Twenty games for Downie-fair or not?

Question

At least he will have two world junior golds if he doesn't make it as a NHL player. At the rate he's going his buddy Aliu may end up having the better pro career.

Answer 1

Fair.

A hit like that deserves 20 games, or even more.


He didnt even do anything to Upshall in the first place. It was Andrei Mazsaros (idk the spelling) who hit Upshall earlier in the game.

Answer 2

Unfair. Look at past offences and the suspensions that they received. I guess they are coming down harder now and cracking down on head shots but as another poster stated, it was his 1st NHL offence.
Also, Downie is not just a goon, he has hockey skills when he harnesses his emotions. He will end up being a good player in the NHL.
To see some guys get much less annoys me, look at Pronger's suspensions during the play-offs last year, minimal for a repeat offender. The kid is getting made an example of. Isn't it on par with the Dale Hunter hit years ago, that was 10x more malicious and not even in the flow of the game. There have been 4 incidents in history I believe that received more than 20 game suspensions. Does this rank up there with those? No.
That said, you can't revise history and it is a new day so he should be the 1st of many long suspensions.
They have to be careful at the same time because it is a fast game and you don't want to take away players tenacity and tempo. I hope it doesn't scare players away from physicality because to me, that is a huge part of the game.

I guess this question cannot be answered correctly until we see what they give to the next 5 or 6 guys who do the same and it will be really interesting to see what they give a repeat offender or a superstar. Then I'll judge I guess.

Answer 3

Fair

The NHL got something right for a change. If watch the whole play Downie got roughed up clearing the puck out, he was enraged went pretty much headhunting found a target and must of “blackout” or whatever excuse is trendy now.

Its one thing to catch a guy cutting over the zone and like Scott Stevens used to do and turn out their lights but this wasn’t that. Dean McAmmond could have had his up but it wouldn’t have matter, Downie was on kill mode just look how flew though the air. When was the last time you saw a guy get that much speed and just propel themselves at a person in the NHL never because most guys like an Ottawa player said “We're not out there trying to kill each other”.

At the same time I’m a little hypocritical too I mean if that was Ulf Samuelsson or a Sean Avery type I would be supporting Downie action because they would at least have merit but Dean McAmmond some 3rd line nobody closes the fact that Downie pretty much took a liberty on someone without grounds and deserves 20 games

Answer 4

UN FAIR...He should have gotten more! Gone for good. All these duds on here posting its fair are just ignorant...no offense please dont leap at me in the corner...I mean its obvious when the NHL sat every team down and showed them and told them what an ILLEGAL HIT CONSISTS OF and WARNED THEM that they would take serious action against these acts and WARNED OF STIFFER actions for deliberate acts resulting in phsyical injusires and even stiffer action for delibeate head shots. 20 days not enough.
There is a diffrence in the game from now and the days of the old timers...the speed... the players are bigger... the game is faster...the more of the shots are harder and faster and the protective gear really isnt up to speed yet, provided they wear more than just the minimum...AHEM MR DOWNNIE i got big shoulder pads...for what reason? I mean in the OHL he wore much smaller pads. Yeah they should toss the bum. In all honesty its a new rule they need to either enforce the thing or shut up. I this case I think they just dropped the ball. They should have been way tougher and should be just as heavey handed on other players for these type of actions as well.
Sorry Downnie, you silly little man playing in a big mans world and you cant keep your temper. Pretty much like a little boy who just lost his lunch money because he was stupid and now hes stupid and hungry so he just gets more angry. Grow UP!

Answer 5

Way over the top for a first offense. That would mean if Simon or Bertuzzi do anything this year they should be done for 40 games.
I wonder how much of this is making up to Snottawa for the short suspension of Pronger during the finals.

Answer 6

he should never to be permitted to play in the NHL players like him , put a black-eye on the league and hockey .

Answer 7

fair

Answer 8

fair...but no more than that...is this hockey or soccer?