Let The Suspensions Begin

The NHL season is set to kick off shortly but before we can get to that we must first begin to discipline the early transgressors.  It became no more evident that preseason isn't for the faint of heart this weekend when two different games, with now heated rivals, had instances of stepping over the line.

The big story comes out of Toronto.  The easiest thing to do is dive in with this one.  Let me first start by saying I haven't read anything about this game or event from anybody.  All I did was watch the film from the same place I always watch.  The rest is my take on what happened.

We have to begin on Friday when Toronto and Buffalo met in Buffalo.  I watched the game.  It was very physical and extremely chippy.  There were three fights and multiple instances of pushing and shoving.  It had a playoff type atmosphere in a game that meant nothing.  Again, I have to continue and will throughout that this game and the others means nothing.  Except in hockey, teams use these games to show toughness and intimidation.  Friday's game was honestly somewhat weird.  Kaleta ran around in his typical fashion but so did Jamie Devane for Toronto targeting Kaleta multiple times.  Kaleta eventually dropped the gloves after trying to get after Dion Phaneuf.  Master pest Steve Ott came out towards the end of regulation to stir up some of his own garbage by shooting a puck directly at Phaneuf which started another pile up.  Then since overtime couldn't decide it they went to a shootout that seemed to last forever.  For some comedic relief after all the misses and saves Paul Ranger came in on his attempt, used one hand to control the puck with his stick and took a soccer like kick to the back of the stick to fling the puck at net.  Jonas Enroth didn't get the joke and took a slash at Ranger as he went by.  This was all leading up to another game in less than 24 hours.

Now we head into Sunday with bad blood boiling.  Let's get right to the point the game lost control.  It started in the fight that lead up to the brawl.  A much smaller but willing Corey Tropp dropped his gloves with Jamie Devane.  The fight seemed all but average until the end.  While spinning around Tropp fell backwards.  Devane followed forward his momentum and possibly a forearm to the neck caused Tropp to hit his head hard off the ice momentarily knocking him out.  There is no way for me to make a judgement on whether or not there was intent on the part of Devane.  I could see how somebody could see both sides of the argument.  I lean towards two guys getting into a scrap and they landed awkwardly.

As a Buffalo player or anybody on any team, seeing a guy knocked out can stir up quite the emotion.  Especially if any unsportsmanlike events took place between players or even from the fans afterward.  In steps John Scott.  The man is not a genius.  Without even another second ticking off we get the following.




6'8 John Scott, who has scored one goal in his entire career, lines up against Phil Kessel who would be classified as Toronto's best player.  Forget the puck drop and let's go.  Kessel backs off quickly before making like a lumberjack going for the final cut to the biggest tree.  Luckily for Kessel two teammates jump in to save the fledgling forward.  Kessel thrives at his fortune and takes another baseball-like swing before he finds players to tangle with more suitable for him.  In the hectic scene David Clarkson looking at first mildly puzzled comes off the bench to join in.  Then everybody goes at it.  As things look to cool the goalies who received their invitations late to the dance got into it.  Kessel takes another poke at the great beast as they try to separate the teams.  Whew.  Well that was interesting.

So now for my take.  I understand the anger of Scott.  However what he did amongst the hockey code was completely wrong.  Even if he was upset by the previous fight it was two guys, both who can fight, agreeing to go.  The outcome alone can't be the basis for his idea to go after the best offensive player on the other team who is not skilled in fighting before play has begun.  Scott deserves a suspension of at least five games for the part he played.  None of this would have happened if it were not for his actions.

If they guy I stood next to was a foot taller than me and looking to unprovokingly punch me in the face my first reaction might be to swing my stick at him.  I might give Kessel a pass if it were not for the full swing he took or the idea that this should not be the first reaction of a hockey player.  The second swing makes him look even more ridiculous as his teammates were forced to protect him.  The fact he fought at all and cut the other guy is enough to give him some credit.  The last spear probably canceled it out.  In the end he came across as a punk when he could have just skated away.  Two baseball swings of a stick warrant a suspension.  He might have been okay after the first but not at all after the second. He needs 3 or 4 games.

Poor David Clarkson.  I feel bad for him because in the spirit of the game he did what he thought was right.  Except jumping off the bench is a straight up 10 game suspension.  We had this happen already this year for goodness sake.  He just signed his big contract this season after playing with New Jersey and even took less money than offered elsewhere to play in Toronto.  He scores, loves to fights and as seen clearly sticks up for his team.  Unfortunately for him, he was the only player to jump on the ice.  I see no way he avoids the automatic ban.

Do we really need to have a winner and loser scenario here?  Probably.  Here we go as quickly as I can.

Winner:  BUFFALO - This one is simple. After the dusts settle the only player that will be suspended is John Scott.  Not a big loss there.  For all the crap that people talked about Buffalo being soft when Ryan Miller kept getting plowed over, guess they can quiet down.  That's a team that stands up for each other even if things don't go well.

Winner:  JONATHAN BERNIER - You would think as the #11 pick you would be enjoying NHL success.  Not when Jon Quick is ahead of you.  Finally able to show he could be a number one goalie in a new town, he goes out and gets in a fight in front of the home crowd and handles himself well.  Welcome to Toronto Jonathan.  You just made a lot of friends.

Winner:  RYAN MILLER - Wait.  Both goalies are winners?  Yep.  Miller did not need to show any interest in this fight.  He barely has shown interest in being in Buffalo at all.  But it would have looked hypocritical for him to not participate in what could be described as team bonding.  That's how you show you are not bigger than the team.

LOSER:  PHIL KESSEL - There is no call for swinging your stick at a player let alone to do it twice.  In both instances he was backpedaling from the crime scene making him look even more pathetic.

LOSER:  TORONTO - The best thing to come out of this for Toronto was maybe some solidarity going forward into the season.  The worst thing will be the suspensions of two of there best forwards, one for a straight up 10 games.  That is something they cannot afford and could easily cost them a playoff spot.

Needless to say watching these teams compete the rest of the season could be interesting.  Mr. Scott has a big ass target on his head now but I think it would be accurate to say Phil Kessel will be seeing a lot of Steve Ott and Patrick Kaleta.  Have fun Phil.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The Toronto-Buffalo game took something away from the ferocity of the Edmonton and Vancouver game from Saturday night another I had the pleasure to watch.  Vancouver played the role of aggressor going after the Oilers young stars.  Edmonton is deep with young talent but lack a strong physical presence something they desperately need to surround their future.  Vancouver took full advantage often taking runs at the smaller forwards.  First it was Dale Weiss who clearly looked to target the head of Taylor Hall for which Weiss is suspended the rest of the preseason.  Then it was large forward Zack Kassian's stick breaking the jaw of top Edmonton forward Sam Gagner when his hit attempt missed but his follow through connected.  Kassian will miss the first five games for not playing with his stick under control.

There has been no secret between outspoken head coach Dallas Eakins and Craig MacTavish that the team was looking for an enforcer plain and simple.  When Pittsburgh waived Steve MacIntyre yesterday it was only a matter of when.  That answer was today.  Big Mac is back with Edmonton.  The only problem is he is awful as a player.  What the Oilers needed and still need are physical and talented forwards.  Without that they are destined to be pushed around and rely on powerplay chances for goals.  I still have a feeling the first matchup between these two is worth the watch as much as the Toronto and Buffalo game.