Steve Downie

[KB in Kelowna]

By now most people have seen the hit. http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2155774468346249403&q=Steve+Downie+hit&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Personally I think Downie deserves a stiff penalty, to my mind there was a deliberate intent to injure, his feet left the ice. The elbow connected with the head. Crack down now!

[Iced Tea]

Downie deserves at least a 20 game suspension for leaving his feet and elbowing McCammond in an obvious intent to injure hit.

But how does the NHL enforce it? Downie is surely being sent to the Flyers' AHL affiliate for this season. How does the NHL enforce a suspension while Downie plays in a different league? Do the leagues have a deal for such an event.

Could the Flyers call Downie up and have him sit in the pressbox for each of the games he's suspended for and then send Downie back to the AHL for each Phantoms game?

Example:
Sit in the press box for Tuesday's Flyers game.
Play the Phantoms game on Wednesday
Sit in the press box for Thursday's Flyers game.
Back to Phantoms for Fridays game.

Another point that was just brought up on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown; the fact that Downie being a nobody in the NHL will allow Bettman and crew to impose a major suspension without the NHLPA fighting it. To the casual fan, Bettman and the boys will look tough but everyone who knows the NHL will realize just how pathetic Bettman and company really are. You go, Gary.:rolleyes:

[Matt Cooke]

The whole ordeal just escaladed. Sure Downey's hit was illegal by rulebook, he left his feet. Anybody who has ever played hockey will agree that McAmmond was in a vulnerable position and most players cream for an opportunity to hit someone like that. Recall Bertuzzi's hit on Jackman, the exact same situation, head down, wheeling around behind the net and he got rocked. He never left his feet, nobody thought twice, a good solid clean hit. As far as intent to injure, I won't agree with that at all. Downey didn't even realize McAmmond was down and out until the entire Ottawa Senators team is on top of him. All I'm saying is, had he not left his feet and still hit McAmmond cleanly, there's no chance he was getting up in a hurry - ask Eric Lindros, but because he was in the air when he hit him, sure serve a suspension. Media, players and coaches have all made this into a bigger deal than it really is. Suspend Downie for a charging call, have someone show McAmmond how to keep his head up and everyone is happy.

I really don't see an elbow, from the replay it looks like Downie's entire body had direct contact with McAmmond's, but that's just me...

[realimport]

i never saw a elbow either. The nhl tends to punish people more for how bad the people were hurt then the crime its self. in my eye yes it was a charge maybe a misconduct for intent to injure but not a 20 game suspension for a "hit to the head" which isnt even a penalty.

[Mel]

He should get something for leaving his feet yeah. But I don't think it was the crime of the century either. I doubt he will get a lengthy suspension for that.

[Iced Tea]

After watching the new NFL commissioner suspend players left and right, it's about time that Bettman and crew grew a collective set of balls and cracked down on hits such as Downie's. He left his feet and ploughed into McCammond. How is that not intent to injure?

[realimport]

if you have played high lvl hockey you would know there are plenty of times people do somthing to hurt a opposing player i knew defence men that would blast one point shot at a guy who always blocked shot so that he wouldnt do it the rest of the game. the " something serious will eventually happen" so we have to punish them now thing is dumb. im not saying what he did was right but a 10 game suspension will do they are talking about not letting him play in the nhl ever again.

[Darsehole Tucker]

20 games eh.

I would have been satisfied with 10 games, but this will do.

As Tea said though, I'm not sure how it'll be enforced. I know that Holmgren said that any suspension the league hands down will be enforced by the Phantoms. I guess we'll see.

[Mel]

I know that Holmgren said that any suspension the league hands down will be enforced by the Phantoms. I guess we'll see.
Suspensin is stricly for NHL games no?

[Darsehole Tucker]

Suspensin is stricly for NHL games no?

I would have thought, but Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Tim Panaccio reported the following:


Holmgren said any suspension given by the NHL would be honored by the AHL if Downies goes back to the Phantoms.


source (http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=9651)

I don't know how the Flyers are going to handle this one

[Iced Tea]

Good to see my newfound powers of persuasion are working on Bettman and crew. :D

Just as I predicted, the NHL looks tough by imposing a big suspension on a relatively unknown rookie. If Crosby had done the same thing, McCammond would have received a suspension for running into the cash cow, I mean golden goose, oops, I mean Sidney.

[KB in Kelowna]

There are those who say it wasn't that dirty of a hit, that the penalty paid by Downie is excessive in light of past incidents, or that Downie is being persecuted based on reputation earned in juniors or because of the sweater he wears.

My response is as follows: 1) the NHL said they would crack down on head shots, and even put together a DVD explaining what they would be cracking down on which was shown to every player attending every camp.
2) Obviously discipline in the past has been lax and inconsistent. May as well start now.
3) The real test will be when a better known player is involved, hopefully Colin Campbell has grown a set or at least has the courage to stand behind the rhetoric.
4) the colour of the uniform or franchise location should have no bearing on the penalty, and any body who believes it does spare us your sanctimony please,

[The Insider]

Well, I was surprised to see the NHL hand down the 20 games, I figured 5 or 6 would be the going rate, but for once the NHL showed some balls and did hand down a very lengthy suspension which was well warrented because it was a dangerous hit, not one of the open ice beauties, this was way too close to the end boards and could've resulted in a more serious injury then it actually did. See the whole jumping thing to me is secondary, I think any time you throw a hit with that kind of momentum anywhere near the boards it's the most dangerous kind of hit because once your head goes flailing into the end boards you are looking at something that could turn catastophic.