NHL Suspends Raffi Torres 25 Games
So the NHL officially says that the on-ice officials blew not one, but THREE violations on the Torres hit; meanwhile, the Phoenix Coyotes organization has consistently believed it was a “hockey play.”
Yet Joel Quenneville was fined $10,000 for saying the refs were pathetic.
Awaiting Tippett’s reaction.
Still won’t make up for the loss of Hossa or Shaw, but at least this suspension is well deserved
…too little too late…..Hossa is out and Blackhawks down…..and Quenneville penalized $10,000……to be absolutely right……(I think I’ve got the spelling right this time Tab}
Now what about suspending the on ice officials? How are they held accountable for missing this call and many others leauge-wide? I would like an explanation from the league and some transparency. How are refs/linesmen reviewed through the season and selected to participate in playoff games?
Hopefully this will give the Blackhawks motivation to win tonight.
Is raffi signed through next year?
Attempting to injure a star player by smashing his head into the glass…$2,500.
Criticizing a four-man officiating crew for entirely missing a brutish, illegal hit that takes out a star player…$10,000.
Improving your chances of winning the Stanley Cup (and aiding the NHL’s efforts to move into cities in which the league has no business expanding) by placing players on your roster who are willing to engage in such thuggish behavior…Priceless.
^^^^^Best comment Ive ever read on this blog^^^
Does anyone really believe that a 25 game suspension is going to stop this shithead from making another dangerous hit to someone’s noggin? I certainly don’t.
Look the 2,500 fine is max allowed under the current CBA I would imagine that this is one of the talking points between the League and Players when the current CBA expires.
As for the suspension I like that the League (Shanny) made a statement, I also like that they called out officials that didn’t make the proper call (or any in this case) on the ice. Previously we saw the League not pay much attention to illegal hits if there was no penalty. I like the change here
I hope that Shanahan didn’t leave out that this is the end of this crap and one more time and he can find another job. There is no place in hockey for this kind of crap it is not a hockey play it is a dirty play. There is no justification with that hockey play crap there are plenty of players who play hard that don’t go around doing this kind of stuff.
Now, how about the 4 officials who missed this? Are they held accountable for it? Knowing the NHL they will sweep it under the rug. I know it was a hockey play that is why they didn’t see it or call it. There are people worrying about the fighting in hockey well, stuff like this has to stop before somebody get paralyzed or killed from this kind of hockey play.
I still don’t know how you can justify fining Q for comments that are the truth and Weber getting fined 2,500 for an assault and battery like I said before that is the NHL at its finest.
Also, it is time to take the instigator rule out and let the players police the game because this kind of stuff would stop. Back in the original six era I guarantee you Torres would not be pulling this crap. If he would have ever tried this stuff with a player like Gordie Howe he would have been waking up in a hospital after Howe kicked the living crap out of him. All that instigator rule does is make heroes out of guys like him.
You really think a 2 minute penalty is what kept Torres protected and why he feels safe assaulting people? No.
just a general thought…..The NHL would be so much better with 24 teams.
Less equals more
LenerT……..yes, refs and linesmen are evaluated throughout the year and during the playoffs. They use computer video as teams do, to go over their mistakes with their superiors. If an incident happens in a game, sometime after the game is over, the officials will go over the incident with their superiors to make sure things were handled correctly. If handled incorrectly, things will be addressed, too.
Refs and linesmen get evaluated on everything from understanding and interpreting the rule book, to skating skills and “on ice” communication. They have camps every year that they must attend, too. Only the BEST refs and linesmen get to participate in the post season games. The guys you see in the NHL are the best of the best. Period.
Even at the collegiate and high school level, the game is extremely fast and violent, at times. Yes, even those refs get evaluated. Most of the time, your decision has to be QUICK and DEFINITIVE. It is the toughest job in sports, without question. You also have to be in excellent physical shape to keep up with the pace of the game.
Remember, most, or all of the refs and linesmen were highly drafted hockey players that just couldn’t make it to the next level. These guys all know the game and what happens on the ice. I know a few NHL linesman and they all take their job very seriously and are proud of what they do.
Everyone on here was calling for the head of the linesman who was closest to Hossa when Hossa was hit. The truth is this: When you are that close to an incident like that it is tough to see everything that happens, that fast. You’re better off to be some distance away so you can get a better visual on what exactly happened. As far as the other officials, there is no way that you can see everything on the ice, all the time. Remember, they don’t have the advantage of slow motion, either.
I will tell you this, believe me, after that game, all those officials had a meeting with their superiors about that hit. Remember the game in Pittsburgh with all the fights? The league put their foot down the next day and changed the protocol for fighting penalties and majors. The league knows how hard it is to call a game.
The next time you want to curse out a ref, remember this………..they don’t make players salaries, they get injured just like players, they don’t get to take a shift off and sit on the bench, they have to make the right call all the time and, believe me when I say this, THEY KNOW WHEN THEY SCREW UP!!
Without the refs, there is NO GAME!! LOL.
@ Tom Jaremka: you are absolutely correct regarding the speed of the game.
If the NHL uses replay to get goals “right”, why the hell don’t they use a replay to see when a player is seriously injured like Hossa, exactly what happened to cause the injury, TO GET IT “RIGHT”!!!
SHAME ON YOU, NHL!
Tom, I appreciate your comments about the refs but the league said that Torres broke three rules 1) charging 2) interference and 3) blow to the head. I just can’t excuse their failure to see that blatant of a penalty with 4 officials on the ice. Also, its their job to know about Torres and to keep a special eye on him given his reputation and conduct on the ice. Even a fan like myself who has never played the game could tell that Torres was out there looking to take somebody’s head off. In fact I believe he left his feet and creamed Olsen on the same shift. It was a very obvious 5 minute major and game misconduct and I think(speculation) the hawks win game three if that call was made. The officials need to be held accountable for that play like everyone else in life and maybe they shouldn’t work another game in these playoffs.
It should be manditory for a skill player from Phoenix to sit as long as Hossa is out. Losing Torres isn’t a big loss for them. We lost one of our best players. I’m happy he got 25 games, but I’d rather have Hossa back. Since that is not happening we should level the playing field. This would only be fair.
J am glad Torres got 25 games. I am from Vancouver and Duncan Keith should have got
the same. So I see Chicago is out in six. Take that what goes around comes around, eh.
Thank you Tom and also Pete for your comments. I appreciate the dialog. Now as to accountability, if such mistakes occur (and they will, we all make mistakes) there needs to be an action plan, ie… suspension / fine / sanction process for errors.
I don’t care about officials salaries, conditioning or how they’re vicariously living out hockey careers that didn’t quite pan out at the NHL level…I want to know that they are demoted / fined / fired if they fail to perform…I want that published and transparent…Especially with the expectation of being ‘the best of the best’ to officiate at the NHL level.
Thanks again for the dialog. Very positve to have varied input on the subject.
LenerT