Things that weren’t as hurtful as Sean Avery’s words
I am trying to compile a list of things that the NHL has deemed less-bad than Sean Avery’s words. If you can find videos of other suspension-worthy clips, send them along. Six games for words. Unbelievable.
He’d have been better off calling Phaneuf the N word.
Other notable NHL suspensions, all with video, after the jump. Be sure to drop some I may have missed in the comments.
Player: Scott Walker
Offense: Headbutting
Suspension: 1 game
Player: Ryan Hollweg
Offense: Boarding
Suspension: 1 game
Player: Ryan Hollweg (again)
Offense: Boarding (again)
Suspension: 3 games
Player: Chris Pronger
Offense: Elbowing
Suspension: 1 game
Player: Jarkko Ruutu
Offense: Elbowing
Suspension: 2 games
Player: John Zeiler
Offense: Boarding
Suspension: 3 games
Player: Tom Kostopoulos
Offense: Boarding
Suspension: 3 games
Player: Randy Jones
Offense: Boarding
Suspension: 2 games
Player: Scott Hartnell
Offense: Charging
Suspension: 2 games
December 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Slashing Mikko Koivu’s ankle and putting him out for 24 games — 4 games
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWA9OclF_mE
(Ohlund is still awesome)
December 5th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I’m glad someone has put this together… Avery is a prick and a half, but getting suspended for saying something funny is absurd.
December 5th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I was going to mention Steve Moore and his lifetime ban for being a wimp, but I figured that would be in poor taste…
December 5th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Hollweg is a piece of trash. He doesn’t to anything but try and hurt people.
December 6th, 2008 at 2:02 am
I’m glad Avery got suspended. He was almost guaranteeing there would be a fight because the guys he insulted would have to go. Fights are all right to police dirty play but players shouldn’t be starting them by saying stupid stuff when they know it’s going to cause chippy play or a fight.
Hollweg especially should have gotten longer suspensions. He’s a retard.
December 6th, 2008 at 9:40 am
avery got suspended for off ice assholery. comparing it to things that happen on the ice completely misses the point. blaise nails the real reason the NHL cared - basically avery was instigating a guaranteed brawl via clownish WWE tactics. and it wasnt even funny or half as good as actual clownish WWE tactics. it was sad and pathetic and made the NHL look sad and pathetic. i guarantee other leagues would also suspend players for disparaging other player’s wives, girlfriends, moms, family etc. in the media as well.
also its not like avery is a first time offender.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I think people are forgetting a couple of things:
1) The Stars knew who they were getting when they signed him–Caveat Emptor. Sean Avery is an agitator; he was hired to agitate. Look at the Ranger’s record last year with him in the lineup vs. without him. Based on that stat alone, it isn’t hard to see how he was signed to the contract he currently has.
2) Sean Avery knew Phaneuf wouldn’t be able to resist decking him during the game and (for all you fifth-grade math fans out there) Sean Avery < Dion Phaneuf (notice how the crocodile mouth opens to Neon Dion); not unlike when some scrub from the Lightning picks a fight with Iglina (read: Lecavalier). It was a measured risk.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzC05QuAkZ4&feature=related
1 game for pronger, 0 for scott.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgDUNn8q4qo&feature=related
3 games for Janssen.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
you’re all forgettin that avery wasn’t even in the lineup for this game so he wasn’t going to fight anyone
December 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
He wasn’t in the lineup because of his comments. Try to keep up, junior.