Ridiculous.  David Poile clearly has Bettman’s ear.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 04/19/08 at 12:08 PM ET

Haha what a joke.

The Iron Fist of the NHL crushes anything positive about the league yet again haha.

Posted by underthechestnuttree from LaSalle, Ontario, Canada on 04/19/08 at 12:16 PM ET

Beyond ridiculous. So now will there be a catfish rule?

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/19/08 at 12:16 PM ET

Wonder if this was run past the linesmen first, that their jobs will now involve handling slimy dead cephalopods.

What if they are allergic to seafood?  Or phobic?  Or require an MSDS for octopus slime before they touch it?

Better to let the trained personnel at the arena handle it.

(Also, unless it is a blue-ringed octopus, it’s fairly harmless.  What about catfish?  They have those spines for a reason - and think about the people who have been seriously injured by carp, a near relative, leaping out of the river and hitting them in the head.)

Objectivly, the catfish is a far greater hazard than an octopus.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/19/08 at 12:17 PM ET

Absurd—lets take all the fun out of the game for pete’s sake.  Basta@*s

If I were Mr. I; I’d tell Al to keep doing his thing, and pay the damned fine.

Thanks, Gary. Ass.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 04/19/08 at 12:20 PM ET

That’s gotta be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.  What are they thinking?  They should keep on swinging and refuse to pay.

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 04/19/08 at 12:46 PM ET

So the NHL hands out “The Al Sobotka Rule” that says a zamboni driver can not twirl an octopus…
I ask you: Does this hurt anybody? Does it hurt attendance?

On the other hand, “too too whistles”:
I will be damned if I would pay $150 for a seat in Nashville and go listen to THAT for 3 hours!
I had to turn off the audio on my TV.

Why doesn’t Bettman ban THOSE awful things. THEY will impact fans. THEY will reduce attendance and revenues.

Oh, I forgot...the rest of the league makes up for lost revenues in Nashville.

Posted by w2j2 on 04/19/08 at 12:53 PM ET

f**king NHL…

this series is just manufactured for a Nashville upset isn’t it…

Posted by Pharazon from England on 04/19/08 at 12:54 PM ET

So what is the next tradition to be eliminated? Our 105 year old knitting Grandma that attends every Wings game? I’d rather see good old Al(sexy devil that he is) swinging an octopus around, than a gaggle of cheerleaders that do not have a clue about the game, the sport, or the tradition.  Thanks,Gary.Ass

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/19/08 at 07:00 PM ET

Local fish markets should band together and hand out an octopus to each and every Wings fan as they walk into the next home game (that way, the league couldn’t fine the team—well, okay they could, but at least there’s a little bit of plausible deniability. Then, everyone could all swing them in unison, throw them on the ice, and holler “Thanks, Gary. Ass.”

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 04/20/08 at 01:02 AM ET

So what is the next tradition to be eliminated?

The Stanley Cup.

Now opening bids for corporate naming rights!  Arenas are for little guys.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/20/08 at 06:32 AM ET

Then, everyone could all swing them in unison, throw them on the ice, and holler “Thanks, Gary. Ass.”

I’m in.

The Stanley Cup.

Starting next year it will be “The Morgan Stanley Cup,” sponsored in part by Dodge. Dodge, grab life by the balls...umm...horns

Posted by Osrt on 04/20/08 at 08:42 AM ET

Now I’m no Preds (or Wings) fan, but I could care less if the octopus hit Hamhuis or Ellis or any other player square in the face. It’s a great tradition and fun for the fans at home or at the rink.

People whine and complain about the NHL being too sterile. Sometimes they’re wrong, sometimes they’re right. This is a perfect example of it. Why rob the fans of a tradition and a spectacle? It’s not like it gives the team a competitive advantage.

So to the whiny beotches that complain about this, I hope you get a nice helping of octopus at your next game at the Joe.

Posted by Sid on 04/20/08 at 08:59 AM ET