June 3, 2007

Pronger elbows way to Game Four suspension : The NHL has suspended Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger for Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals for his elbow to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Dean McAmmond. This is Pronger's second sitdown of the playoffs -- but is one game enough for this offense?

read story | posted by wfrazerjr to Hockey at 3:14 PM CDT (30 comments total)

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posted by tommytrump at 3:17 PM CDT on June 3

I don't get that, Tommy, but here's another link to pretty much the same story.

Also, here's a link to Bugmenot.

posted by wfrazerjr at 3:25 PM CDT on June 3

Thanks, fraze. The Ottawa Sun also has something, but ctv.ca's story is more detailed, and a little less slanted.

posted by tommytrump at 3:32 PM CDT on June 3

CBC had the best angle of the elbow, but I can't find the video. All of NBC's angles are kind of lousy.

Anyway, yeah, repeat offense means that a one-gamer is a total cop-out by the NHL.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 3:33 PM CDT on June 3

Anyway, yeah, repeat offense means that a one-gamer is a total cop-out by the NHL.

Agreed, he should have been done for the series. He was suspended for a similar offence in Game 3 of the semi-final, missed Game 4, played four games, and now commits the same offence (basically) and yet gets the same punishment. It would appear there are 2 sets of rules in the NHL. One for the stars, and one for the grinders.

posted by tommytrump at 3:52 PM CDT on June 3

When Pronger does the same thing in back to back series, you would think he would get a least two games for the second offense. The NHL must be cutting him some slack because he is a Norris finalist nad they want him to be an important player in the SC Finals.

posted by tennisguy at 4:11 PM CDT on June 3

What? You guys are crazy! If anybody is getting suspended for that incident, it should be McCammond. He could've seriously hurt Pronger's elbow with his head. Which by the way, has a helmet on it. Did Pronger's elbow have padding? NOOOOO!!! Once again, the NHL effs it all up!

posted by NoMich at 6:03 PM CDT on June 3

I said that on an earlier thread,Tommy. You shouldn't post anything that requires a password.Unless it is an exclusive,most items are on numerous sites.

posted by sickleguy at 6:11 PM CDT on June 3

I said that on an earlier thread,Tommy. You shouldn't post anything that requires a password.Unless it is an exclusive,most items are on numerous sites.

I'm not trying to start a fight sickleguy, but you realize I didn't post this FPP right?. I was just trying to give fraz a heads up that I couldn't link the FPP.

posted by tommytrump at 6:17 PM CDT on June 3

I think he was agreeing with you tommy.

I'm suprised that the NHL wouldn't hold a star accountable for commiting the same, dangerous offence, twice in such a short span. You would think a league with the integrity of the NHL would take initiative and take action against such a thing.

Star treatment. It is everywhere. And I am sick of it.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 6:22 PM CDT on June 3

What's up when a player commits an infraction that's bad enough to earn a suspension but all four officials on the ice "didn't see it"? It's one thing to miss something behind the play but McA had the biscuit! The league wimped out on this one.

posted by El Train at 6:57 PM CDT on June 3

What's up when a player commits an infraction that's bad enough to earn a suspension but all four officials on the ice "didn't see it"?

He didn't actually have the puck when the elbow occurred. By the time the elbow occurred, the puck was pretty much in the corner. Chances are the officials were paying attention to the puck and the players near it- not the one who had just had the puck.

While I agree that the NHL as an organization should have suspended him for the entire series (each elbow in both series were blatant enough to warrant a series-length suspension alone IMHO), I don't see the gametime officials copping out if they had seen the elbow.

posted by jmd82 at 7:19 PM CDT on June 3

The NHL must eliminate the blow to the head and from behind. It seems they like to wait and see if a serious injury occurred before they act. The act needs to be removed from the game and severely penalized. Pronger gets those arms and hands out almost everytime. Perry should have gotten a game for the hit from behind on Chelios and we know the ref saw it, then Perry faked like he was hurt. I warned my buddies in Ottawa to have the players watch their backs when you play Anaheim. They are called Ducks because that is what the opposing players should do when they approach.

posted by lpaulson at 7:33 PM CDT on June 3

Except for the hit wasn't from behind.

posted by jmd82 at 7:46 PM CDT on June 3

Except for the hit wasn't from behind.

I don't think he was inferring this hit was from behind, just that the NHL has to eliminate hits from behind in general.

On topic, this is Chris Pronger's 7th suspension by the NHL. He has missed a total of 13 games.

posted by tommytrump at 7:58 PM CDT on June 3

Yeah, I'd like to chime in here the refs' failure to catch this shot in real time. I can't speak for hockey officials, but basketball refs are given the responsibility to pay attention to the (former) ball carrier, esp. on pass'n'crash type of plays, and to stick with the shooter after the ball leaves the hand. One ref opposite the shot should have responsibility for the flight of the ball while the nearest official stays with the body. The refs in last night's game "should have" got that one. What I'd like to know is whether or not the on-ice officials are reprimanded for this blatant miss? It wasn't mentioned in the only story I read on this (but, this is rarely mentioned/reported anyway). Comrie also took what looked like a clear head shot that bloodied his nose without a penalty earlier too, no?

Anyway, I don't think that Pronger's "it's simple physics" defense can hold on this one ... that elbow came up to meet DM's head specifically in this one ... one game is too light, especially as the second suspension in the same playoffs. And, for the record, I'm not saying this just because I'm from Edmonton ;)

posted by Spitztengle at 8:01 PM CDT on June 3

You shouldn't post anything that requires a password.Unless it is an exclusive,most items are on numerous sites.

As I said just a few posts before, I didn't get a registration page when I went to it. I got the story.

Then, after Tommy said he got a registration page, I linked to a different source and gave a link for Bugmenot codes.

If that's not good enough, I don't know what the fuck to tell you.

posted by wfrazerjr at 8:56 PM CDT on June 3

On topic, this is Chris Pronger's 7th suspension by the NHL. He has missed a total of 13 games.

I was disappointed enough with his current suspension, hearing that makes me throw up more than just a little bit in my mouth. What kind of message does this send? Repeat offender gets minimum punishment because his name is a marketable one? I guess Greg Wyshynkski was right afterall.

NHL: We can't have Pronger out too long, he is in every other hockey commercial because he left Edmonton and went to the Ducks.

Discipline guy: But it was elbow to the head that resulted in injury.

NHL: Who did he injure?

DG: Dean Mcammond, research shows that only the die hard fan base recognizes his name.

NHL: Well, then I guess we should at least do something, O.K. but just one game, we may only have two games left.

posted by MrFrisby at 9:40 PM CDT on June 3

I'm cheering for the Ducks (by default) and even I have to admit that I expected a 2-game suspension. A repeat offense should get a stiffer sentence. I don't agree with a full-series suspension, but a second game should have been automatic.

posted by grum@work at 9:56 PM CDT on June 3

The Ducks are a team of thugs, and that's that. Five games worth of suspensions, during the playoffs (Two for Pronger and Three for May against the Wild) is unbelievable.

If the Ducks hold on and win the series, it will be a sad indictment of how little control the league has over it's image as a "dirty" league.

posted by AaronGNP at 10:12 PM CDT on June 3

On topic, this is Chris Pronger's 7th suspension by the NHL. He has missed a total of 13 games.

That sums it all up. What Fisher showed in class when he refused to punch a defenseless Duck, Pronger showed in utter disrespect for fair play. While the ruling is something die-hards and the more avid fans will look at with disgust, I think most viewers will appreciate seeing Pronger's physical play on the ice -- and that is the motivating factor for the NHL's decision, especially since NBC is picking up the rest of the series, giving more casual fans exposure.

On a side note, that hit really felt like watching O.J. Simpson in Naked Gun. After the elbow to the face, Mcammond hit the back of his head on the ice, and then slid head-first into the boards. Talk about the triple whammy.

posted by PublicUrinal at 10:46 PM CDT on June 3

If the Ducks hold on and win the series, it will be a sad indictment of how little control the league has over it's image as a "dirty" league.

Remember, this is the same league that still allows Todd Bertuzzi to wear a uniform.

posted by NoMich at 7:48 AM CDT on June 4

I'm not really siding with the outrage here. He got the one game suspension. It was deserved. One game in the Cup Finals is worth 10 in the regular season. It was an elbow, but I'm surprised how it knocked McAmmond silly. It really didn't look that bad to me. And Chris Neil has managed to try to injure someone on every other shift. It's a nasty series and both teams are playing it with gusto.

I think this was a sound move by the NHL.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 9:12 AM CDT on June 4

I'm with grum. Two games because it is Pronger's second offense. But how a penalty wasn't called is beyond me.

posted by garfield at 10:35 AM CDT on June 4

If the Ducks hold on and win the series, it will be a sad indictment of how little control the league has over it's image as a "dirty" league.

I don't know about that, but it will certainly cause a trend to build "grittier" teams. Speedy, talented teams were successful in the regular season and, of course, success is emulated. If Anaheim wins the Cup, then it will give the impression that big and tough and a lot of fights is what gets you to the top.

Then again, if Ottawa wins I'd never hear the end of it.

posted by mkn at 12:23 PM CDT on June 4

I don't know about that, but it will certainly cause a trend to build "grittier" teams.

Well, in fairness I think this Ducks team was built from the blueline out this year - and with the two studs they have back there playing 30 minutes a night, it makes sense that there wouldn't be a lot of established skill up front (costs too much - thye spent their money). They play a physical, deep forechecking style, but I think that has more to do with the unpolished kind of skill that should be improving in the coming years as Getzlaf, Perry and Penner (among others) take larger roles. In other words, it's a necessity for Anaheim to play this way now, but I don't see it as a fait d'accompli that this is what will always be the case.

Not to mention that the "defence first" mentality is something that seems to take over in the playoffs, as well as being something that was very much rote in the Western Conference all year.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:37 PM CDT on June 4

Maybe Pronger should get suspended more often, because the Ducks have won both playoff games he was out for. He might want to keep that in mind if the Sens make it to game six and get a good lead therein.

posted by apoch at 5:49 AM CDT on June 5

Yeah, maybe he can try shooting the puck into someone's face for his next suspension.

posted by NoMich at 7:28 AM CDT on June 5

That was bush league by Daniel. I've seen shots on goal after the whistle, even shots that end up hitting a defender, but I've never seen a player wind up, hesitate, then re-align his aim and fire a puck at an opponent with no time on the clock to accomplish anything to effect the outcome of the game. The hockey gods do not take kindly to such acts.

posted by garfield at 8:48 AM CDT on June 5

I believe there were a couple seconds left when Alfredsson took the shot, but it was still a horseshit move. It ranks right with Alfredsson's horseshit sucker punch on one of the Ducks when the refs had him tied up.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:47 AM CDT on June 5

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