Sutton On Dupuis
Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jan 20, 01:04 AM | Hype this story!
The Penguins dispatching of the Islanders tonight is marred by the concern over the health of Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis.
In the wake of the recent CHL events featuring Zach Kassian and Patrice Cormier, it becomes a heavier subject for us considering it is our team and a player we cheer for directly involved.
Dupuis had initiated his turn towards the glass to protect the puck well before Sutton had initiated his check between the shoulder blades. The correct call was made, and Sutton was issued a five minute boarding major.
The hit is below for those that didn’t see it. Please excuse the poor quality.
What’s more shocking than the hit, to me, is the eagerness of the New York Islanders Television staff and Felix Potvin of NHL On The Fly to dismiss this hit as Dupuis wrongdoing and move along with the situation.
Andy Sutton doesn’t exactly have a penchant for being a clean player. He’s only been suspended once, but his reputation for taking cheap shots and being dirty certainly precedes him.
In this case, the line of thinking for Sutton defenders is that Dupuis should have been more careful and not turned his back on a bigger player in the boards. They’ll also put forth some hypothesis about Andy Sutton’s intent in the situation. He didn’t “mean” to injure him.
Folks, in light of the recent situations in the Junior scene, and with thoughts of Dupuis fresh in my mind, I say that the day we begin deciphering intent on these hits is the day we officially resign in attempting to put this type of dirty play to an end.
It is, without a doubt, a complete joke.
Andy Sutton had every intention of putting Dupuis face first into the boards. He slammed his back right between the numbers after Dupuis had already began a puck-protection technique. There is no question about this. It was a dirty hit.
What’s more disturbing is that the referee nearest to the play didn’t bother raising his arm to call a penalty. It was the back ref who made the decision.
Harken back to Roloson tripping Max Talbot in the second period. The referee blatantly didn’t call a penalty. Paul Steigerwald passed it off as “managing the game.”
Call me crazy, but I’d like to see an NHL where “managing the game” actually means making the right call, on the right player, regardless of the score, and regardless of who started what.
From Stephan Auger, to what seems to be a completely random system of suspensions and fines, to grossly inconsistent officiating, it’s about time Colin Campbell does something right.
You can start by fining and suspending Andy Sutton.
The problem extends beyond Campbell, however. Lou Lamoriello, after the Cormier/Tam incident, didn’t believe Cormier should be suspended indefinitely for what he did.
When the owners aren’t willing to pony up and call for justice, it’s a sad state of affairs.
And unfortunately for someone out there, it will take a paralysis or near-death experience before the NHL wakes up and fixes this problem once and for all.
Until then, cue more excuses about intent and leading with the shoulder.
Comments
Ivan
Jan 20, 01:49 AM
You’re absolutely right, Jesse. This was a dirty hit all the way and the NHL probably won’t do much. I see maybe a 2-game suspension coming depending on Dupuis’ health. But this in my book should be a 5-gamer. You make Sutton sit for 5, and he won’t ever make this mistake again. He saw Dupuis’ number and nailed him with a textbook illegal boarding hit, with terrible consequences. That’s all there is to it.
You give him at least 4 games and it would make plenty of headlines and send a message around the league.
But of course, he’ll get probably a game or 2.
Brock
Jan 20, 02:09 AM
One thing I found somewhat heartening about this was the instant reaction of all the players. Everyone on the ice, not just the Penguins, realized something was wrong, stopped, and congregated to make sure Dupuis was okay. You can see Roloson waving his stick at the Pittsburgh bench to indicate that the trainers were needed.
Also, I don’t necessarily want to toot the leadership horns, but look at Crosby and Guerin, right there, supporting Dupuis while he’s down. That’s our team.
Zach Boslett
Jan 20, 02:56 AM
One thing to Sutton’s credit – he manned up after the game and took credit for the hit: (courtesy of Empty Netters)
-A ver remorseful Andy Sutton spoke of his hit on Dupuis after the game. On the hit:
“Just playing my usual game, tying to play hard, finish checks. I feel awful. I’ve played with Pascal. I’ve known him a long time. I obvioulsy never intended for that happen.”
-Does he expect any supplementary discipline:
“I don’t know.”
-How would he describe the hit:
“Obviously it wasn’t clean. Pascal was injured. I just hope he’s okay. That’s about all I can say.”
~~That being said, it should be at least a 2-3 game suspension and a fine.
I’m interested what Sid would have done to the 6’6” 240lb Sutton if Dupuis had been alright.
DaBich
Jan 20, 06:47 AM
I sure hope there is a suspension, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t. Nothing this joke of a league does anymore surprises me.
The non-call on Roloson for tripping Max was ridiculous, and I could have strangled Steigy for his lame comment. Don’t condone this crap, speak up about it for goodness sake!!!! The ref who didn’t make that call should also be reprimanded if not more.
When I saw Duper not moving and the blood pooling on the ice, I got a very sick feeling in my stomach.
Colin Campbell, are you there????
Brad
Jan 20, 08:19 AM
The strong influence in the NHL of the Canadian traditionalist is why this crap keeps happening and the league does nothing to really deal with it. I heard Potvin’s comments and that is the exact mentality that I am talking about. Potvin called it a “hockey play” I’m sorry Mr. Potvin but Andy Sutton should know better than to intentionally use is large body & strength to smash someone’s face into the dasher board no matter what the circumstances are.
Simply shameful. Sutton should get 5 games minimum and Potvin should be called out.
Chris A
Jan 20, 11:35 AM
I don’t believe there was intent to injure there, but it is a “dirty” hit and does deserve a suspension.
I don’t think there can be any fair comparison between this and the Cormier elbow. With the latter, there can be little doubt that it was intent to injure.
Despite this dirty hit by Sutton, he’s still the #1 guy on my list of who I hope the Pens pick up at the deadline. Unfortunately NYI are currently in the playoffs and unlikely to be sellers.
Natty Lite
Jan 20, 01:02 PM
Regardless of Sutton’s “intent”, he knew Dupuis was in a compromising position but yet never adjusted his impact accordingly.
Apparently he talks ethics lessons from the Great Leader.
Regarding Roloson, I gained alot of respect for him as a hockey player last night. It was not his teammate but he still got the attention of the training staff and even went over to Dana Heinz and escorted him across the ice to Duper.
Neither thing is something he was required to do, but as a sportsman and good person, he did it anyways.
DaBich
Jan 20, 01:32 PM
Natty, that was AFTER he whacked Max with his stick… ;)
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