[News] Witkowski 10 games, Tkachuk Suspended 1 Game

[indes]

https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/20...ended-10-games

Kypreos also reports that Matthew Tkachuk will take part in a hearing tomorrow with the Department of Player Safety.

[CroFlames]

I'm surprised a Wings player was handed that heavy of a suspension, despite the fact the rules are pretty cut and dry. I figured the NHL would have found a way to play favorites.

Tkachuk getting a hearing to discuss his viscous spear? I'm actually excited to hear what BS they come up with.

[foofighter15]

Glad to see this but I will be disgusted if Mantha walks away without a suspension after pinning down Hamonic and pummeling him with a linesman on top of him the whole time. Thats not hockey.

[dissentowner]

If Tkachuk gets anything for tapping a guy on the back of the leg I will be writing my displeasure to the League.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm surprised a Wings player was handed that heavy of a suspension, despite the fact the rules are pretty cut and dry. I figured the NHL would have found a way to play favorites.

Tkachuk getting a hearing to discuss his viscous spear? I'm actually excited to hear what BS they come up with.

Literally the only reason the league could have had a "healthy internal discussion" over Witkowski was an effort to find a way to play favourites. Fortunately, they had no avenue of escape.

As far as Tkachuk goes, his behaviour was clearly unsportsmankike, and it helped precipitate that brawl. Not at all hard to see why the league wants to have a chat. Anything more than a fine would be a far worse decision than the phantom spearing penalty, but the fact remains, Tkachuk did himself no favours. Honestly, it's almost to the point where Gulutzan might as well just bench him late in games we are trailing big. He is developing a tendency to take stupid, needless penalties that only hurts himself in the long run. That's selfish play, not agitating.

[CaptainCrunch]

WEll, my guess is as soon as they scheduled a hearing that MT is getting a suspension, if they would have done the right thing and said that's clearly not a spear and rescinded the major and the game then there'd be no hearing. I'm betting he gets 5 games.

[transplant99]

Im surprised they went with the 10 games as well because although he technically left the ice, it was one step off, gets poked, comes back on. The spirit of the rule certainly wasnt broken, although technically it was.

Tkachuk getting a hearing is fascinating. If they need a hearing for that little poke, this sport needs to just shut it down. I suppose it was unsportsmanlike but it was in no way a "spear" or even a slash. Sure it was a guy that had been ejected, but as above, was really still part of the whole scenario that was taking place.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

Glad to see this but I will be disgusted if Mantha walks away without a suspension after pinning down Hamonic and pummeling him with a linesman on top of him the whole time. Thats not hockey.

He didnt break any rules. He won't, and shouldnt, be suspended. It was cheap and certainly frowned upon by players, but nothing he did was illegal. Cant take money from players for that.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im surprised they went with the 10 games as well because although he technically left the ice, it was one step off, gets poked, comes back on. The spirit of the rule certainly wasnt broken, although technically it was.

Tkachuk getting a hearing is fascinating. If they need a hearing for that little poke, this sport needs to just shut it down. I suppose it was unsportsmanlike but it was in no way a "spear" or even a slash. Sure it was a guy that had been ejected, but as above, was really still part of the whole scenario that was taking place.

Not trying to be obtuse but isn't the spirit of the rule that once you have been escorted off the ice your night is done?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

WEll, my guess is as soon as they scheduled a hearing that MT is getting a suspension, if they would have done the right thing and said that's clearly not a spear and rescinded the major and the game then there'd be no hearing. I'm betting he gets 5 games.

If Mathew Tkachuk gets 5 games for a ghost spear I may be done with the NHL until Bettman and his lackies are gone.

[N-E-B]

If he gets a fine then I think that's fair, he did push buttons. But if he gets suspended I'll lose it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Not trying to be obtuse but isn't the spirit of the rule that once you have been escorted off the ice you're night is done?

The rule was originally instituted for guys coming off the bench to join in an existing brawl and by default was extended to guys that had already hit the dressing room after being tossed.

Witkowski (or whatever his name is) was technically off the ice (for all of 2 seconds) before re-engaging, but had not been "off the ice". At least as I saw it.

[DSIM420]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Literally the only reason the league could have had a "healthy internal discussion" over Witkowski was an effort to find a way to play favourites. Fortunately, they had no avenue of escape.

As far as Tkachuk goes, his behaviour was clearly unsportsmankike, and it helped precipitate that brawl. Not at all hard to see why the league wants to have a chat. Anything more than a fine would be a far worse decision than the phantom spearing penalty, but the fact remains, Tkachuk did himself no favours. Honestly, it's almost to the point where Gulutzan might as well just bench him late in games we are trailing big. He is developing a tendency to take stupid, needless penalties that only hurts himself in the long run. That's selfish play, not agitating.

Glen don't listen to him, I need the PIM points in my Fantasy hockey!

[AC]

They're going to try and blame Tkachuk for sparking Witkowski.

Tkachuk said that Witkowski was looking for any reason to start more ####. The problem is that I can see the NHL putting the blame on Tkachuk for giving him that reason.

Even as embarrassingly soft as it was considering the 5 minute major.

[Galakanokis]

No way that can be a suspension, a fine sure.

[curves2000]

I think the situation with Tkachuk isn't so much this specific act but more along the lines of rubbing salt in a wound when perhaps it didn't need to be done in the eyes of the league.

We all know and we all love the game that he plays but the truth of the matter is that he does push the envelope in same cases and when you play with fire, once in a while you will get burnt.

I know when he had his beef with Doughty in LA a lot of people were on board, loved it and didn't think too much about it. On subsequent broadcasts, interviews and other media reports I do recall hearing that Flames management had very stern talks with him about his conduct and he has been warned several times from the league about taking it too far.

Yesterdays incident I suspect was loved by Red Wings fan's on what Mantha did to Hamanic but that doesn't make it right overall. If you watch the video closely you can see Andreas Athanasiou grab Hamanic's from behind while he was going at it with Mantha and than Justin Abdelkader pushed him back and made a reference to "leave them alone"

Like I said when it comes to Tkachuk I love the guy, he's a heart and soul player and he might even be a future captain but I do think he may get a game or two in this situation. He has developed in the league's mind a little bit of a reputation for some handy work considering he's been in the league a grand total of 13 months

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If Mathew Tkachuk gets 5 games for a ghost spear I may be done with the NHL until Bettman and his lackies are gone.

Uhhh,..this has ZERO to do with Bettman.

But rail on.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The rule was originally instituted for guys coming off the bench to join in an existing brawl and by default was extended to guys that had already hit the dressing room after being tossed.

Witkowski (or whatever his name is) was technically off the ice (for all of 2 seconds) before re-engaging, but had not been "off the ice". At least as I saw it.

The two seconds doesn't matter, the ref escorted him off of the ice, he was done, it doesn't matter if it was one second or less. Beyond that if the ref had ejected him and went to escort him off of the ice and he broke free and started another fight, he would have been suspended. He was out of the game as soon as the ref said, you're gone.

[Oling_Roachinen]

I think it's a bit of a reputation hearing. It's not like this was Gaudreau doing something, but of course it's out resident-####-disturber in Tkachuk. I love him for it, but his antics do have pushed the envelope on more than one occasion. Walking the line is hard, and I'd rather he get disciplined from the league every once in awhile as opposed to neutered but I won't really blame the league if they did give him a bit of a punishment.

[1Nite]

That wings play at should have had a match penalty for attempt to injure, trying to slam another player into the ice and possibly the back of his head, 10 games plus! League should have pulled that spearing call on MT, but with something like a fine, or a 1 game for starting sh#t. The wings coach should also be called up, can't tell me none of this was premeditated, "REVENGE