Is the NHL being too harsh?

[22 Twos]

If you don't follow the NHL you obviously haven't heard about the hit that landed Downie a 20 game suspension.
Do you think that the NHL is being too harsh? The hit was dirty, but i think that 20 games is a lot just for a flying elbow. I was honestly shocked, because i expected like a 5-7 game type thing.

[THEOSU]

i know a blue jacket got a game misconduct for "elbowing" on a clean hit through the middle with his shoulder.

i certainly understand the need to protect their players, however. and if downie really laid a flying elbow on mcamond (i could not really tell from that angle) then 20 games seems reasonable.

[g-bebe]

This was already talked about in several other threads. I think it was fine suspending him this long.

[TripleH68]

Don Cherry: Steve Downie should have been suspended 30 games for "cheap shot"

Don Cherry thinks Steve Downie got off easy.

The outspoken commentator said Downie should have been suspended 30 games for his pre-season hit on Dean McAmmond during Saturday night's segment of Coach's Corner on CBC's Hockey Night In Canada.

Cherry called the hit by the Philadelphia Flyers forward on the Senators defenceman a "cheap shot" and added that players shouldn't hit like that in the pre-season.

"That was a cheap shot. He deserved to get the 20 games. In fact, I would have given another 10 games for hitting in an exhibition game," Cherry said. "You don't hit like that in exhibition games."

[GrowingPains]

don cherry sounds like a bigger moron every time i hear him speak.

[morello]

If Downie had hit a European player, Don Cherry would say that Europeans are soft and need to suck it up.

[4_2_it]

It sends a message to all scrubs and AHLers trying to stick with their NHL club that cheap shots are not a way to make an impression in the pre-season. I guess 20 games is what they felt was necessary to get the point across. Kudos to the league for considering the situation when determining what type of discipline to impose.

[grando]

if I ever hear don cherry say anything about anything, I assume the opposite is actually closer to the truth

[Hoya]

Downie is a top prospect, not an AHL scrub.

[GrowingPains]

[ QUOTE ]
Downie is a top prospect, not an AHL scrub.

[/ QUOTE ]
yeah, it's not like he has no skill.