Lidstrom & Datsyuk suspended for skipping ASG

[Broken 16 381]

relative

Zzzzzz... Zzzzzz... Zzzzzz

Oh wait... you're one of those 'gotta get the last word in' kind of guys, aren't you?

I'm sorry...

The floor is yours.

Edited January 26, 2009 by Broken 16

[Broken 16 381]

The bolded part is what is important in this discussion, the fact that Lidstrom and Datsyuk did not know about this loophole/exception/whatever until just hours before the activities began. That is what has everyone up in arms about. How hard is it for others to comprehend this point?

I have no problem about them sitting Tuesday game out, but how this all happened just begged for a s***storm. This whole thing could have been avoided if Bettman would have used his head and not made any exceptions at the last minute. Hopefully in the next GM meeting, they'll make damn sure that the rules don't get changed like that at the last minute.

God, Bettman makes it way too easy to other to call him a dumbass. He brought a lot of the hate on himself for how he handled this.

Did you see the MacLean interview? He's such a waffler. You could see the hate in MacLean's eyes.

[Kira 451]

Children, children, children...

[Esquire 324]

Thread of the YEAR!

EPIC!

[Broken 16 381]

Children, children, children...

You rang?

[Opie 308]

A TV show put on by the Boston Herald was just mocking Bettman and the League for the suspensions of Datsyuk and Lidstrom.

This is not going to look good for the league, I am not sure if should be happy that this happened and make Bettman look bad, or be upset at the fact that this is yet another shot in the arm of the NHL.

[Broken 16 381]

A TV show put on by the Boston Herald was just mocking Bettman and the League for the suspensions of Datsyuk and Lidstrom.

This is not going to look good for the league, I am not sure if should be happy that this happened and make Bettman look bad, or be upset at the fact that this is yet another shot in the arm of the NHL.

What concerns me most is what will happen if a lot of pressure starts being put on Bettman over this. How far will he push the Wings under the bus to save face?

Hopefully this all just blows over and goes away till the next ASG...

[Guest micah]

Of course the part about how they treat their families was sarcasm. I know it wasn't in the original accusation and I do know what the original accusation was. I was again, bothered by the insinuation that because Nick and Pav aren't Bob Probert, they're bad teammates and bad people. I mean, it's not like he just said "oh they're crappy teammates because they won't fight to defend" he basically said they weren't good people either. Which is a really crappy thing to say, I think.

Who's talking about Bob Probert?

Look, in my mind, great leaders put their chins out there and lead by example. I put part of the Wing's lack of physical play on the fact that the current captain and alternates absolutely refuse to lead by example. I mentioned the kind of leaders I like and respect, men who are all about the logo on the sweater, even if it means they have to get dirty sometimes. I mentioned 4 guys over and over - Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, Wendel Clark and Cam Neely. Fearless leaders who could play and were willing to stick up for their teammates. Not Bob Probert (although he also wore the A for Detroit, just like Pavel....well, maybe not just like Pavel)

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I understand the time crunch. I just find it very hard to believe that:

A) Between Holland, Babcock and Bettman... not a single thing could be resolved between Wednesday morning and Friday morning. That seems ludicrous. I mean... this is the almighty Holland right? The guy that can make anything happen? You expect me to believe that sending a Wing to the ASG was out of his realm? C'mon...The end result... no players from the Wings are present and we look like arrogant dicks. (Queue the Bettman Conspiracy Theorists)

B) That not a single player on the roster was willing to take one for the team and go partying for an entire weekend on Bettmans dime.

I just think this whole thing reflects badly on the Wings and it's not all Bettmans fault. (Queue the "He's a troll/What team do you REALLY root for?" crowd)

That's just my opinion. Feel free to disregard.

I don't know that the Wings looked like arrogant dicks, but otherwise I agree. Seems like there was time to sort this all out.

Especially because in one quote Holland made reference to Nick telling him about his elbow on Monday. So they probably knew then he didn't want to attend.

They should've sent Hudler. Something tells me he would've had a blast at the ASG.

[wings5gal 0]

Ok...purely hypothetical situation here, as mlive does say that they both practiced today, and this would be more likely to be true for Datsyuk than for Nick...

But suppose the injury kept them out of the line-up for Thursday night as well? What would that do to Betteman's "suspension" then?

[wings5gal 0]

I don't know that the Wings looked like arrogant dicks, but otherwise I agree. Seems like there was time to sort this all out.

Especially because in one quote Holland made reference to Nick telling him about his elbow on Monday. So they probably knew then he didn't want to attend.

They should've sent Hudler. Something tells me he would've had a blast at the ASG.

Hudler would have been trying to top AO for the best showman award, lol. He would have had the time of his life there.

[esteef 2,679]

What concerns me most is what will happen if a lot of pressure starts being put on Bettman over this. How far will he push the Wings under the bus to save face?

Hopefully this all just blows over and goes away till the next ASG...

Hey, listen up folks, it's the voice of reason! Please tell us more...

Why does he need to save face? I thought he was clearly in the right and the Wings are a bunch of dickholes.

esteef

[55fan 5,133]

Hudler would have been trying to top AO for the best showman award, lol. He would have had the time of his life there.

Oh, I agree Hudler would have been a hoot! Was he asked? I was under the impression that only Hank, Hossa, and Raffy were asked, and then the league went onto other players who were next in line talent-wise.

This is not to say that Hudler isn't talented. He is. He's having a great year, and he won me over last spring. I admit I was a bit hesitant about him.

I was just wondering if he was asked.

[Broken 16 381]

Ok...purely hypothetical situation here, as mlive does say that they both practiced today, and this would be more likely to be true for Datsyuk than for Nick...

But suppose the injury kept them out of the line-up for Thursday night as well? What would that do to Betteman's "suspension" then?

Time served. It's not really a suspension. The whole point of making them sit a game is to help ensure that there is an actual injury and that players aren't faking (or exaggerating) injuries to avoid the ASG.

[55fan 5,133]

Time served. It's not really a suspension. The whole point of making them sit a game is to help ensure that there is an actual injury and that players aren't faking (or exaggerating) injuries to avoid the ASG.

Agreed. The extra game out was required to validate the injury. It was intended to be a good faith showing that the player was truly injured.

Hence the irony that a player who was healthy enough to attend is not missing the game to prove that he was injured, but the players who stayed home to receive treatments are forced to sit to prove they were really hurt.

[Broken 16 381]

Oh, I agree Hudler would have been a hoot! Was he asked? I was under the impression that only Hank, Hossa, and Raffy were asked, and then the league went onto other players who were next in line talent-wise.

This is not to say that Hudler isn't talented. He is. He's having a great year, and he won me over last spring. I admit I was a bit hesitant about him.

I was just wondering if he was asked.

I don't think he was asked. But it seems like an endorsement from Holland and Babcock would have been enough to persuade Bettman. The guy would have been awesome there. Ton of skill. Ton of energy. Funny as hell. Flashy and talented. Having a career season. I would have been glued to the TV all weekend.

[Broken 16 381]

I don't know that the Wings looked like arrogant dicks, but otherwise I agree.

Not to people that understand hockey. But I'm sure a lot of Wings haters are soaking this up and exploiting it as much as possible. Or I could be paranoid...

[Broken 16 381]

Hence the irony that a player who was healthy enough to attend is not missing the game to prove that he was injured, but the players who stayed home to receive treatments are forced to sit to prove they were really hurt.

Hehe... never thought of that. That IS messed up.

[egroen 384]

Broken 16,

You are really starting to grasp at straws here.

So now you are holding the Wings at fault for not calling Bettman and attempting to "haggle" on a black & white rule that had been in place since last February?

Micah,

I can think of exactly one occassion of Steve Yzerman actually getting into a fight, and it did not exactly end well for him. Yzerman also had Probert, Kocur and later McCarty out there to have his back. How many more fights do you think Yzerman has over Lidstrom (who has all of one)? Yes, I have seen Yzerman push and shove during a scrum, but I have also seen Datsyuk do the same. I think Yzerman was twice the leader of someone like Messier, but come on, Messier (or Wendel Clark) would tear him apart in two seconds in a fight.

If your idea of leadership and toughness hinges on someone who will "stick up for teamates" you really need to drop Yzerman from your list of respected leaders. The Red Wings employed a steady line of enforcers to "stick up for Yzerman"... let's not kid ourselves here.

Edited January 27, 2009 by egroen

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Not to people that understand hockey. But I'm sure a lot of Wings haters are soaking this up and exploiting it as much as possible. Or I could be paranoid...

People are going to hate the Red Wings regardless because of their success. This incident isn't going to change other fans perception of the team.

[Broken 16 381]

Broken 16,

You are really starting to grasp at straws here.

So now you are holding the Wings at fault for not calling Bettman and attempting to "haggle" on a black & white rule that had been in place since last February?

Grasping at straws to prove what, exactly?

That Bettman IS and always has been an idiot? Is this a new revelation for you or something? Because I'm pretty sure everybody in the free world knew this years ago. I never disputed that Bettman was a toad. Ever. Furthermore, I never disputed that this whole mess wasn't Bettmans fault to begin with (as a matter of fact, someone in another thread mentioned Shanahan and I think he would be awesome... I'm tempted to make signs). I just don't buy the Bettman Loves Sidney More Than The Wings scenario. Sorry.

Or maybe I'm grasping to prove that I'm very disappointed that the Wings couldn't use their enormous amount of efficiency to get ONE GUY to the ASG with, at least, 2 days notice? That straw?

Oh wait... you're the guy that was hurt because Sidney Crosby looked like he was almost thinking about possibly giggling when asked about the suspensions. Hehe... talk about grasping at straws.

Edited January 27, 2009 by Broken 16

[Dabura 12,228]

Pav and Nick are great players - but I'm unconvinced that they are great teammates or great men.

1. Who are you?

2. What are you smoking?

3. Can I have some?

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Not to people that understand hockey. But I'm sure a lot of Wings haters are soaking this up and exploiting it as much as possible. Or I could be paranoid...

You're not paranoid. If this had happened to two guys from 25 other teams in this league, no one would give a hoot. This is just one more opportunity to bash the Red Wings for being what...anything other than the successful, respectable, classy and talented organization that they have been for the past 15 years? One little dark spot - that wouldn't have even been newsworthy 2 years ago - and fans and media are all over the Wings for being "classless", "egotistical" and the like.

If you ask me, it makes everyone else in the league who has spoken out against Datsyuk and Lidstrom look classless. Bettman? Crosby? Burke? These aren't exactly the poster-children for classy behavior. I feel embarassed for the people who dare call out Datsyuk and Lidstrom as anything other than the respectable, devoted players that they are.

On the bright side, knowing how much it fires me up to see our two best players and our organization get bashed unsparingly by so many throughout the league, I hope it has done the same for Holland, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and the rest of the squad. I hope this gives them a reason to really fight as hard as they can, and when we look back on the year, maybe we can attribute a back-to-back Stanley Cup victory to the fact Bettman and the NHL pissed us off and we turned around, flipped them the bird, and gave a big "f*** you" to parity.

Edited January 27, 2009 by YoungGuns1340

[Broken 16 381]

You're not paranoid. If this had happened to two guys from 25 other teams in this league, no one would give a hoot. This is just one more opportunity to bash the Red Wings for being what...anything other than the successful, respectable, classy and talented organization that they have been for the past 15 years? One little dark spot - that wouldn't have even been newsworthy 2 years ago - and fans and media are all over the Wings for being "classless", "egotistical" and the like.

If you ask me, it makes everyone else in the league who has spoken out against Datsyuk and Lidstrom look classless. Bettman? Crosby? Burke? These aren't exactly the poster-children for classy behavior. I feel embarassed for the people who dare call out Datsyuk and Lidstrom as anything other than the respectable, devoted players that they are.

On the bright side, knowing how much it fires me up to see our two best players and our organization get bashed unsparingly by so many throughout the league, I hope it has done the same for Holland, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and the rest of the squad. I hope this gives them a reason to really fight as hard as they can, and when we look back on the year, maybe we can attribute a back-to-back Stanley Cup victory to the fact Bettman and the NHL pissed us off and we turned around, flipped them the bird, and gave a big "f*** you" to parity.

That's what I keep thinking. They were looking for inspiration in Hossa (to a degree)... this is WAY better.

[Electrophile 3,554]

Who's talking about Bob Probert?

Look, in my mind, great leaders put their chins out there and lead by example. I put part of the Wing's lack of physical play on the fact that the current captain and alternates absolutely refuse to lead by example. I mentioned the kind of leaders I like and respect, men who are all about the logo on the sweater, even if it means they have to get dirty sometimes. I mentioned 4 guys over and over - Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, Wendel Clark and Cam Neely. Fearless leaders who could play and were willing to stick up for their teammates. Not Bob Probert (although he also wore the A for Detroit, just like Pavel....well, maybe not just like Pavel)

Me. I am. I merely thought of a name of a Red Wing who wasn't averse to dropping his gloves. So again, I brought up Bob Probert. Not you.

I will continue to be absolutely appalled by your opinion of two people who through their entire tenure on this team, have done absolutely nothing to warrant it. Sorry. You're basically saying you can't respect them because they don't fight and then you said before several posts ago that you didn't think they were good men. Not that they weren't good players, but good people. And that just boggles my mind.