I wish I were surprised, but I am not. Eric Godard winds up with the longest suspension of the group of players involved in Friday nights disgrace of a game. I understand that the penalty for leaving the bench to join a fight is a mandated penalty, so I do not have an issue with the penalty itself. The fact that defending a teammate(goaltender), who by the "code" of the NHL should not have had to fight a pure cement head was Godard's intent, I am proud of him that he did what he did, it is his role on the team. If the officials had done their job, there would have been no need, BUT the league went by the book on his suspension, and I can live with that. They chose under review not to suspend Bylsma for a game, which I believe to be the correct ruling under the circumstances. BUT, after that they did their usual BS. Trevor Gillies whose prescence on earth would hardly be missed, much less his prescence in hockey, was suspended for only 9 games. Yes, one game LESS than Godard for skating across the ice, delivering an elbow to the head of an unsuspecting Eric Tangradi, THEN punching him while he laid on the ice defenseless.As if that were not enough he was standing in the runway taunting Tangradi as he laid there being attended to for his CONCUSSION! The Elf's little assistant, Colonsniffer Campbell acknowledged that both Gilles and Martin had intent to injure by hitting a defenseless player in the head from behind. HOWEVER IT APPEARS THAT HE DID NOT THINK THAT THOSE ACTIONS OUTWEIGHED AN ENFORCERS DECISION TO PROTECT HIS GOALTENDER!??! Only in the NHL. Hey, Gilles is a known scumbag, who has injured an opponent, even in the league's view, with intent, by delivering a blow to the head,(the very injury they claim to be looking to eliminate), stood there mocking that player, then stated that the Pens deserved what they got post game, yet he gets 9 games? Wow, if he would have rolled Tangradi over and violated him physically, would they have matched Godard's 10 games? Look at the video, and watch how far Gilles came, how fast he was coming, and think about what COULD HAVE happened to Tangradi. The league had a chance to send a message, that worthless players whose only value is violence, who intentionally try to injure others are not wanted AT ALL in the league. The rest of this season would have been the bare MINIMUM warranted for the above referenced actions, especially by a known scumbag. What do you think they give Matt Cooke in that situation? Then, Matt Martin, another thug, who did the Bertuzzi on Talbot attempting to punch him in the head from the blindside, then punching him while on the ice gets 4 games? That is it? For a predatory move that had nothing to do with the speed of a hockey game, and making a split second decision to deliver a body check, BUT pre-meditated predation ending in a punch to the back of the head? The league is a joke. And Haley, the little punk called up from Bridgeport of the AHL to ADD to the goon level, who was in three fights, including the codebreaking melee with the goaltender got nothing. The fat head coach who had planned this from the beginning, who condoned if not ordered this premeditated dirty play got NOTHING? Are you kidding me? And the league again acknowledged that the Islanders need to control their players, but did not hold the guy behind the bench that day at all accountable?? What a joke this league is and Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell are the punchline! Oh yeah, in an attempt to show the team that they are accoutable the league fines the Islanders franchise 100K, which might be like fining me 100.00. Now, the aptly named owner Charles WANG is tighter than a frog's ass, so it might matter a bit, but come on, a franchise gets hit for $100K? Colin Campbell noted that the actions of Gilles and Martin were deliberate actions with the intent to injure by delivering a blow to the head of an unsuspecting player unable to defend himself, and further that this should make it clear to the players, that blows to the head will be dealt with by suspension. What we have here is a failure to communicate! The following shows what the penalties should have been if the league truly wanted to communicate to the players and teams:
Godard-10 games
Bylsma-0 games
Gilles-One full NHL/AHL/ECHL season, pending a hearing for reinstatemet at that time. His actions could have led to permanent and tragic injuries given the speed and distance he covered to take a shot at Tangradis head. The situation was exacerbated by his decision to punch him while he was dazed, and his lack of respect for the game and others shown with the subsequent taunting from the runway;
Martin-15-20 games-A pre-meditated, predatory punch to the back of the head, followed up by punching a player who had already fallen to the ice. The premeditation v a hockey hit would be the driving force behind this harsh of a penalty. The fact that Talbot was not injured should not matter, the premeditated intent should be the pivotal factor in a harsh suspension;
Haley-2 games-he at least fought people straight up like a man, but I would still send a message for his participation in what appeared to be a conspiracy, and the effort to fight a goaltender in the same sequence he had already fought in. Could technically be the equivalent of leaving the bench, as he should have been in the penalty box for his fight with Talbot;
Capuano-The rest of this NHL season, pending a hearing to be reinstated for next season. A little harsh you say? Well consider that he could have stopped this situation from escalating. His team embarrassed Johnson early by blowing 6 goals past him, and they had already suckered Talbot in head early in the game, yet he let the 3rd period turn into the worst scene I have witnessed in my life at a sporting event. At a minimum he condoned it, but he probably ordered it. Haley was called up to make sure they had enough expendable bodies to do the job. The players executed the orders of the commander. This would send a message to other coaches that YOU better control your players in these situations.
Islanders organization-They are 28th out of 30 in the league, so they are in line for a lottery draft choice, and suspensions could ensure that. They had nothing to lose to do what they did Friday night. In order to make sure that they do not benefit from the decisions above here is the penalty to the Islanders-ineligible for lottery pick this season, 100K, and this years second round draft pick. Why so harsh? Currently for making a mockery of the league, and injuring a player the Islanders lose 100K, a player with one goal all year for 9 games, and a player with 2 goals all season for 4 games. Not much for what they did, and not a message to anyone for the future. They are headed for a bottom 4 finish and a lottery pick anyway. But losing a draft pick and your eligibility for a lottery pick would show that the league will not condone these premeditated lynchings anymore;
Officiating crew-A one month suspension without pay. Why? The lost control of a game in a manner that very easily could have led to permanent injury for one or more of the players. This crew should have addressed the Islanders bench after the Talbot melee, and their subsequent dismissals of Rupp and Engelland. The message should have been that one more attempt to injure play would lead to the immediate forfeiture of play, suspension of all players involved, as well as the coaching staff. Their intent was clear at this point. Instead of diddling themselves in the warroom in Toronto, a representative should have cemented that point directly with the GM of the Islanders instead of worrying about reviewing goals, they should have stepped up to ensure the safety of their players and the integrity of their league. Predictably they did not;
I would also propose that the league allow my friends and I to take Gilles, Capuano, and Martin out on a one way fishing trip for makos. The stench from these three would make a chum that no big fat hungry mako could resist, and who would miss these three?
You really want to show that organizing a team wide premeditated retaliation with intent to injure is unacceptable then make the penalties for same have some teeth. A perennial loser of a franchise does not care about 100K, but not getting a lottery pick, and losing a high draft choice, now that could make them think. The NHL remains a joke. This just in.....Mario Lemieux apparently agrees, noting that the league had a chance to make a statement, and failed. He further noted that if this is the current state of the league, he needs to decide he wants to remain a part of it.
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