1 game for Kunitz & Downie

[Forty_Sixand2]

I'm still predictably dull and an idiot though right? I would hate to find out that was also just a joke.

You have your moments....that I can not deny....

 

[IPostedWhat]

You have your moments....that I can not deny....

 

[Dacks]

The only time I think the history of the recipient of a cheap shot should be taken into account is in one of the following two instances:

1) Specific history between the aggravator/team and the recipient. (So for example, Bertuzzi going after Moore.)

2) Incident was not remotely near play. (Heatley's elbow on Marchmand, or Martin trying to sucker-punch Talbot.)

Kunitz's hit, as far as I can tell, fit into neither of those situations.

 

[Dacks]

The word Gagne was right in front of him when he did it. Unless Kunitz can't read, he knew who it was, in my opinion.

I think you're really stretching, Darkstone. Even playing pickup sports with my best friends, I don't have the time to remember who has the bum knee, who recently twisted their ankle, etc... Kunitz is playing 80+ games a year, against hundreds of players. For sure he knows that Gagne has a concussion history, but that doesn't mean that he is actively and consciously referencing that fact in those split seconds.

Furthermore, we have to assume that most players, Pens especially, were apprehensive about what type of penalties an elbow and / or headshot would merit this spring. Sure, we know it's bullshit now, but the two most recent previous suspensions (Cooke and Torres) were very very severe. And while Kunitz got off lightly here, can we all agree that, based on the 'wheel of justice', Kunitz would have gotten a lot more if Gagne had actually been hurt? So basically, either Kunitz severely injures Gagne and gets a big suspension, or he doesn't injure Gagne at all and gets a small to medium suspension. You'd have to be a huge idiot to put yourself in that situation intentionally, and I don't see that from Kunitz.

Finally, while Kunitz does play on the edge and has had some instances of dirty play (crosscheck to Varly for example) he doesn't really have a reputation as a malicious / out-to-injure type player.

I know you're vehemently against headshots and cheap plays, Darkstone, but I think your emotions are getting the better of you here. Kunitz committed a dangerous, dirty play. But there's not really much convincing evidence to support the view that he did it because he was thinking about Gagne's history.

 

[beantownmaniac]

The Pens fan who wants to see us win at any cost is pleased, but I've gotta shake my head at the crazy NHL.

Heatley and Marchmand get 2 games for deliberate elbows to head.
Cooke, for a (worse but) similar elbow gets 10 games plus 4 to 7 playoff games.
Kunitz, for probably the worst of the three, gets 1 game.

I mean, I understand that previous history plays a role, and that the league is reluctant to give suspensions in the playoffs, but that kind of inconsistency is incredible.

This!!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[beantownmaniac]

The more I think about this, the more it fucking irritates me. I don't want to watch players get taken out left and right. They only suspend people when there's a fucking injury. Jesus Christ, if they were going to actually continue making a statement after Cooke, they could have at least given Kunitz the series. They actually have kinda the perfect time to do it. I know they don't want to affect a series too much, but it's a really long shot that the Pens are going to win the Cup. Make another statement with Kunitz. He's a decent player without a track record, so they're not taking one of their superstars out, but the message is still there.

I care more about the long term talent of the league than I do the Penguins playoff hopes this year. Glad Gagne is okay. What is going on with Savard is tragic; they don't need that shit in the game.

Well said Loki. I don't give a fuck if it's the playoffs or the player doesn't have a history. It's time the league tells the players they're not going to accept it from anyone, period!