Wilson suspension 20 games repeat offender (update - neutral arbitrator reduces to 14 games)

[LadyStanley]

Don't know what happened to previous thread.



But that's the latest.

Click to read more...

 

[BattleBorn]

It looks like the last thread got pushed to NHL Talk after a while, and I'm fairly certain I agree with that decision unless someone can make a case for it to be included here.

 

[LadyStanley]

Appeal to arbitrator is rare enough, it's good to see discussion of CBA in action.

 

[gstommylee]

If a person continues to do illegal checking in the head after being suspended and told to stop, i feel like there comes to a point of being harsh.

 

[mouser]

It looks like the last thread got pushed to NHL Talk after a while, and I'm fairly certain I agree with that decision unless someone can make a case for it to be included here.

This may be the first appeal of a DoPS suspension to the CBA neutral arbitrator. Wideman was not a DoPS suspension. I don't believe Raffi Torres appealed to the neutral arbitrator for either of his lengthy suspensions. Other lengthy suspensions like Chris Simon, Jesse Boulerice and Steve Downie pre-dated the creation of the DoPS.

 

[LadyStanley]

So, arbitrator didn't take same equation into consideration for increasing length due to closeness of suspensions.

Has sat out 16 games

 

[Healthy DiPietro]

A bit OT but why does the NHLPA always represent the offender in these cases? Shouldn't they be calling for even harsher fines and suspensions half the time if they're also supposed to represent the victims? I don't know much about these things but it seems to me they're always taking the side of the suspendee.

 

[gstommylee]

A bit OT but why does the NHLPA always represent the offender in these cases? Shouldn't they be calling for even harsher fines and suspensions half the time if they're also supposed to represent the victims? I don't know much about these things but it seems to me they're always taking the side of the suspendee.

That's my problem with the union on this issue.

 

[mouser]

Interesting, the arbitrator must have changed the formula the NHL used. Would very much like to know what other previous suspensions he based the change on.

 

[mouser]

So breaking down the ruling.

NHL DoPS standard applied was:
- DoPS valued playoff game suspension as being worth approximately 2 regular season games.
- Previous suspension was 3 playoff games (equal to 6 regular season games).
- DoPS applied a 3x multiplier to reach a suspension length of 18 games, then added 2 more for the injury to total 20.

Arbitrator:
- Disagreed with 3x multiplier, and changed the suspension to 2x, keeping everything else intact.
- Suspension changed to 2x multiplier for suspension length of 12 games, then added the 2 for injury to total 14.

So in summary:
- Arbitrator upheld principle of multiplier in subsequent suspensions.
- Arbitrator disagreed with the 3x multiplier, ruled 2x is appropriate.
- Arbitrator upheld playoff game suspensions being equal to 2 regular season games.
- Arbitrator upheld tacking on additional games for injury.

 

[Kane One]

So who pays Wilson the backpay? The NHL or the Capitals? I don't see why the Capitals will be cool with having to pay Wilson when the number of games to suspend him was not their decision.

 

[LadyStanley]

So who pays Wilson the backpay? The NHL or the Capitals? I don't see why the Capitals will be cool with having to pay Wilson when the number of games to suspend him was not their decision.

Wilson probably.

The fine was greater than his salary. So he'd have to make up the difference from his season signing bonus. Guessing he may have had to put funds in escrow to cover difference between salary and total fine.

 

[LadyStanley]

Exact wording from arbitrator

 

[LadyStanley]

Full description/info

 

[Roadrage]

So, how come the NHLPA not represent the victim of said hits? Is the victim not a member of the PA as well?

 

[LadyStanley]

@Roadrage -- they represent both.

 

[LadyStanley]

It's time to put an end to the NHL's Roulette Wheel of Justice - TheHockeyNews

THN looks at suspensions. Argues that perhaps the "roulette wheel of justice" won't continue. And to expect Das to be removed.

(It’s worth noting that Das handles all on-ice discipline appeals and Nicolau handles off-ice appeals. Das took on the Watson appeal only because Nicolau was unavailable.)
...
As Das pointed out, the length on these suspensions has to be based on formulas that make sense and adhere to precedent. And until the league and players establish a scale of suspensions for headshots and repeat offenders, the NHL Roulette Wheel of Justice™ is going to continue to be the determining factor.

The NHL and NHLPA can do better than this. It will take the kind of willingness to compromise that neither side seems to be in the mood to adopt these days, so it likely won’t happen. So we’ll all be left to guess what punishments players will receive when they step out of line.

So perhaps there will be some changes in the future.