Shawn Thornton cheapshot on B. Orpik - gets 15 games

[jschick88]

[pylon]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

That wasn't meant to be a troll post. I sincerely thought Thornton should have got a year.

Then Neal should have got the rest of his life.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by pylon

Then Neal should have got the rest of his life.

Thornton cheapshot was way worse

[Meers]

It could have been a longer suspension for my tastes, but at least 15 games isn't a joke or an outrage.

[edn88]

Should have been at least 20+ games.

Hard to say that the Bertuzzi incident was not worse - because of the outcome, however, I think that those saying Thornton was worse are saying about the intent. Both were cowardly ways of engaging some one you wanted to fight, but hitting someone in the head while they are down, and cannot defend yourself is bush league. Hitting someone in the back of the head is bad, but the intent was to get Moore to turn around and defend himself (not ultimately drive his head into the ice). Thornton knows that there is no way for Orpik to defend himself, on the first punch or any subsequent punches.

[Drake]

The Shawn Thornton decision came down on Saturday afternoon, and the Bruins expectedly weren’t too happy about it.

Bruins President Cam Neely said the 15-game suspension handed down from the Department of Player Safety to Thornton – the longest sentence given to a player in the regular season during Brendan Shanahan’s tenure as the NHL’s sheriff – was “a little harsh”, and it sounded like Thornton might explore the NHL’s new appeal process.

The Bruins enforcer’s only public comment was that he’s consulting with the NHLPA, his own lawyers and the Bruins about the next step.

"I am aware of today's ruling by the NHL Department of Player Safety,” said Thornton. “I will be consulting with the Bruins, my representation and the NHLPA about next steps, and will be in a position to address the matter publicly after speaking with those parties. Until then I will have no further comment."

http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/t...appeal-options

[zamler]

Man up Bruins, your guy did something extremely stupid just accept the suspension and move on.

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by zamler

Man up Bruins, your guy did something extremely stupid just accept the suspension and move on.

It's Boston. Dirty plays are only dirty plays when they're done to Bruins players - if done by Bruins players, they're strong hockey plays and/or the guy had it coming.

[devo22]

so Thronton is really appealing the suspension ... LMAO. I thought he dodged a bullet when he only got 15 when lots of people called for more. Appealing that decision seems like a waste of time IMO.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
So Shawn Thornton is appealing his 15-game suspension. First appeal is to Bettman, who will provide written judgment.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
If, after receiving Bettman's judgment and narrative, Thornton wants to appeal that, he can go to independent arbitrator.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by devo22

so Thronton is really appealing the suspension ... LMAO. I thought he dodged a bullet when he only got 15 when lots of people called for more. Appealing that decision seems like a waste of time IMO.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
So Shawn Thornton is appealing his 15-game suspension. First appeal is to Bettman, who will provide written judgment.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
If, after receiving Bettman's judgment and narrative, Thornton wants to appeal that, he can go to independent arbitrator.

If the decision is being appealed is there the ability they can say "you know what Shawn, we did get it wrong, you should have 25 games".

[devo22]

according to SB Nation - yes, the suspension could also turn out to be longer:

The process will begin with a hearing with commissioner Gary Bettman, who will have the opportunity to shorten, lengthen or maintain the 15-game suspension levied by the NHL's Department of Player Safety. If Bettman keeps Thornton's suspension at six games or more then he will have the option of a hearing with an independent arbitrator who would determine whether the punishment was appropriate. Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta appealed a 10-game suspension earlier this year, which commissioner Bettman upheld. Kaleta opted not to stand before an independent arbitrator.

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/12/...pension-appeal

[FlatLandFlamesFan]

Appeal seriously
When is the P.A going to start protecting the players who get injured ?
maybe they should have Orpik , or Marchand appeal the suspensions saying they should be longer.
The P.A is supposed to be there for all players

[bubbsy]

wish he woulda just manned up and accepted the suspension. he did accept his wrong doing, so not sure what the point is challenging the punishment.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Thornton cheapshot was way worse

I'm not convinced that punching a guy who is vulnerable on the ice is significantly more dangerous than kneeing a guy in a vulnerable position. A knee is much harder than a fist and the knee pad makes it a pretty devastating blow

Both are pretty obvious attempts to injure and should have gotten 15 games IMO. Neal is also a dirtier player than Thornton which could have been factored in

[Resolute 14]

Given Torres was able to get his suspension shortened, albeit by only a couple games, Thornton has little to risk. The arbitrator can, but won't make it longer. So the worst that is likely ot happen is no change.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Thornton cheapshot was way worse

No it really wasn't.

Theyre two different scenarios. Both reprehensible actions, but Neal got off waaaaaay easy while Thornton got pretty much the max his offense could get. Not fair and certainly not for the better of the game. Had Marchands career been ended or if he had even been injured, this would have been a witch hunt for Neal, but because Marchand is lucky to not have at least a minor concussion, Neal gets a joke of a slap. Thats one of the dirtiest things I've seen in the game of hockey.

[Bourque's Twin]

Here's my take on the situation.

Both were cheapshots and intents to injure.
Is a knee to the head worse than a punch to the chin (glove on)? Maybe.
Marchand luckily didn't get injured, but he could of.
Orpik got severly injured. Thornton didn't punch him extremely hard, and he had his glove on. The sad thing is that he hit Orpik in a vulnerable place and knocked him out.

In my opinion, the ruling should be based on the "intent" not on the injury suffered.

Neal and Thornton both deserved to be suspended equally.

[N-E-B]

15 games for a guy who's never been suspended before in 11 years of playing is plenty. I don't think it was as bad as it's being made out to be.

[Meers]

Originally Posted by neo45

I'm not convinced that punching a guy who is vulnerable on the ice is significantly more dangerous than kneeing a guy in a vulnerable position.

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.

[Coach]

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.

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.