During tonight's Minnesota Wild XM radio broadcast Wild color commentator Tom Reid asked Minnesota Wild enforcer and resident tough guy Derrick Boogaard if there was going to be any carryover from the Ohlund's vicious slash on Koivu. Boogaard's answer was, "no". While I believe that Boogey wasn't being forth coming, I also believe he can't say, "sure we are going to take a pound of flesh from the Canucks". I can only predict how this game is going to play out, I have this game circled on my calender. I am expecting a bloodbath on November 21st when the Wild play the Canucks.
Looking at the suspension 4 games seems very light for a vicious slash that broke a bone in Koivu's leg. I think that fact that Ohlund isn't a goon probably played the reason for the rather light suspension. If this had been one of the league thugs performing this act it would have been a 20 game suspension. That being said, there is no excuse for a player getting away with a slash like that and Ohlund should have gotten at least a 10-15 game suspension.
TORONTO(November 18, 2007)– Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund has been suspended for four games, without pay, as a result of a slashing incident during NHL game #277 against the Minnesota Wild, Nov. 16.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Ohlund will forfeit $74,866.32. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The incident occurred at 16:06 of the third period when Ohlund struck Minnesota player Mikko Koivu with a slash. He was assessed a slashing major and game misconduct. Koivu suffered a broken bone in his left leg on the play.
Ohlund will miss tonight’s game against Calgary, Nov. 20 in Edmonton, Nov. 21 in Minnesota and Nov. 23 in St. Louis. He will be eligible to return Nov. 25 at home against Chicago.
Way to small of a suspension. That was a vicious chop. Minimum 10 games. He broke Koivu's leg, fer crissakes!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the league should make him sit for as long as it takes for Koivu to get back into play. Thoughts?
Unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteWay too small of a suspension. If it had been someone like Bertuzzi it would have been a 20 game suspension...
ReplyDeleteagreed.
ReplyDeleteThe NHL has been cracking down, but 4-games is a little weak. Look at the Flyers, they have had, what 2 guys suspended for 20+ games each, and another guy for a couple of games as well.
ReplyDeleteThis was blatant, should be more like those other guys, 20-games, and without pay,$374,330, now that would get peoples attention.
Maybe Philly will try and get Ohlund, if they are trying to become the old "Broad Street Bullies" again.
A cheap shot that causes an injury like that needs to be very much discouraged rather than this slap on the wrist.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the NHL is trying to eliminate thuggery from the game.
I think the league office wants the bloodshed and only reacts in order to save face.
For example the lack of Chris Pronger getting a suspension for initiating a fight at the end of the game against the Kings the other day.
I don't mind Pronger (he was very nice to the kids when we ran into him a few years back when he was with the Blues) but if you want to cut out the cheap stuff then cut out the cheap stuff.