Wilson gets 20 god damn games..

[PUCKNRUSH]

All the major sports have instituted rules in recent years to take danger out of games.  In the NBA, the least violent league probably, there are the deliberate foul rules.  In the NHL, it's all the new limits on type of hitting allowed and more restrictive rules on goalie interference.  In baseball it's the tighter restrictions on throwing at hitters and the more restrictive rules regarding runner/fielder contact at 2B and home plate.  In the NFL it's the more restrictive blocking rules and the rules to protect the QB.  I think the players are in favor of it, and I think there is one overriding reason:  As sports get more lucrative and player contracts across the board do also, organizations want to protect their investments and players want to protect what is now massive earning potential.  It isn't a matter that players are wusses; they want to make sure they can get rich with the smallest possible chance of an injury spoiling the party.

Hey Black
You quoted Kits post, and I must say I agree with his opinion.
You give a very well, mapped out, reasoning as to how we got to this point, in ALL the major sports. I join you in coming to those conclusions.
It really all hits at much larger philosophical questions about today’s society. An enormous subject, with a million different opinions to say the least.
It was only the last two sentences of your post that I see differently.


“It isn't a matter that players are wusses; they want to make sure they can get rich with the smallest possible chance of an injury spoiling the party.”


[/size]Ok, First let me just say that the font size changing when I copied your post was not intentional. I don’t know why that happened.
[/size]Anyway,  let’s first use the NFL as an example. I Believe that we see a lot of players nowadays, who adopt playing in a manner “with the smallest possible chance of injury”, often play with less effort, energy, and attitude, as a “convenient” side affect! I think these two styles, can’t help but go hand-in-hand sometimes.
[/size]Practices are shorter in length of time, fundamentals receive far less emphasis, discipline is weak, full pad, or contact practices are rare. The Vince Lombardi days have been long gone. I agree with you that management is definitely trying to protect their investment by not exposing the player to as much physicality as before.
[/size]I hardly watch the NFL anymore. The true competitive fundamentals are so few and far between now.  It just takes a lot of the punch out of the game.
[/size]I will definitely say it’s not all the fault of the players. But since we do have a small number of players that still play with a lot of integrity and respect for the fundamentals,  and these guys usually are stand outs in the league, and not commonplace anymore.  We still have a comparison then, that could be made.  I would say that some of those players,Who may use the “protect the investment” argument  to justify missed tackles, not getting back up off the ground  as soon as you were able to still help participate in the play. These kind of guys are acting like wusses.  It’s my opinion that this occurs with a much higher prevalence in today’s NFL than ever before. And I hate to say it’s not just in the sport of football!
[/size] If you want to good chuckle, hell, just put two NFL team photos side by side and compare them. One from the 70s, and one from 2017.  Damn near half those players in the recent photos could also be on the front cover of GQ magazine! LOL
[/size] Respectively submitted,

[/size]Rush

[KitFisto]

Yeah, I never said the players are or want to be a pussy. They are being FORCED to be and they have to adjust or suffer major suspensions or fines.

[PUCKNRUSH]

Yeah, I never said the players are or want to be a pussy. They are being FORCED to be and they have to adjust or suffer major suspensions or fines.

Yeah, I do understand the difference you point out.
Wholeheartedly agree as to the pussification of our country. I would like to be optimistic that it may turn around some day,  but I think the genie  is already out of the bottle.


Rush

[Maacoshark]

Yeah, I do understand the difference you point out.
Wholeheartedly agree as to the pussification of our country. I would like to be optimistic that it may turn around some day,  but I think the genie  is already out of the bottle.


Rush

     I like that word pussification. It describes our society perfectly.

[Mickstix]

Any word on the appeal? When it'll happen, etc..


Oldie but goodie:

[Maacoshark]

Any word on the appeal? When it'll happen, etc..


Oldie but goodie:

     I'm sure Bettman will try to drag it out. That way if the suspension is reduced he will have served the majority of the 20 games.
    That's what happened with Dennis Wideman. He won his appeal and the 20 game suspension was reduced to 10 but he had already served 19 games.

[DC_1908]

Any word on the appeal? When it'll happen, etc..


Oldie but goodie:

remember the story when Billy Martin got ejected and he put on the Marx glasses and went back in the dugout 🤣🤣🤣

[canadiancapman]

I personally love Tom Wilson and think the world of him. They only reason I go to OHL (major junior hockey in Ontario) is to see caps prospects. I went to see Willy, bura, Carlson along with eakin when he was out prospect in the memorial cup. That being said, he needs to pick his spots. I love the hit from an old school point of view but he simply can't do that especially in the preseason. A meaningless game and against a player that won't see much ice time unless st.louis has a pile of injuries. Had that been Sidney Crosby (not because I don't like him but they long term effect it could take on someone that we always face) then I'm ok with it. His suspension last year versus the Pens I feel was only implemented because of how much attention it got and his boarder line hit a few games prior. He's one of the only players in the league that can actually play an old school game as well as have the skill to be productive. I'd say the only power forward better than him would be Wayne simmonds and he'll be getting 8m a season salary wise when he becomes a free agent this summer. We need this guy on the ice as he should still be playing on the top line with Kuzy and Ovi. He's improved so much skill wise that he can play top line and be effective. As Kuznetsov gets more and more attention over how good he is, guys will start to take runs at him. Ovie isn't going to fight and we don't want him too but Wilson can be a safe guard for him as he becomes a premiere player in this league while still being a productive on the line. I honestly think Kuznetsov is the best player on our team and top 5 in the league. He should have won the conn smith trophy last year but the league wants to promote its main stars so they gave it to ovie like they did you Crosby when Phil kessel had earned it.

[richkrt99]

So has there been any formal word on IF Willy is actually appealing this?

[4 Caps]

Yes an appeal has been filed.  It first goes to the commissioner and then he can appeal to a neutral arbiter.  The problem as previously noted is that it drags on and by the time a neutral arbiter makes a decision he has served most of the suspension.  However, if the arbiter does reduce the number of games he will get his salary for those games even though he didn’t play.  I think the chance of Bettman reducing the suspension is zero so it really will be up to the arbiter. 

[Mickstix]

So basically it's about salary and not missing games.. Cause what if the suspension is 5 games and you want to appeal? No way you're getting that reduced if it takes a month to make it's way to an arbiter.  You'd think the NHLPA would lobby for a faster process, but again, it's about money so as long as that gets settled I guess they don't really give a shit.. 

[richkrt99]

I don't think this hit was really all that bad (not 20 games worthy)- the problem is the stupidity of the timing of it and all the Wilson circumstances.  I mean it was a meaningless game and it with all his history and the (now four) suspensions in the last 100 games (or whatever) just fuels the argument that Willy wasn't getting it and he NEEDS a message sent.  I don't think that is the case, but....


Just sucks for the Caps - I think Willy is a difference maker and this impacts more than just the first line.  I think he really had a chance to make a bigger impact (no pun intended) this year.


Hope this gets settled and reduced to 10 games, but I don't see that happening.

[Maacoshark]

   This appeal is about more than money and games missed. Yes if Wilson wins his appeal he may have already served the time but the league would be wrong. The only way I think he wins his appeal is if he has evidence of similar hits that were not punished.

[DC_1908]

if something like this lands a player 20 games, hell, you might as well dress one or two 5’5” and shorter players.  Every hit on them will be “high/targeting the head” . . . you’ll get a major and get an opponent a lengthy suspension with mimas cost.


I said the same thing anot football, line up run a <5’5” player that can catch an NFL pass in the slot, send him on slant route, it’ll be an automatic 1st +15, ejection and suspension.


Maybe it’s a tad brutal, or even bush league, but if ‘dems the rules’, manipulate em to your advantage

[Maacoshark]

    The problem is the guy Wilson destroyed was 6foot3. He did gave his head down. I have noticed that Wilson does elevate his body during a hit. He has to change that. It is still a suspension worthy hit. Not 20 games worthy.
     

   

[alta]

So has there been any formal word on IF Willy is actually appealing this?

Suspension appeals in sports are usually automatic through the players union per CBA rules


and I'd bet a large sum of money on Buttman intentionally dragging his feet on this so Willy serves a big part of this even when the appeal is successful

[alta]

Last year in preseason Wily got suspended twice, once for 1 preseason game and once for the first 4 games of the season.
the first one for 1 game, forgot it was were he decked Jashin ...


the second hit for 4 games, which happens about once a week during regular season. I don't seem to recall anyone else getting suspended for it last year.


the Ashton Reese hit, which was beaten to death here a couple months ago. In the league explanation they pretty much said Willy didn't do anything wrong, but still got suspended for hitting to hard, that and shitsburgh cried about it


the recient Sunquist hit...


Willy shouldn't have been trying this in preseason but he only plays at one speed. I can't really fault him for that. looking at last seasons hits, and the league clearly picking on him, there is no way he should have the habitual tag, which is what got him 20. Beyond that, the DPoS has been highly inconsistent when handing down suspensions. I'm posting these to refresh memories and to compare with the hits we will see throughout the league this year, we will see who gets suspended for what, but I suspect there won't be any

I don't see this much differently from when the league picked on OV for playing too physically and suspended him twice. Am I wrong?

[alta]

The NHLPA did the automatic appeal. As I noted, I'm sure it's part of every sports CBA. And Willy is in Europe playing right now, to keep his legs and to get away from the media

[4 Caps]

The NHLPA did the automatic appeal. As I noted, I'm sure it's part of every sports CBA. And Willy is in Europe playing right now, to keep his legs and to get away from the media

I don’t know whether you were speaking in jest when you said Willy was playing in Europe but in fact Wilson is able to and does practice with the team.  He does extra work with the players who are going to be scratched. 

[alta]

I don’t know whether you were speaking in jest when you said Willy was playing in Europe but in fact Wilson is able to and does practice with the team.  He does extra work with the players who are going to be scratched.

They said last night during the game Willy is or is going to play in Europe for a few games, I don't DVR the games so I can't go back and look