[torradan]

Ut-oh... barely in the league, and you get to spend the first 1/4 of the season suspended. dumbass

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=219415&hubname=nhl

Quote:Colin Campbell, the NHL's Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, has suspended Downie for 20 games for his hit on Ottawa Senators forward Dean McAmmond in Thursday's exhibition game. Based on his average annual salary, Downie will forfeit $63,101 during his suspension.

''Over the last several months, the League has met with players, coaches, general managers and owners on the subject of hits to the head,'' said Campbell. ''While all of the stakeholders in our League agree that hitting is an important part of the essence of the NHL game, all were also unanimous in the belief that where a player deliberately targets an opponent's head, the conduct should be subject to review and the possible assessment of supplemental discipline.''

Downie will miss the first 20 regular season and/or playoff games (in addition to the last Flyers' pre-season game - Saturday vs. NY Rangers) that he is a member of the Flyers' 23-man roster. If Downie's 20 games are all served in the regular season, he would be eligible to return to the Flyers on November 23 for a game at home against the Capitals. The following day, they face the Senators in Ottawa.

The 20 games is the fifth longest suspension handed down by the League. New York Islanders' Chris Simon holds the longest at 25 games for his two-handed stick attack to the face of Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers last season.

''It is clear that, while Mr. Downie is not a repeat offender, all of the other factors identified as being particularly relevant in determining the appropriateness of discipline were involved in Downie's hit on Mr. McAmmond.  The hit was deliberate, dangerous and has no place in our League,'' Mr. Campbell added.

The Flyers were leading 2-1 when, at the 2:39 mark of the second, Downie skated the length of the ice and took a run at McAmmond, who had just released the puck while circling behind the Flyers' net and was met by Downie coming around the other side. Downie also appeared to leave his feet as he flattened the veteran. The jarring hit came moments after Downie was checked into the glass by Ottawa's Christoph Schubert in the Senators' zone.

The Senators forward was carried off on a stretcher, and the Senators announced earlier this week that there was a concussion and some muscle damage but no fractures.

McAmmond also suffered a concussion after a hit by Anaheim defenceman Chris Pronger in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final last June.  He's now had three concussions in four years.

The 20-year-old prospect gained a reputation at the junior level for some nasty play, but following Thursday's game said the hit wasn't pre-meditated, nor did he intend to go for McAmmond's head.