Wisniewski Suspended Rest of Preseason, 8 Regular Season Games
by Mike MacLean on Sep 26, 2011 8:31 PM EDT
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Sherriff Shanahan isn't fooling around.
James Wisniewski, the prized free agent signing by Scott Howson this summer, will miss the first tenth of the season after he was handed an eight-game suspension by new NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan.
Last week in a game against the Wild, Wisniewski went to the aid of defense partner Fedor Tyutin after he was pushed around by Wild shift-disturber Cal Clutterbuck. Wisniewski hit Clutterbuck in the head after the whistle, and Clutterbuck went down. Wisniewski was assessed a minor penalty, but was called to Shanahan's office today to face the repercussion of that action.
Shanahan came down hard, mainly because of Wisniewski's prior history, and the fact that the hit was to Clutterbuck's head. Head is the operative word, and every NHL fan knew that with the talk of eliminating shots to the head from the game, the first incident involving a player hitting another above the shoulders would serve as an example to the rest of the league.
Wisniewski is the example. The NHL is eliminating shots to the head.
I love the idea of cracking down on said infractions. I welcome it. The players are wearing rock-hard pads. They skate faster than ever on average, and soon enough a player getting a hit to the head will not get back up from it.
That said, I'd love to see Shanahan's explanation of where the number "8" came from, in terms of the number of games Wiz will sit out. It's a hefty suspension. To me, it seems high. Based on the other suspensions handed out so far by Shanahan, I was expecting something around five games. Again though, it's clear that Wisniewski is the example being set against headshots.
C'est la vie.
EDIT: Here's Shanny's Video:
I feel differently after watching the video. Most of us didn't have the best view of the hit, but in the video below you can clearly see that Wiz targetted Clutterbuck's head. His heart was in the right place, sticking up for Tyutin, but his head was nowhere close to where it should have been. It was a careless play, and a suspension was the right call. Eight games still stings, but this incident is the official start of the legitimate crackdown on headshots.
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I agree that Wiz absolutely did not need to leave his feet or make that hit the way he did, based on the better quality video.
That said, I think a 5 game (matching the Shelley suspension) would have been better than an 8 game one.
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Isn’t an in-person meeting required for a suspension of more than five games?
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
Wiz waived his right to an in person hearing.
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by Matt Wagner on Sep 26, 2011 9:09 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Also, I like Shanahan cracking down, but I also worry about the fact that he played at the same time as a good deal of guys still playing. It’s very hard not to let biases creep in. Not saying that’s what happened here at all, just something to watch for the future.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
Can’t be any worse than Colin Campbell treating his son’s Bruins differently.
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Campbell did NOT deal with anything that had to do with the Bruins. I am so tired of hearing this crap that he got special privileges. Other people took care of anything that had to do with Boston.
And I'm sure he didn't have any influence over people that did.
Get real dude, Campbell was a train wreck. Shanny couldn’t be worse than him.
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 27, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Not once did i say he wasnt a train wreck. Not once did i say Shanny could not be worse than him. Get your facts straight. I was happy as any one when he resigned. He was inconsistent and down right horrible.
There would be no reason for anyone to be influenced by him. Its not like he could have fired whomever would have given Campbell a suspension…
He couldn't?
I think he could do whatever he wanted.
Not for the reason given, naturally, but for something.
And you insinuated all of those things by noting that Colin had nothing to do with anything having to do with the Bruins.
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 27, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Why does insinuating that Campbell had nothing to do with Boston have anything to do with me saying he wasnt a train wreck or that Shanny couldnt be worse then him?
If he would fire anyone who suspended Campbell there would be an uprise and Campbell would be looked into and fired himself and fined. He wouldnt have risked that. THey wouldnt buy that Campbell was firing the person because of something else, they arent that dumb and its not like Colin Campbell had a great reputation accross the league.
Sorry dude, but everyone and their brother stood up for Colin Campbell last year.
Remember the email incident? That was an out and out joke. And that had everything to do with Boston (remember he told the director of NHL officiating that Savard was a little diving sissy or something like that right after his son was called for a penalty that cost the Bruins a game). That’s not any different from the scenario you suggest in your post. Yet nobody had the cohonas to fire Campbell despite the fact that it was the only logical recourse. The NHL circled the wagons and buried the whole thing. That’s a good old boys network and nothing more. They’d buy whatever he said hook line and sinker.
Great reputation across the league? Who’s gonna call the NHL’s #2 man an incompetent moron with clear biases that affect every decision he makes? Nobody….would you do that to your boss? Me neither.
Shanny = transparent = good.
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 28, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
this is BS! Clutterbutt always tries to run ALL our players. Hes a piece of sh*t. So we have a great player now and sh#*head shanahan suspends him for way too long. The NHL office still is trying everything to keep us winning. We are putting together a really good team and he wants to try everything that they (NHL) can do to prevent us from competing and winning. You can tell he played for Detroit. Want to see waht he does to Ovechkin when he checks hard. Bet he wont get any time-Shanahan was dirty when he played and hes still dirty-POS!!!!!!!!
Easy, there, Pat. I get you’re angry, but back off a little.
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by Matt Wagner on Sep 26, 2011 9:11 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
haha, that was an epic rant.
Wiz is a great player but i dont think not having him is the end of the world for eight games. We should be ok. He will be nice and well rested for a tough couple games involving Wings, Ducks, and Hawks.
Yeah. Savard for sure, probably a battle between Holden and Johnson.
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The game video is quite clear and a very nasty-looking hit. Wiz hits post-play (after the horn), he goes specifically at the head, and he’s doing it in what may be construed as a retaliatory way. Add that to a suspension history, and the NHL has made a strong statement with this suspension.
I think that the post-play, contact AND target head elements are particularly bad. If this had happened with any other team or player, I certainly hope that we would have been mad about the other player doing it.
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So let me get this straight. A hit to the head during the game is illegal but if you engage your opponent in a fight you can beat the snot out of his head until hopefully he lands on the ice only to hit his head again. Love the NHL!
Fight is not quite the same
Players engaged in a fight have the opportunity to defend and protect themselves. They know its coming. They may not be very good at fighting, but in a fight, you know you are going to get pounded.
In this situation, Clutterbuck was completely defenseless. Race to a puck, horn was sounding, preseason game, and BOOM HEAD SHOT.
Zebud
Did you ever watch any CBJ games last year-take a good look at what happened in those games, then come back and say that this is right
I can vouch for the fact that he did watch most of the games last year. First off, what happened last year is not relevant. There is both a new regime in place for dealing with suspensions as well as a greater emphasis on headshot plays. This was a hit that clearly targeted the head (intentionally), and was after the game had ended. The suspension seems steep relative to what would’ve been handed out last year, but obviously there has been a change in how the NHL addresses suspensions. See the other suspensions handed out so far this year, all longer than what would’ve been given last season.
As long as Shanahan stays consistent, and so far he been pretty darn good, I’m fine with it. People need to remember that Wiz has a history if being an idiot.
Another difference with the Wiz hit was that it was after the play AND reckless. Shanny seemed to indicate that played a big role in the large number.
by NTB on Sep 26, 2011 9:57 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Pat, again, I think you need to take a break and think before you hit the “Post” button, OK?
Zeke’s a fan just like you, and he’s got fair points.
Please don’t make me put you in time out.
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Is this the first recorded use of the word “Shanaban?” Because it needs to go into regular NHL conversation immediately, if it hasn’t before.
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I’ve been seeing it on Twitter a lot already, actually. :) I do think it’s catchy, though.
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by Matt Wagner on Sep 26, 2011 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
It sucks, but upon seeing the actual hi-res video I find it hard to argue.
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"I will say anything to be funny, often in the most horrible situations, which is one reason [a] good [woman] so far [has] been very sorry on occasion to have married me." --Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/105240
Tom Sestito’s hit from behind from tonight……ouch…..have a nice vaca Tom.
The fight follows the hit, was just trying to find a good video and hockeyfights.com usually does a great job.
by Ryan Sheets on Sep 26, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
i dont think Sestito is repeat offender, but that hit has got to be worse than Shelley’s and Wiz’s right. He was flying in there and had all the time in the world to pull back and not hit him. How dumb can people be?
It looked very Matt Cooke-ish, kinda like when he hit Tyutin.
by Ryan Sheets on Sep 26, 2011 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey Cannon!
Here with a question, no trolling intended.
What is the deal with our two teams? The vitriol seems to be growing with each game, and I don’t see a source for it. Any thoughts?
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
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Heya!
I’m thinking part of it has always been there as the “expansion brothers” factor. I’d point out that games between the two squads have always been really physical affairs, especially during the Hitchcock / Lemaire coaching eras. That rubs off and I suspect it’s colored a lot of the relationship.
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by Matt Wagner on Sep 26, 2011 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t Belanger hurt someone a couple years back, too? Jeeze. You think the mediocrity would make both teams just want to go home. Ha!
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Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
Yeah, he gave Jason Chimera a concussion, if I recall correctly. Which made him showing up in Washington kinda awkward…
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by Matt Wagner on Sep 26, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s the expansion thing in my opinion. We were pissed that you guys made the playoffs first, that Wes Walz can stuff a puck up his pants and skate into the goal (and it counted) and as Matt points out, Hitch/Lemaire teams are gritty.
You guys have the best third sweaters in the league, so no hard feelings from this Jacket fan.
Hell, if the coin would have landed on the other side 11 years ago, I’d be a Wild fan myself.
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by Mike MacLean on Sep 26, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve always found Clutterbuck to be a guy that seems to be in the center of stirring things up with these two, as well. I’ve never liked him much.
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"I will say anything to be funny, often in the most horrible situations, which is one reason [a] good [woman] so far [has] been very sorry on occasion to have married me." --Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Given all the deaths we’ve had of enforcers this summer and a huge increase in the understanding of what concussions and head trauma do to the mind and body due to research of pro sport athletes and wounded Afghanistan/Iraq war vets, I think it’s long overdue this league and others, like the NFL, do all they can to mitigate these kinds of blows. It was simply a cheap shot to a vulnerable, defenseless player. There are far better ways to stick up and defend a teammate. I’m glad he’s on our team, but he got close to, if not exactly, what he deserves.
I don’t think Clutterbuck was “defenseless”. Was his hand up in front of his head? No. But, he skated in with his head up. It’s not like Wiz snuck up on him. It’s also not like Clutterbuck didn’t know he was goading Wiz into (stupidly) taking the bait and smacking him.
Bad hit? Yes. Suspendable? Yes. Defenseless Clutterbuck? Ehhhhh, no.
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"I will say anything to be funny, often in the most horrible situations, which is one reason [a] good [woman] so far [has] been very sorry on occasion to have married me." --Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Wiz did nothing but raise his elbow and stand there. This “rep thing” is going to get old real quick with Shanny in charge. Shanny is a cry baby and a coward. It’s like giving the little fat kid that every one beat up as a kid and badge and gun when he gets older. If you don’t allow players to police each other on the ice you loose all control of the game. This is an example of GB giving another person with no resume power.
…you realize Shanahan had over 100 fighting majors in his career, right? It’s not like he’s never dropped the gloves.
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Shanny. Don’t. Play.
I think the best part of this is that he addressed the fact that if Wisniewski felt he needed to defend himself, he should have done it a different way. I think that really shows that Shannahan is in touch with what goes on out there. Agree with the terms or not, it’s hard to say that he is not trying to make the line clear. I’m looking for headshots to dip this year for sure.
Good point Marcus.
Frankly, it sounded like Shanny was telling Wisniewski he needs to fight Clutterbuck during regulation instead of hit him in the head AFTER the period has ended.
I’m looking for headshots to dip this year for sure.
Understatement of the year…LOL!!!
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 27, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
In fairness to Wiz, it looked like he intended to but Clutterbuck wouldn’t do it.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Sep 27, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Coulda been that....
….but I guess we all know now that plan B cannot be to dish out a head shot.
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 27, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
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