Daily Dasherboard September 25, 2013
By Tim Redinger
It’s a game day for the Buffalo Sabres – so the activities of Sunday night need to be put to rest and the team needs to move on, despite the fact that the National Hockey League gives the bone to small
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
market teams once again; ruling heavily in favor of the Toronto Maple Leafs for a brawl they started. Anyways, I think there has been plenty of opinions ruled on the issue, some good, some bad, and some ugly.
Regardless of the fact that we need to move on from the incident and get ready for Columbus, there is still plenty of talk – now about the fines and suspensions levied by the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are up in arms about possibly (oh no, make it probably) going to lose David Clarkson to a ten game suspension to start the season. Forget the fact that they won’t have his experience on the ice – the salary cap troubles this puts the Maple Leafs in are a larger part of the picture. Clarkson actually considered appealing the suspension, no doubt at the urging of the franchise. No doubt coolers heads prevailed as reports are now coming in that he won’t appeal the suspension and will serve it in its fullest. [Yahoo Sports].
Fighting is a part of hockey – when it’s used properly. It is an integral part of the game for some, for others – they would like to see it banned from the sport. Sunday’s activities in Toronto are only going to widen the divide between fans and the good ol’ boy network who want it kept in the game, and those that want to see it eradicated just like the jersey tuck. [National Post].
Damien Cox of The Star continues to put his foot in his mouth with his blue goggles on; continuing to pin the blame for Sunday’s events on Ron Rolston. [The Star].
The Globe and Mail was hopeful that the team wouldn’t be levied the ten game suspension for Clarkson – and the team kept him away from the media citing no official ruling for what is an automatic suspension. [Globe and Mail].
No one in their right mind should consider the suspensions handed out by the Department of Player Safety as sufficient, but according to the Toronto media, they are happy with the decisions. One report out of Toronto. What would you like to see John Scott get suspended for? Being a whipping boy at the hands of Phil Kessel with his stick wielded as a golf club to his ankles not once but three times? How about the unnecessary spear that Kessel gave to Scott while he was tied up with two other grown men and defenseless against the act? For getting jumped by no less than three Toronto Maple Leafs players? Your right though, the suspension and fines were spot ass. Go back to planning your Stanley Cup Parade route in October Toronto. [Brantford Expositor].
The Toronto media has gone the way of The Onion this week.
The Buffalo Sabres still have more questions than answers going into the season on a rebuild. [Bleacher Report].
The Columbus Blue Jackets have high expectations this season. [Fox News].