The Pronger Stomping says it all. Pronger is the dirtiest player in the league. Pronger should be suspended for at least 10 games, Simon got 30, and i am not saying that Prongers was as bad as Simons, but he deserves a suspension.
I don't know if anyone remembers when Pronger was playing the falmes and he stomped on Ville Neiminen's skate, he has gotten away with this before, he needs to be punished!!
Yes, Anaheim fans like Chris Pronger. He's one of the best all round defensemen in the league! I wish I had seen this game so I could form some kind of opinion on what happened, but the game wasn't covered in my area. From what I've heard it was pretty bad and definitely deliberate. He'll always be a gritty player and one of the dirtier guys in the league, but at least he has other aspects to his game that make it impossible to completely hate him. I hated Pronger when he played for the Oilers and they took us down in the playoffs, but that was just because he put up points and got under our players' skin. I've had this conversation with tons of fans from other teams before and they all agree, everyone hates Pronger until he's on your team. When it comes down to it, just about any team would take him if they had the chance.
I would like to think that if he played for Calgary I would booo him every chance i had. i would like to boo him all the way to the stanly cup final, and when he helped us win the Stanley Cup I would boo him then, but be thankful that i could boo him every day.
Lol, yeah it's funny... I would've said the same thing before he came to Anaheim. I took a look at the footage on YouTube and yes, it was definitely a dirty play. He clearly did it because he was getting a leg lock around his skate, but that's definitely no excuse for what he did. At the same time, people are saying he should get 30 games like Simon, but I think that is waayyy too long considering the circumstances. I don't think he was trying to hurt the guy, he just wanted let him he couldn't get away with what he did. Simon definitely tried to hurt Ruutu, that's the difference. The biggest problem is the refs need to start calling the plays on the ice. I know they can't see everything but it seems like all of the worst hits, etc. always go uncalled in the game, but days later the player ends up getting a big suspension. That's just crazy to me, especially when so many of them happen right in front of the ref's view. Pronger was being held up and it should have been a penalty, but I understand that it is nothing compared to what he did in retaliation. Had there been a call though, it's possible there would have been no retaliation whatsoever.
THRILLAINVILLA, you are a Calgary fan so I'm assuming you saw the last game when they played the Ducks. Do you remember how much Phaneuf got away with that game with no call? It was ridiculous... I think he had one penalty that game but he could have had 4 or 5. Then, since the refs weren't calling the game well, the players on the ice had to start taking matters into their own hands to stick up for the team and it lead to a huge wave of penalties and fighting majors, all because they weren't keeping their eyes open for penalties everyone could see. I think that's the biggest problem right now, but sorry to stray so much from the real topic at hand.
Yes, Pronger should be suspended... but no more than 7 games.
Yes, Pronger should be suspended... but no more than 7 games.
If Pronger should get no more than 7, why did Simon get 30? This is just another example of how the NHL is getting increasingly more inconsistant with it's diciplinary actions. Has anyone ever taken into account Pronger's history when defending or downplaying his actions? I doubt it. Here's a list on Pronger's suspension throughout the years. It's not as though this is his first offence
I feel that Chris Simon had an intent to injure, but Pronger didn't. That's my opinion and that's why I talked about a disparity in the lengths of the two suspensions. But you're right, they won't suspend him just because its crunch time with playoffs around the corner and the NHL doesn't want to do anything to disrupt the highly competitive play in the Western Conference right now.
My prediction was pretty close... 8 games. I didn't think they would actually go through with it but I'm glad they did. This way the action doesn't go unpunished and people can't say the team is getting away with murder or anything.
Im a fan of Chris Pronger but i likehow steamedbroccoli said it. He does play for a very good coach. They won the stanley cup last year so they will cut him some slack even though he is very dirty with his hits. To be honest with u hes not the dirtiest in my opinion. I think ruutu is and im also a pittsburgh pens fan
Pronger is not the dirtiest player, but he is in the top 5. His last play wasn't his fault at the start, but that doesn't mean it is right as you can't let your anger effect your play, the teams play or most importantly put someone else at the risk of an injury. Ruutu is one of the worst, Phaneuf isn't the dirtiest but he gets away with a lot, but Simon takes the crown as he has committed the worst offenses.
As for do Anaheim fans like him? The answer is yes and no. We love him now that he plays for us (like most fans would) because he is one of the best defensemen in the league and generally has a good impact on us. However, he also bugs us because we know he is prone to stupid penalties and suspensions like this because his temper flares to easy. It hasn't come back to bite us yet, but doing this with 8 games left with 4 of them against Dallas or San Jose might just about do it. We love him and hate him all at once.
Flyers1218, who are you to talk about this subject? Coming from a team that I believe had three players suspended this season for about 10 games, some of those guys would have to be included as well. There are guys who are more dirty.
As a fan of the Ducks, yes I do like Pronger. I feel that he is one of the best players in the league. Of course, I am biased because he playes for one of my favorite teams.
The league has suspended him and it is up to them to decide how long, regardless of what the fans say or the other players (both for and against) his actions. And, yes, there are those that would say his actions were justified.
We, the fans, are not on the ice having to deal with the punishment that the players endure game after game. I realize it is by choice that they play and understand what happens during the game, but after a while it builds to a point where action is necessary. There are better ways to deal with the aggrivation other than stomping on someone and I'm sure many players think of this, though its after the fact.
Look at other major sports and you will see irrational outbursts. There are fights breaking out in football and baseball. Even basketball players have thrown fists. Hockey players have sticks and skates and can do serious damage when they get infuriated with an opposing player.
Yes, Pronger needs to be suspended for a duration. Yes, better mandates need to be in place to protect players and violators to be dealt with on an equal level. I don't agree with Prongers actions, but I will still be watching and cheering when he is on the ice making plays and helping our team get victories.
