NHL suspends Tootoo for five games

The NHL announced on Monday that they’ve suspended forward Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators for five games for punching Dallas Stars defenceman Stephane Robidas in the face.

Robidas suffered a concussion from the punch.

“In reviewing this incident, Stephane Robidas appeared to be initiating a confrontation by approaching Jordin Tootoo,” NHL senior executive vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement. “While a player is entitled to defend himself, Mr. Tootoo’s forceful blow to Robidas’ head was an overly aggressive and inappropriate response.

“The fact that Mr. Tootoo’s actions resulted in an injury to his opponent also was a factor in this decision.”

“Jordin was put in a very difficult situation with Robidas confronting him,” Poile said the Predators GM in a telephone conference. “I don’t know what he was supposed to do. All he could see was a player coming at him with his arms up and certainly looking like he’s ready to enter into some form of confrontation. I think Jordin did what I think everybody would do, and he reacted and threw a punch.”

Source/Credit: TSN.ca

Rangers sign Jason Strudwick

The New York Rangers announced today that they’ve signed former Canuck defenceman Jason Strudwick to a contract.

Before being allowed to join the team, he had to clear waivers, which he did today.

Under NHL rules, Strudwick will be eligble to play for the rest of the NHL regular season, but will not be allowed to play in the playoffs.

Source: NYRangers.com

Nedved’s career likely over

Petr Nedved, a former 1st round pick of the Canucks, who is currently out with a knee injury, has left the Edmonton Oilers by mutual consent with management.

Nedved is eight games away from playing 1000 games in the NHL.

He will become an unrestricted free agent July 1st.

Source: Edmonton Journal

His NHL career is pretty much over, doubt anybody would want to sign him as a free agent. Maybe shouldn’t of left Edmonton in the first place?

Referees saved Brewer from suspension

As per the new NHL CBA rules, if you instigate a fight in the final five minutes of play or in overtime, you will receive an automatic suspension.

No penalty was called on Matt Cooke’s trip on Curtis Sanford, Brewer came running over and attacked Matt Cooke, Cooke then dropped his gloves and fought Brewer.

Penatlies should of been five minutes to Matt Cooke for fighting, five minutes to Brewer for fighting and two minutes for instigating. Instead, the referees assessed Brewer two minor penalties for roughing.

Yeah, it costed them the game, but probably better than losing the services of arguably your top defenceman.

Penguins staying in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to announce later today that they’ve “reached a deal on financing for a new arena that will keep the team in Pittsburgh”.

“This afternoon I am traveling to Pittsburgh, where we will announce that all three government entities (state, county, city) have agreed to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years,” Rendell said Tuesday.

“We will build a beautiful new arena.”

“Make no mistake about it – without expanded gaming in Pennsylvania, the Penguins would be gone. The first puck would have been dropped next year in Kansas City.”

The arena is expected to be ready for the 2009-10 NHL season and the Penguins will be responsible for “$3.8 million per year toward construction of the $290 million arena and another $400,000 yearly for capital improvements.“

Source: TSN.ca

Islanders’ Simon suspended for balance of regular season and Playoffs

From NHL.com:

Minimum 25-game Ban Could Include Games At Start of 2007-08

NEW YORK – New York Islanders forward Chris Simon has been suspended, for the remainder of the 2006-07 regular season and the entirety of the Stanley Cup playoffs, for deliberately using his stick to injure New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg during the third period of Thursday night’s game at Nassau Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum.

Simon is suspended a minimum of 25 games, including Saturday night’s game against Washington plus the 14 that remain in the 2006-07 regular season. If the Islanders do not qualify for the 2007 playoffs, or play fewer than 10 playoff games in the 2007 playoffs, Simon would serve additional games at the start of the 2007-08 regular season to satisfy the minimum term of the suspension.

LeClair may retire as Flyer

According to CourierPostOnline.com and Chuck Gormley, unrestricted free agent and former Flyer John Leclair was in Philadelphia yesterday to undergo a physical with the Flyers.

Gormley says that the Flyers are considering giving the former Flyer a NHL tryout, so he can play the final two or three games of the NHL season for the Flyers and retire as one.

Earlier this year Leclair was bought out by the Penguins after he was frequently a healthy scratch.

Simon suspended indefinitely

If you haven’t heard yet, Chris Simon has been suspended by the NHL without pay, pending a hearing.

• Watch Chris Simon’s comments regarding the slash

You can find a video of what exactly happened a couple entries down.

Chris Simon Slashes Ryan Hollweg in the Face

Marty McSorley high-stick to the head on Donald Brashear, Todd Bertuzzi’s sucker punch on Steve Moore, Cam Janssen’s late hit on Tomas Kaberle, and now this? The NHL really needs to do something quick and soon. Today was also the three year anniversary of the Todd Bertuzzi-Steve Moore incident.

NHLPA calls an emergency conference call

The following is courtesy of Sportsnet.ca:

Sportsnet.ca – The NHLPA has scheduled an emergency conference call on Sunday evening to confirm to some the league’s senior players that their email accounts have been inappropriately accessed by top union executives.

As reported in Thursday’s Toronto Star, neither executive director Ted Saskin or union official Ken Kim are expected to be on the call. Both men have been accused of viewing emails sent and received by players who oppose Saskin’s hiring.

Players are also expected to discuss firing Saskin and Kim, a source told the Star, although that would likely generate wrongful dismissal lawsuits. “The players will have to make a decision on what they want to do,” the source said. “It’s not going to be an easy decision.”

Montreal Canadiens forward Mike Johnson, the team’s player rep, confirmed the call was scheduled for Sunday, but declined to elaborate.

“Even if these allegations aren’t true, this has been very troubling for players,” Johnson said. “A number of players are talking about it and want answers.”

For Saskin or Kim to be fired, 16 of the 30 NHL team player reps would have to support the move.