Quote:
Originally Posted by Meers
The equivalent would have been hunting down Marchand during a stoppage in play, slew-footing him onto the ice and then kneeing him in the head.
If Neal had done, that I'd want to see him sit for 15+ games too.
Thornton's appeal of his suspension is an argument that slew-footing and sucker punches have a role in professional hockey. They don't. End of story.
The appeal was a poor decision and calls into question Thornton's character.
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And I see no difference between Neal casually kneeing Marchand in the face and him skating by and sucker punching him at random. In fact, the knee is worse. If he had gone by and suckered him, or elbowed him, I have a feeling he would have a much stiffer suspension just due to the fact that it would have been more dramatic. That doesn't make it less dirty.
I'm not defending Thornton, it's not a one or the other case, and I'm not sure why they are appealing it as it's a pretty blatant cheapshot(s). But considering that Thornton plays the game the way he does and has never been suspended shows that the guy has character and understands his role and how to do it cleanly and effectively. He crossed the line and deserves his punishment. But so does Neal, and 5 games isn't enough for that bullcrap.