Subban (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is an interesting story on The Hab's defenseman P.K. Subban,  apparently the Habs have offered a contract to the young defenseman for two years worth 5.5 million or 2.75 million a year, however, Subban has not yet agreed to the terms and or signed a new contract.

Some fans around the league have suggested that their favorite team sign the Hab's defenseman to an offer sheet.

Stu Hackel, Red Light Blog --- Among the most buzz-y stories this week has been the plight of Pernell Karl Subban, the Canadiens’ restricted free agent defenseman who remains unsigned. It’s worth questioning, however, if this story is worth all the buzz, although almost everything involving P.K. grabs the hockey world by the lapels and screams for attention, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

The way this story has been reported, or at least repeated, is that the Habs have offered P.K. a two-year deal for $5.5 million that he has rejected. Subban is supposedly “unhappy” and “negotiations have hit a roadblock” according to one content provider, and he’s “very far away” from reaching an agreement, according to another. More than one blogger (OK here’s one) has called for their favorite team to extend the 23-year-old an RFA offer sheet, certain that he’d be the answer to its blueline problems. This talk of Subban becoming an offer sheet target for general managers seeking defensemen spread to the XM Satellite Radio on Friday morning, with hosts and guests very curious as to why no team has gone after him.

Had the Flyers not extended an offer sheet to Shea Weber last month, the chatter about snaring another team’s RFA would hardly be as prevalent. The experience wouldn’t be that fresh in our collective minds. But the lessons of Weber and all RFA signings — which GMs understand well — haven’t resonated much for some reason.

Here’s the thing: Teams don’t sign RFAs to offer sheets very much because they tend not to achieve the desired result. The player’s original team invariably matches the offer and, as we saw with Weber’s situation, there are only hard feelings between the clubs and maybe even some between the player and his team. The only thing RFA offer sheets accomplish under the current CBA is that another team ends up negotiating a contract for a player it ultimately doesn’t sign.

Last season, Subban had seven goals and 29 assists in 81 games for the Montreal Canadians. Subban also is a restricted free agent  - so unless someone like the Philadelphia Flyers signs Subban to an offer sheet - the Habs defenseman isn't going anywhere so he is pretty much stuck with the current offer they Habs have on the table.