As first posted by Jim Fox on Twitter, Vancouver’s Byron Bitz has received a two-game suspension from the NHL for his hit on Kyle Clifford last night. Immediately after the hit, Bitz received a five-minor major for boarding and a game-misconduct penalty. After Canucks practice today, Bitz told reporters, “I had no intention of targeting the head or injuring anybody. That’s not how I play.” Below is the video put out by the league to explain the suspension…
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When shanni speaks, paint takes even longer to dry.
But, happy with the assessment.
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Lake Forest Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@jess, I agree 2 playoff games is huge.
The one (and probably only time) they get my nod.
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USHA#17 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
@Lake Forest,
I disagree. The guy is a lump. Being out of the line up may make Vancouver better.
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Kenny44 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
@USHA#17, True. Bitz was dressed in Game 1 for 1 reason (and it wasn’t his scintillating performance in his 10 regular season appearances). We’re just “lucky” he didn’t find MR, Brown or JW
Adam Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
@jess, If Cliffy wasn’t injured, it would probably be no suspension, although I feel like there should be either way. Agree with you that this was a fair assessment.
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DavidR Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
@Adam, the league is so happy, now they are hoping this will make us all forget about the clowe stick incident
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Drew Doughty's Mustache Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 9:44 am
@jess,
I disagree. I like how the NHL describes penalties. Its clear, slow, and leaves no room for error in understanding why they made the call.
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2 games is just about right for the playoffs. I hope that Cliffy can come back soon.
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jofa6000 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
@Donald_S, Agreed.
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That was pretty fair. Weber decission though … that was idiotic.
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funking Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
@KC23,
Weber’s was not as severe, no injury and it actually did not look as bad as everyone is making it out to be.
One game should be Weber’s penalty w/fine because of priors.
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funking Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
@KC23,
Weber’s was not as severe, no injury and it actually did not look as bad as everyone is making it out to be.
One game should be Weber’s penalty w/fine because of priors.
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Jeff Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
@KC23, Exactly. I have more distain for the Weber incident, because at least Bitz can say it was part of a hockey play. He was trying to check Clifford who was playing the puck. In the case of Weber, the game was over, he was not trying to check or battle for the puck or position. Weber had only one objective in mind, which was to injury the player.
Double Standard. If Bitz’ name was Sedin, there would be no suspension.
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LAK1ngs Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
@Jeff, Weber should get a WWE contract for taking Z’s head into the turn-buckle.
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MeanMrMustard Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
@Jeff, i couldn’t agree more. Much like the penalty for spearing or swinging a stick at someone’s head (ala granato)…the penalty should have nothing to do with whether or not someone was hurt. it was disgraceful, imo.
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Rico Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@MeanMrMustard, it was also stated that the fact that he was only assessed a 2 min boarding penalty probably effected the outcome of NO suspension…kinda assinine that Bitz gets 2 games and Weber gets a slap….
Kenny44 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
@Jeff, Did you see what got Weber going? Zetterberg took a run at Weber and hit him high, from behind trying to drive him into the boards. Weber just turned it around on him. Kinda like Nolan Ryan on Robin Ventura
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Seems appropriate. Get healthy Cliffy. We need you.
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I didn’t think they’d actually follow thru on this. Good call.
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Glad I was wrong in thinking they wouldn’t suspend him. I hope that Clifford doesn’t miss more than one game (Sutter announced he will not play Friday).
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InTheCrease Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
@justmyopinion, Interesting to see if Cliffy actually DOES sits out the game tomorrow, or if this is DS playing playoff poker…
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they should change the rules. You knock a guy out with a headshot you get to come back when they can come back
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bobby Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 8:42 am
@twnclick, that would be dangerous. it could actually encourage teams to send out a marginal player like Bitz with the intent to take out a star like Kopitar. not sure that’s not already happening though.
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2 games for a no name laying a hit to the head, unintentional or not = CORRECT
$2,500 fine for hitting Zetterberg in the head TWICE INTENTIONALLY with force = NOT CORRECT
Shanahan has Campbell’s Disease. The only cure is either head from body cavity extraction or more cowbell.
THIS LEAGUE OFFICE IS SCREWED UP! If I was a player, I’d seriously question the next CBA with the misdirection of what is right or wrong in this game as directed and shown by the League officials. Really. How do these guys go on the ice every night not knowing how calls will be made and what calls will go against them?
You would think some consistency would be a NORMAL expectation in a professional sports league, but when Duncan Keith gets 5 games for one elbow to Sedin’s head and Shea Weber only gets a $2,500 fine for two forceful & deliberate hits to Zetterberg’s head, you gotta wonder how professional this league really is.
Ridiculous. At least IMO the right call was made on Bitz’s hit. They need someone to simplify the rules in this league so people can actually enforce them in a realistic and logical manor.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
@Cynic, I am not saying I don’t agree with you because I think Webber should of got a 1 game suspension. The reasoning behind the decision is that #1 Zetterburgh wasn’t injured and he won’t miss any time. Webber first tried to punch Henrik however he missed in doing so. Had the punch connected he would of most likely been suspended. However his next move was to give Henrik a shove which caused him to go face first into the glass. A shove isn’t as bad as a punch. Shanahan looked at all the facts and decided that it wasn’t a suspendible act, the shove, but one that fined the player and for the rest of the playoffs will be watched. if Webber does any other act these Playoffs that shove will come into play in deciding any punishment.
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neil Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@Jeff_R, so if Cliffy is not injured then no suspension???? So if you swing your stick at someones head and missed…you should not get suspended..No Harm No foul??? Webers play was worse…..Both plays dont belong in the game..suspend them both with no food!!!!
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
@neil, I said I didn’t agree with it. I was just stating the reasons why one was suspended and the other just fined. According to the NHL.
CB14 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
@neil, I don’t agree with it either, but if you equate it to the real world it makes sense. If you shoot someone and they live you get charged with attempted murder, but if that person dies you get charged with murder. Big difference.
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
@Cynic,
…More cowbell.
I’m still stuck in Clowe StickLand…
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Good call. He certainly deserved the suspension. But I’m still trying to make sense of the $2500. fine only for Webber when the intent to injure was so obvious.
If they really want to protect players, it’s time for the NHL to get their act together and really clamp down on the head shots. And if you are a highly paid athlete, you deserve a fine that’s going to have some meaning instead of want amounts to dinner money.
Get well Cliffy. We want you back.
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KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
@Peter90210,
I think people have the mistaken notion that the NHL can just fine players whatever amount they want to. If I’m not mistaken (and please correct me if I am) it is actually the player’s association themselves who have limited the fine amounts to what amounts to pennies for you and I. So when negotiations begin for the next CBA it will be the PA who resists any increase in fines, not the NHL.
Of course, I could be completely wrong on this too.
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Rich Hammond Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Correct…$2,500 is maximum. Laughable but true.
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Osaka Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),
Capgeek on Twitter
#NHL Shea Weber fined $2,500 from his $7.5m salary — applying the same ratio to someone making $50,000, that’s $16.
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AnaheimKingsFan Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
@Osaka,
16? Less than a parking ticket for you or I. Wow. At least two games will put a dent into a no-name making league minimum.
LOKTI… i’ve been backing you up all this year and last. Now is the time where you make me look GOOD!! i expect Lokti to get the nod over Westgarth, despite the physicality that Westy is thought to be able to bring (even though Westy is the least physical big man i’ve ever seen in the NHL). Lokti can bring some skill and playmaking where Westy obviously cannot.. but how the lines get shaken up are going to be really interesting. Hopefully Richardson can get up to Vancouver soon enough to get in there but i doubt it. HUGE GAME TOMORROW. We NEED to take game 2, no splits. GKG!!!!!!
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Jack Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
@KingsFletch, Well, I think Vancouver will be less physical next game and focus more on their skills…if that is the case, rather have Loktionov.
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rontheking Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
@Jack,
@KingFletch,
I concur. The nucks must be thinking, We can’t out-physical the Kings, we have to outplay them using our amazing whaling skills….
Bottom line: Kings don’t need another physical presence, already having the big boys in King and Nolan et al…but they can always use more speed and skill–on any line….
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BarMade Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@KingsFletch, Vancouver has the last change so it’s gotta be Lokti. Imagine Garth out there and Nucks bring out Sedin’s line.
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KingsFletch Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
@BarMade, honestly just thinking about that… i almost puked lol that would be Murray style i think.. and i’d probably cry. lol. Thanks for your thoughts guys
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It isn’t like Vancouver will miss Barroom Bitz, he played 10 games for them this year.
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tornado12 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
@Osaka, exactly. after all the dust settles, it’s the Kings who end up paying the ultimate price here. Clifford is may more important to the Kings than Mittelschmerz is to the anti-canadians
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
@0 sake, Lol, you really lowered the ball with that one, 0!
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Osaka Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
@Duncanz, Not one of my finer moments sensei. Gomenasai.
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rontheking Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
@Osaka,
That’s what I said. The Kings should petition to let Bitz play….
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Osaka Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
@rontheking, Can we decline the penalty?
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JUSTICE!!!
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Get well Cliffy… Advil and an Ice Pack works wonders.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
@m.r.morris, Not the solution I might have expected on one of your posts!?!
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I did some research and discovered that Shanni actually has special powers which completely suspend paint’s ability to dry when he speaks. That is truly amazing.
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Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
@jess, Yea, but grass can still grow at an alarming 1 inch per month rate while he’s doing videos.
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jess Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
@Dominick (defrim65),
Well it sounds like he has a couple more talents to fall back on if this current gig doesn’t pan out.
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Good, I think it should be more but at least he got it. Did anybody notice Penner talking to Kesler after Kesler tried to get the refs to call a penalty on Richards, for Keslers double backflip with a half gaynor dive?, Penner told him ” heck I fall down with less contact than that”.
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KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
@LVKINGS88,
I loved Penner’s quote from earlier today, ‘I don’t know if you watched me but I used to be a good player.’
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair), Nice!!
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He had that suspension comeing it was a dirty cheap punk hit. Theres no room in today’s hockey for that kind of junk play. Good for the NHL they got that one right. If Clifford was hurt and could not play bitz should half to sit out til Clifford comes back or til the seiries is over.
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Wow, NHL.com gave Penns 3rd star of the night,I love how Penns got our GW goal but Richards had 1G 2A and a cranking hit on a big D-Bag,heck he should have beat out Briere for 1st star, he only had 2G’s.
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PRMan Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@LVKINGS88, Richards had 2-3 cranking hits and took over the game single-handedly and Penner gets the star?
Somebody didn’t stay up late to watch the game…
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@PRMan, East Coast bias as usual,I bet if Richards was still in Philly he’d of got the 1st no doubt.
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Gustavo Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@LVKINGS88,
Mike Richards now plays in LA…welcome to anonymity, lol
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So we lose cliffy to injury and they lose a no name thug for 2 games. You tell me who won here?
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jess Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
@pr0cess,
That’s a very valid point. All we can hope for now is:
1.) Cliffy’s swift recovery
2.) Hopefully the refs will keep a close eye on the Nuck’s propensity for treachery and skullduggery for the remainder of the series.
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InTheCrease Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
@pr0cess, So we bring in Westgarth for a one game appearance to take out the other girly twin. See how they like it…
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The NHL applied the “nobody died” principle.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@JackKent Cooke,
What did you want them to do … amputate?
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Dominick (defrim65) Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
@Duncanz, Eye for an eye?
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
@Dominick (defrim65),
Shanahan lists the considerations and the penalty but makes no effort to explains how the two are linked. The sentencing in these matters appears completely arbitrary and inexplicably variable. (Not logical like @variable)
Ingredients don’t simply add up to a food product. You need a recipe.
The NHL seems to have too many cooks in the kitchen.
Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@Dominick (defrim65), Farm talk..
Kenny44 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
@JackKent Cooke,
The explanation doesn’t fit on the Powerpoint
Fun fact of the day: “The Canucks have now lost 5 of their last 6 playoff games going back to last season’s Stanley Cup final.”
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jess Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),
That’s a juicey tidbit
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Lake Forest Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair), So we need them to lose 8 of their last 9.
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jess Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
@Lake Forest, NICE
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KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
@Lake Forest,
I’ll happily settle for 8 out of 12.
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Soon they will fix these loopholes, and the penalty for reaching over the boards from the bench and poking the puck away from an opponent will be a nice cash bonus. I’m just disappointed that we’re not making with the puns, like Byron has two brothers, one named Or and one named Drill. His cousin’s name is Tid. OF course his great-grandfather was named Shave-and-a-haircut-two. Look, I get punchy on off-days during the playoffs, OK?
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
@Mel Powell, Lol. You’re a ham!
signed, Kevin Bacon-Bitz ~
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Listening to the Radio feed of the blues/sharks game (blues announcers). Not sure it’s their fault, but the producer should be fired. Nothing is working for them.
Never heard of so many problems.
‘Are you there? We can hear you, but you can’t hear us?”
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Trip Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
@Lake Forest, Radio feed?
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
@Trip, Exactly …. it’s like ‘trip up’ ??
Surely you trip someone ‘down’, right?
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Figured Bitz was going to miss some games. Still wish that Weber was assessed at least a 1 game suspension since he clearly wanted to hurt the other player, not just throw a check.
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I think it was @Stuart who called the outcome of these suspensions last night. Bitz would get a few games because he’s a no name player, and Weber wouldn’t get suspended because he’s a star player. Props Stuart.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
@CB14, Okay @CB14, @Stuart of LA Kings gets all his info from @Adam M, @CB14
So if @Stuart gets info he wants to get info of LA Kings
So here is my LA Kings best line for LA Kings to win the Stanley Cup
Richardson Parse Gagne
so what do you think
(@Adam M, you know this is a tribute, right?)
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Just for conversation, and please note that I hate the ducks, but last year Bobby Ryan was suspended one game for purposefully and intentionally stepping on an opposing Nashville player.
Shea Webber, purposefully and intentionally punches, THEN grabs another players head and drives it straight into the glass and gets fined a minutes worth of salary.
Byron Bitz, who clearly deserved a 5 minute major, game misconduct, who makes a bad play, but someone who I think tried to make a hockey play, and was very unsuccessful gets two games in the playoffs. I think Jarret Stoll made a similar play last year and got the gate for one game, and was NOT called for the penalty. I thought the Stoll suspension was the right call, and I think Bitz should have gotten the same fate.
My arguement would be that I thought Ryan, and Weber were trying to hurt the opposing teams player, where as Bitz like Stoll made a terrible play, but I do not believe the intent was there.
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CB14 Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
@the dude, The only thing that I can think of is that Clifford, and the player Stoll hit, were both injured where as Zetterberg was not. I’m not 100% sure, but I don’t think the person Ryan stomped on was injured either.
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Never thought Shanny would suspend him. Right call.
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At the risk of rehashing the kings tweet story, I saw this from last year and hand no idea it happened…
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/lightning-fans-force-bruins-to-remove-bear-ads-mocking-tampa?urn=nhl,wp5215
For the record, even the Vancouver press is embarrassed by the outrage. I still say it’s crass for a pro organization to tweet that stuff, but it pales in comparison to what the Bruins did.
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jess Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),
I agree that the King’s org would be better served to keep a low profile and just focus on winning. Let the Nucks attract all of the public attention with their antics which has and should continue to play against them.
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From Capgeek on Twitter
#NHL Shea Weber fined $2,500 from his $7.5m salary — applying the same ratio to someone making $50,000, that’s $16.
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 12:16 am
@Osaka, wow.
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And thru all this, Cheater Clowe gets nothing!
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jess Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
@BarMade,
True, but glad at least it didn’t happen during a series.
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The league hypocrisy about hits to the head gets my blood boiling.
Webber gets a fine for his attempt t injure Zetterberg by slamming his head on the boards. Bitz gets 2 games for the headhunting hit on Clifford. Neither penalty fit the crime accordingly. They rarely do.
These head targeting incidents will not stop until the NHL and NHLPA agree to hold the entire organization and the coaching staff accountable for every single incident where the player’s head was a target.
Fine the team $100,000 for every day a player gets suspended for a hit to the head and see how long it takes for the headhunters to disappear into obscurity. Until and unless the teams owners, management and coaches agree to own up to what their players do on the ice, every single word coming out of the league’s mouth regarding player health concerns is nothing but hypocritical BS.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
@Gustavo, If they’re all in on the racket, Gus, that leaves you, me, and the other fans alone on the outside.
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Why didn’t Shanahan look at Kesler Spearing Stoll in the “sack”. That should have been 5 and a game misconduct.
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I would have loved if it was a “five-minor major.”
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Get well soon Cliffy! I wouldn’t be surprised to see DS put Westy in lineup tomorrow night. I’m not saying it’s the right call necessarily, but we know it’s going to be another physical battle and I’m not sure Lokti can hang.
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Just a thought…the “your welcome” to the rest of Canada amounts to a “your welcome” to the league. I mean, I don’t think any American teams (per se) and their fans like him any more than the rest of Canada. That sentiment probably also matches the league office. Meaning…maybe the league office is ready to punish Vancouver’s over-the-top breaches of etiquette. We’ll know that’s the case if they start calling the diving. Apparently, according to the NBC play-by-play guy last night, one ref did sorta look at Sedin and roll his eyes after a belly flop.
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another one BITZ the dust
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