So....15 game suspension once he's reinstated. If he's reinstated by the start of the regular season, that should put him in the line up for approx. Nov. 6th. Apparently he will be able to participate in training camp and practices. Can anyone confirm that?
So....15 game suspension once he's reinstated. If he's reinstated by the start of the regular season, that should put him in the line up for approx. Nov. 6th. Apparently he will be able to participate in training camp and practices. Can anyone confirm that?
He is allowed to practice with the team, however the NHLPA is not in agreement and are looking at legal action against the NHL.
Based on the criteria that the NHL used in this case, it will be extremely odd if Bowmeister, the Stall brothers and Ian White not to get the same number of games. Just based on the criteria that the NHL used, nothing else.
Quote:
“The player further agrees:
(e) to conduct himself on and off the rink according to the highest standards of honesty, morality, fair play and sportsmanship, and to refrain from conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Club, the League or professional hockey generally.”
Quote:
Also, Article 18 of the CBA details Commissioner Discipline and 18.2 states:
“Off-Ice Discipline shall mean any discipline imposed for Player conduct off the ice, which conduct may or may not involve third parties. Disciplinary proceedings for off-ice conduct will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of NHL By-Law 17 and Article 6 of the NHL Constitution, as supplemented by the procedural rules set forth in Section 18.4 below.”
Imo Gary Bettman has set the NHL for some serious scrunity if he fails to hand down similar supsensions.
What truly pisses me off about this ruling is that Danny Heatley who KILLED a guy was never suspended, but a hit and run that resulted in no death or serious injury gets hopped onto. Its a joke. Bell gets almost as many games as Simon who clothes lines a guy with his stick on the ICE... in a hockey game, you know, where the NHL actually has juristiction. He is only getting suspended because he stunk last season, and to say otherwise seems to be a lie.
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What truly pisses me off about this ruling is that Danny Heatley who KILLED a guy was never suspended, but a hit and run that resulted in no death or serious injury gets hopped onto.
If I was you I'd start looking over my shoulder for PETA members the way you keep beating a dead horse.
For one Heatley wasn't DUI, Bell was, he was lucky no one was killed, I hope he can be as successful at pulling his life together as Heatley was.
For a better comparison according to the collective agreements language I would look at the recent actions of Emery, that way you get something similar and you would get to needle the Sens at the same time.
That should appease your victim persona for the moment.
Heatley was still charged with vehicular homicide. He did have alcohol in his system, even if he was under the legal limit. The NHL often hands out punishment based on the result of something and not what could have happened. What the fans and NHLPA really want is conitinuity and a standard to abide by. Punish one puinsh them all.
There are a few things that Mark Bell and Dany Heatley have in common.
1) They both broke the law with a car (Heatley for reckless driving and Mark Bell for DUI)
2) Both of their cases ended in an accident
3) They both injured another person
Now it can be argued that DUI is more serious than reckless driving and the fact that Snyder's parents forgave Heatley played a big part in his lack of punishment.
The fact remains that they both drove in a way that was ILLEGAL and they both CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH.
Now was what Mark Bell did worse? The crime was, the outcome not as much.
Why did Dany Heatley not get suspended? For a few reasons.
1) He is a star
2) He was badly injured himself and missed a great deal of time
3) Snyder's parent forgave him
4) He was on Atlanta and not in a premiere market
5) The sports landscape was different
Make no mistake there are several things at play here.
1) The NFL and NBA are cracking down because they have huge problems, Bettman is trying to not appear as leniant even though the NHL doesn't have the same problems.
2) Mark Bell is very visible because of the amount of press the team he is on receives.
3) Bell is not a star.
It will be very apparent what Bettman's motives were after we see whether Bouwmeester, or the Staals get any sort of suspension based on their forays into the legal system. If they don't then its pretty apparent that Bettman was looking for a scape goat and found one in the most media covered team in the league.
Fleury was suspended for six months and enrolled in the substance abuse program 2002. Fleury was then suspended for 25 games I believe for simply having a drink in 2003. Then again suspended indefinitely later on in 2003 after some kind of brew-ha in a stripclub..Which was the end of his career
When looking at Bells 15 games for DUI, and then a past suspension of six months for no vehicle accident or DUI, who really is getting off easy.
Fleury was suspended for six months and enrolled in the substance abuse program 2002. Fleury was then suspended for 25 games I believe for simply having a drink in 2003. Then again suspended indefinitely later on in 2003 after some kind of brew-ha in a stripclub..Which was the end of his career
When looking at Bells 15 games for DUI, and then a past suspension of six months for no vehicle accident or DUI, who really is getting off easy.
Well Fleury was suspended while he was in the substance abuse program. So was Mark Bell, plus Bell gets 15 games after he gets out.
So If it take Bell 6 months to get out then he gets 6 months + 15 games. So I would say that Fleury got off easy.
I think the big issue here is that there is no clear cut clause that shows that this should be 15 games. Bettman is able to arbitraly suspend ppl who have a charge laid against them.
I think it is pretty clear to see that if Bouwmeester or Tocchet or the Staals don't have some sort of penalty then it is pretty clear that Bettman was out to make an example, and is playing the market.
I have a few opinions on this, some may agree, some may not, it is soley my opinion.
1. Once again I hear about the Dany Heatley saga. I've been asking myself this question for a while and now I will ask everyone else, why are you living in the past. What happened with Dany Heatley and Dan Snyder was tragic, reckless, stupid, and very unfortunate. Same for Bell. The only way the past is useful to us is so we can learn from our mistakes and take action into the future. I'd honestly be more concerned about the future then the past.
2. I know people will question me on what I think of Dany Heatley's incident and here's my answer, yes I believe he should've faced jail time and yes I believed he should've been suspended. BUT, with the injuries he had, and the forgiving blessing souls of Dan Snyder's parents, Heatley was able to bypass that, and go on to make a strong recovery. Obviously the person Bell hit isn't as forgiving, and obviously he was over the legal amount.
3. I have no tolerance at all when it comes to drinking and driving. I've known kids my age, had relatives, and friends from around my small community of 5000 to realized how drinking and driving has ruined many lives. The same as drugs. Thankfully, in Nova Scotia, there's a no tolerance level of being behind the wheel under the unfluence. If you get caught, your literally screwed for life around here. I cringe everytime I hear the word legal limit. To me, there is no legal limit, one sip, please stay away from a veichle.
4. Role Model. Now many people may be thinking right now, what the hell is he talking about? Well professional athletes are role models. Every single professional athlete is a role model to someone, some with larger bases then others. I believe Bettman did this to show everyone an example that the NHL does not support alcohol/drug abuse in any form.
5. Should've been sooner then later. Who gives a flying hoot about the justice system. At times, it's the most effed up thing in the world. Mark Bell should've been punished for his suspension when the time happened, not a year after. Although I do support the suspension, it should've happened when the incident happened in fairness to Bell.
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