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Bettman Talking Suspensions For No Shows At ASG
by Paul on 01/23/09 at 03:01 PM ET
Comments (46)
via Darren Dreger of TSN,
Pittsburgh has no intention of testing NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s threat to suspend those who choose not show in Montreal for this weekends All Star festivities.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is en route to Montreal and will arrive early this afternoon to fully participate in all off-ice All Star activities.
The NHL says it will enforce an understanding that all players who decline to show after being named to the All Star must miss at least one game before or one game after the All Star weekend.
If so, Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom may be forced to sit the Red Wings next game if they don’t immediately change their All Star break plans and report to Montreal.
added 1:34pm, A2Y has some updated information…
Suspensions
Update 3:01pm ET (alanah): Datsyuk and Lidstrom both suspended for one game—details at ESPN. Note that this policy does not thus far impact the YoungStars game, according to Scott Burnside’s report.
added 3:51pm, via Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
I just now was told by an NHL spokesman that Lidstrom and Datsyuk “are sitting out (Tuesday) due to ‘nagging injuries,’ which will preclude them from participating in the first game following the break.”
So sitting out, suspension, same result except they don’t have to hand over suspension money.
*original post time was 12:14pm.
Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
I can’t believe its come to this.
Posted by DrW from Detroit on 01/23/09 at 12:27 PM ET
You know that you’re doing something wrong if none of the League’s All-Stars want to show up to the All-Star game.
Solution? Make them! It can’t have anything to do with the ridiculousness of the ASG to begin with…..
Posted by Blitzkrieg on 01/23/09 at 12:33 PM ET
Thanks. Gary. .....
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 01/23/09 at 12:34 PM ET
Gotta love the NHL’s recent trend of making up suspension rules on the fly. God forbid they invent these punishments before an imaginary line gets crossed.
That said, I don’t mind it. If players get to use injury as a viable excuse, may as well demonstrate that it’s not an outright fabrication.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/23/09 at 12:34 PM ET
is this outlined in the CBA?
there are unspoken rules. but are there rules?
Posted by mindbum on 01/23/09 at 12:36 PM ET
is this outlined in the CBA?
It probably falls under the Avery clause—actions detrimental to the league. The league has a lot of interpretation leeway there, which is as always pretty dangerous, especially if they keep retroactively deciding what it means.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/23/09 at 12:39 PM ET
And Pavel leaving the last game before the break means he gets suspended for being injured the game before the Clown Fest??? GTFO. Gary.Ass.
Wings fan or not, I have an issue with that line of though. Little Tyrant.
Cindy’s on his way, calm down Gary. Wipe the spittle and change your diaper.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 01/23/09 at 12:41 PM ET
Okay, this is getting insane.
The entire point of players who otherwise would have gone to the all-star game (Lidstrom said several times how much he enjoyed it, and Datsyuk considered it a wonderful Christmas present) missing it is SO THEY LET THEIR INJURIES HEAL SO THEY DON’T MISS ANY GAMES THAT FREAKING MATTER IN THE STANDINGS!!!! This is an exhibition game and, fun though it might be, falls far below games that count for actual points that determine whether or not teams get in the playoffs or not and how healthy key players are for the rest of the season.
If you want more participation, regardless of injury, then move it to the end of the season instead of putting it right in the middle where players need a break from the travel and the grind and might want to remind themselves what their kids look like if they have had a lot of road games lately.
If Bettman thinks his corporate schmooze-fest is more important than any of that, then he can go to h-e-double-toothpicks, because it isn’t and everyone knows it.
(I also don’t think he would have an easy time getting arbitrary suspensions to stick when there was nothing in writing beforehand, but he just wants players suspended because of a hissy fit since they won’t show up.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/09 at 12:41 PM ET
Wow, Gary really is an ass. When will someone fire this guy?
Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 01/23/09 at 12:45 PM ET
Also, since Lidstrom and Datsyuk were already replaced on the rosters, then does that mean someone else gets uninvited? Or do they all just have to show up and wander around like distracted wombats to make a point?
If they were expected to show no matter what, they shouldn’t have already been replaced. Stand firm in the first place instead of backsliding.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/09 at 12:45 PM ET
And hopefully Crosby’s injury won’t get worse by not being able to be off the ice for a few days - I know this is supposedly a lot less serious than last year’s injury, but that doesn’t mean he won’t benefit from a few days of rest.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/09 at 12:48 PM ET
If this is true, then my already low opinion of Bettman just fell through tthe floor.
The NHLPA announces it’s not going to re-open the CBA (which would have undoubtedly been an unpopular move, but could have led to some meaningful “tweaks” in the players’ favor), and Bettman turns around the same day and threatens to bitchslap NHLPA members who dare to put their team and/or health above his little dog and pony show. AND, he doesn’t even have the balls to make:
A.) His plans known prior to event, so players/teams can make an informed decision regarding their participation
B.) A formal announcement of said plans, instead having someone leak it to Darren Dreger
If this does happen, it will be interesting to see how individual teams and the NHLPA respond.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 01/23/09 at 12:56 PM ET
Maybe Cindy can jump Little Gary at the ceremonial dropping of the puck to show the rest of the league how badass he is.
Then hopefully all the Center Ice commercials depicting how the Penns won the cup last year will disappear.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 01/23/09 at 01:00 PM ET
I could be wrong but based on the stuff it says about Crosby the NHL isn’t asking these players to play in the game bu to take part in the off-ice activities. I don’t see how that risk injuries to the players. I don’t think that is unreasonable to ask.
Posted by jkrdevil on 01/23/09 at 01:00 PM ET
Gary. Little guy. Little buddy. Go back and suckle at the teat of David Stern and take to ruining a league that’s already hollow and empty inside, instead of ruining ours.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 01/23/09 at 01:12 PM ET
Off-ice might be a pain if it’s a leg injury that might be aggravated by being on his feet all the time (speaking as someone who had a sore hip for three days from basically standing around when I should have been off my feet entirely), but the arbitrary nature bugs me - players have always begged off for various injuries and for “injuries” and no one has every been suspended as a no-show.
What about Mason, the Columbus goalie? He didn’t even plead injury, just that he wanted a break - will he be forced to play since he doesn’t have a note from his doctor? The kid has been carrying the Blue Jackets and probably needs a mental and physical break - and certainly their chances of making the playoffs depend on him being fresh, healthy, and alert.
If it is that much of a problem, then the proper thing to do would be wait until after the game, talk about how much fun it was for the players who were there, how much some of the players who were selected but negleted to attend were missed, and in the future they will be expected to attand. Don’t change the rules midstream - that’s bush league stuff. It’s just jerking the players around for stupid reasons.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/09 at 01:30 PM ET
If it is that much of a problem, then the proper thing to do would be wait until after the game, talk about how much fun it was for the players who were there, how much some of the players who were selected but negleted to attend were missed, and in the future they will be expected to attand. Don’t change the rules midstream - that’s bush league stuff. It’s just jerking the players around for stupid reasons.
Exactly.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/23/09 at 01:33 PM ET
Don’t change the rules midstream - that’s bush league stuff.
Again, see Sean Avery. His statement wasn’t a pre-defined crime until well after it was committed.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/23/09 at 01:37 PM ET
The rules weren’t changed mid-stream it is in the CBA and standard player contract that they participate in the All-star game if selected.
Posted by jkrdevil on 01/23/09 at 01:59 PM ET
...and the dream of ALL the ASG starters suddenly bailing in protest just dances in my head…a guy can dream. And it would make the ASG relevant to me for at least the comedic value.
Posted by Yankee Canuck on 01/23/09 at 02:00 PM ET
I guess I don’t see the big deal. Bettman is a moron, but we already knew this.
Honestly, I think suspending Datsyuk and Lidstrom for the first game back helps far more than it hurts… so even though Bettman is trying to hurt Detroit, in his continued ability to accomplish the exact opposite of what he intends, he’s helping them out.
It’s a road game, anyway. Detroit gets to rest Lidstrom and Datsyuk 8 full days with a game the night of the 9th, and since Detroit has FOUR back to backs in February (Thanks Gary… ass.) they’ll need the rest.
If I were Holland I’d send Bettman a note, which I would also leak to whatever media actualy cares about the NHL, explaining that the Detroit Red Wings will never encourage any player selected to appear in the ASG. Ever. If they want to, great. If they don’t, even better.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/09 at 02:02 PM ET
Just a few points…
1) This isn’t being made up on the fly, it’s in the CBA and baked into every standard player contract. They aren’t making up a new rule just piss you off.
2) Setting aside for the moment the reality that the level of genuine “injury” with a lot of these guys is pretty dubious (“oooh, ASG is coming, I think I strained something!”), they aren’t being asked to place themselves in harm’s way and play, just to participate in off-ice activities.
3) Wings fans need to get over their massive persecution complex. Seriously guys.
Posted by Rico on 01/23/09 at 02:12 PM ET
It’s not ‘persecution’ per se… but I think even an unbiased observer can fairly quickly recognize that Detroit’s treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league.
It’s not a huge deal, but it’s there.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/09 at 02:52 PM ET
but I think even an unbiased observer can fairly quickly recognize that Detroit’s treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league.
Yeah, because all those places where it’s indicated that this rule shall only apply to Red Wings. Wait, I can’t find those now, but I’m sure they’re in there somewhere. Maybe I need to put on my Red Wing-tinted glasses—ah yes. Now I see how this only applies to Detroit.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/23/09 at 02:56 PM ET
The rules weren’t changed mid-stream it is in the CBA and standard player contract that they participate in the All-star game if selected.
This isn’t being made up on the fly, it’s in the CBA and baked into every standard player contract. They aren’t making up a new rule just piss you off.
The relevant SPC clause (emphasis added by me):
2. The Player agrees to give his services and to play hockey in all NHL Games, All Star Games, International Hockey Games and Exhibition Games to the best of his ability under the direction and control of the Club in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Note that the individual teams are in charge of this, not the league. I don’t see how the individual players can be suspended due to a team decision. Seems fair to fine the team, but leave the player out of it.
As far as required participation in off-ice activities, the above seems rather ambiguous—but I’m no lawyer. There is this a bit further down in the same part of the SPC:
The Player further agrees,
(d) to co-operate with the Club and participate in any and all reasonable promotional activities of the Club which will in the opinion of the Club promote the welfare of the Club and to cooperate in the promotion of the League and professional hockey generally,
I like the two different versions of cooperate, nice touch. Again, this is kind of unclear to this layman. What is “reasonable”? Does the “reasonable” part apply only to promotional activities with the team, while that qualification does not apply to promotion of the League? I think there’s enough wiggle room in there to drive a bus through.
Posted by shep on 01/23/09 at 03:03 PM ET
It’s a road game, anyway. Detroit gets to rest Lidstrom and Datsyuk 8 full days with a game the night of the 9th, and since Detroit has FOUR back to backs in February (Thanks Gary… ass.) they’ll need the rest.
Most teams have a horrible February schedule this season. San Jose has it a lot worse than Detroit, IMO, if for nothing more than in the middle of the shitstorm that is the February schedule they have to play Detroit at the Joe instead of vice versa.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 01/23/09 at 03:05 PM ET
Yeah, because all those places where it’s indicated that this rule shall only apply to Red Wings. Wait, I can’t find those now, but I’m sure they’re in there somewhere.
I don’t think you’re quite grasping the point, but that’s somewhat to be expected.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/09 at 03:08 PM ET
Most teams have a horrible February schedule this season.
If that’s the case, then Bettman remains a moron. I realize you aren’t defending him per se, but perhaps someone who wants teams to be able to play whomever they want in the ASG might perhaps consider the probability of that happening increased were NHL teams not getting their schedules slammed for the full month following the break.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/09 at 03:18 PM ET
I guess I’m not “unbiased” enough
That is one possibility.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/09 at 03:21 PM ET
HockeyinHD, if you asked a Montreal fan they’d tell you they are treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league, if you asked a Toronto fan they’d tell you they are treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league, if you asked a Rangers fan they’d tell you they are treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league… Detroit is no different. There’s nothing there.
Posted by Rico on 01/23/09 at 03:29 PM ET
Most teams have a horrible February schedule this season. San Jose has it a lot worse than Detroit, IMO, if for nothing more than in the middle of the shitstorm that is the February schedule they have to play Detroit at the Joe instead of vice versa.
The Sharks have to pay the piper at some point. Every month of the season so far, they’ve played more at home than on the road. Detroit has had only one of four a “home” month, Boston two.
Posted by shep on 01/23/09 at 03:35 PM ET
If that’s the case, then Bettman remains a moron.
No disagreement there, just saying the Wings schedule is pretty comparable to many teams for February, so at least the bad judgment from the league was spread out nicely this upcoming month. 
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 01/23/09 at 03:48 PM ET
HockeyinHD, if you asked a Montreal fan they’d tell you they are treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league, if you asked a Toronto fan they’d tell you they are treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league, if you asked a Rangers fan they’d tell you they are treated somewhat differently from the rest of the league… Detroit is no different. There’s nothing there.
Well, I suppose opinions differ. Maybe if Montreal and Toronto had to play in the Western Conference I’d tend to agree. Or if they consistently found a bit of a bias against them on the ice.
It’s not a big deal, really… Detroit’s succeeded in spite of whatever degree of antipathy has been directed at them by the league offices, and they’ll continue to financially prop up both their division and, to a lesser degree, their conference by consistently providing strong away draws which other NHL teams can gouge fans to attend, compared to the price of a ‘regular’ game.
It’s always struck me as sort of strange, however, that the League seems to take such an odd stance regarding the Wings. I can only suppose some degree of animus exists between the Wings organization and the League offices, because the Wings have been nothing historically but a freaking cash cow for the NHL.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/09 at 03:56 PM ET
I changed my mind. I don’t want to watch the ASG or Skills Competition at all, either of them. I hope they both have completely miserable ratings and tank.
And people HONESTLY wonder why we Wings fans think there’s a league conspiracy against our team? Are you kidding me? Datsyuk gets hurt in the game before the break, and gets suspended for it?
Posted by Primis on 01/23/09 at 05:10 PM ET
Datsyuk gets hurt in the game before the break, and gets suspended for it?
And yet somehow Patrick Marleau got invited as an injury replacement like a week ago. There’s certainly some conspiracy, that much is true, but I assume if Getzlaf decided he was too injured to be in Montreal he’d have to miss Anaheim’s next game also, despite playing for a team not in Detroit.
Enjoy your suddenly free weekend.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/23/09 at 05:17 PM ET
I wonder, will it soon be illegal to miss an individual game due to injury? According to the NHL, this is apparently impossible…real injuries only result in missing two or more games.
Posted by shep on 01/23/09 at 05:36 PM ET
Shep, from what I’ve seen, I think the issue is about attending the event, not about logging ice time in the game.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/23/09 at 05:42 PM ET
Earl, I was basing my question on this quote from the ESPN article:
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman imposed the policy, established at last year’s general managers meetings, to legitimize injury claims
Granted, those words may be the reporter’s, a misquote, bad paraphrasing, etc. But the idea that an injury can’t last for a single game (particularly one with pronounced gameless stretches before and after) is absurd.
And if injury isn’t grounds for excusal from the off-ice activities, what is the point of attaching a games-missed figure? If Brodeur/Gonchar/Selanne/etc. were voted in by the fans, why shouldn’t they be required to show up for the dog and pony show? I’m sure the international press would love to catch up with them regarding their rehab status.
Posted by shep on 01/23/09 at 06:06 PM ET
i warned you people about bettman. wait until he makes visors mandatory
Posted by FlyersFan on 01/23/09 at 08:04 PM ET
where is NHLPA? Why are they letting Bettman does this? i hope NHLPA vote and walk out of CBA
Posted by FlyersFan on 01/23/09 at 08:16 PM ET
Sounds reasonable to me. It Lidstrom and Datsyuk are really hurt, this will give their vaginas more time to heal.
Posted by rwhater on 01/25/09 at 03:42 AM ET
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Time to throw a temper tantrum because your poorly laid plans didn’t go your way. Boo hoo.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 01/23/09 at 12:22 PM ET