Call that controversial? Trying to get paid?

Question

Anyone see that hit that Steve Downie laid on Dean McAmmond today?

Check it out:

http://broadband.tsn.ca/?vid=17900

(Its in the early middle)

Preseason? Whats your opinion, punishment, etc on this?

Specially in the preseason.

Heres the story:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=219200&hubname=

I bring up the tryin to get paid coz Downie says he fightin for a job.

Answer 1

Philly guy and Flyers fan here. I was at a hockey meeting and heard about this during the meeting. Without question, a suspension is deserved, but I do not rank this in the category of Chris Simon, Todd Bertuzzi or Marty McSorley. Clearly he broke the rules, he jumped nearly a foot in the air to make contact with McAmmond. With that said, McAmmond had been the puck carrier seconds prior to the hit. Had he not left his feet, it would have likely been a clean hit. I am going to estimate that he will receive a 10 game suspension.

The extra scary part of that video is McAmmond being slid around the ice unconscious by the other players skates as they were trying to get at Downie. It was clear that he was out cold and not just staying down because he was hurt.

I think Downie just drastically hurt his chances of making the big club with this hit. He had made a good impression with me to this point in the pre-season.

Answer 2

That was pretty much Intent to injury and that’s not cool. As far as making the team, that might work for the low-level minor league team but the NHL wants professionals not high wire circuits acts.

I mean you lay someone out clean and they see stars that’s hockey but taking a 40 foot run and flying in the air like some wrestler is bush, you think his team mates enjoyed picking him up on that one.

McAmmond has had concussion problems before so that hit could end his career and it's Dean McAmmond what has Dean McAmmond ever done to anyone expect been a 3rd line gamer and notch a Gordie Howe Hat-trick. It's not like it was Ulf Samuelsson or Sean Avery

Steve Downie already has a rep for these types of acts. McGratton said it best he may have gotten away with it in juniors but he'll get what’s coming at this level, we not out here trying to kill each other

Answer 3

I can't tell from the video how far he skated before throwing that elbow, if it was a massive charge with an elbow then the guy should be ousted. Those are the kind of shots that players should be able to depend on each other not to take. Then again so are sticks to the face. If there was not a space of ten to twenty feet where he charged the man,( taking more than two steps) then it is just an elbow; two minutes. Dean should have kept his head up skirting that close to the crease. These are the kind of incidents that keep the National Hockey League in the backseat.

Answer 4

Downie should have known better than to leave his feet. So he'll get 8 to 10 games. Dean Mc Cammond geting another concussion is too bad but he's gotta know better than skating around the back if the net, admiring his pass, with his head down. Common sense tells you you're about to get hit.
My question is this, is it at all possible to interview Ottawa players when they are not riding those stupid stationary bikes?

Answer 5

I doubt if the Flyers wanted something like that to go down, so Downie probably hurt his chances of making the team.

Answer 6

I think he'll definitely get something, while it is his first NHL infraction, he has a long rap sheet and is known as a dirty player.
Sens enforcer Brian McGratton has already said pay-back will be coming.
I think he will start in the AHL anyway so I'm not sure how that will affect the suspension.