And this is bad how exactly?

This is totally legal. There’s nothing under-handed or crooked about it.

Now if they were competing to see who could take the most bets on hockey games for a bookie running an illegal gambling ring, that’s a different story.

There is NOTHING, repeat, NOTHING wrong with NHL players partaking in legalized gambling.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 12/08/06 at 06:58 AM ET

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with legalized gambling, or the NHLPA, the NHL, or anybody associated with the league taking part, but it’s my opinion that the timing thereof is awful, and I’d imagine that the media might take “highlights” to counterpoint footage from Rick Tocchet’s case when he goes to court.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/08/06 at 07:06 AM ET

Anyone in the media who tries to draw comparisons to the Tocchet situation is a cheap sensationalist.

I was very disappointed in the Toronto Star’s Damien Cox - normally one of the better hockey pundits - for his recent article about the NHL and gambling. He missed the obvious point that what Tocchet is alleged to have been involved in was illegal, while the Penguins potential involvement with Isle of Capri for a new arena was not. Sloppy journalism from someone who should know better.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 12/08/06 at 07:37 AM ET

That’s where I come from, Lyle, the land of Cheap Sensationalism. 

I can just picture any local or national sports reporter down here showing Tocchet in the courtroom, then cutting to a player, noting that the PA was affiliated with Partypoker.net.  They’d catch a player saying “I fold,” and then the reporter would say something like, “You BET he did.”

Even in Detroit, we get the U.S.’s bent on hockey, and whether we like to admit it or not, hockey’s rarely mentioned in the mainstream media in this country unless something bad happens, and, given the fact that betting on football is both illegal and so widespread that it’s probably our nation’s most open “sports secret,” somebody’s bound to take a swipe or three at the NHL.  I don’t like it, but that’s how things work down here.  :(

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/08/06 at 08:24 AM ET

Even if it does happen, I think most knowledgeable folks will be able to understand the difference between Tocchet’s situation and this charity poker game.

I hope some nitwit does try to make a comparison for sensationalistic purposes. I’ll take great joy in tearing ‘em a new one on my site, blog and column. Hoo hah!

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 12/08/06 at 08:31 AM ET

It is understandable this event may draw some criticism, but my opinion is there is nothing wrong with it.
This type of gambling is legal, it is becoming more and more mainstream, end of story.
But watch, we will read more negative stories on this than what should be looked at, the $$$ is going to charity.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 12/08/06 at 11:32 AM ET

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what the PA’s doing, and the charitable aspect is actually noble, but the press is 100% certain to take shots at the NHL for this.  That’s the bottom line in my opinion.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 12/08/06 at 03:28 PM ET