Puck Podcast – November 3, 2007

In this week’s episode we discuss the hit Randy Jones put on Patrice Bergeron, the suspension Jones received, the injuries to Bergeron as well as whether or not Bergeron is partially to blame. We talk with Columbus Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline about their strong start to the season. We also argue over a possible rule change to the shootout, we recap a busy week in the NHL and get you caught up on all the highlights, milestones and injuries as well as tell you about Wayne Gretzky’s garage sale and a whole lot more.

About Doug Stolhand 27106 Articles
Doug Stolhand is one of the co-founders and co-hosts of the Puck Podcast and has been a member of the NHL media since the show's inception in 2006.

6 Comments

  1. I agree with Eddie (but please don’t speak any more french :-). Penalties in overtime should carry over to the shootout, just like a penalty in regulation is carried over to overtime. It only makes sense.

    Current rule is “All players are eligible to participate in the shootout unless they are serving a tenminute
    misconduct or have been assessed a game misconduct or
    match penalty.”

  2. As far as with Wayne and his garage sale. I am guessing that he had made the commitment and the event was planned well before the fires. Gretzky was kind of in a lose lose position in this situation. He could have pulled out of the garage sale and donated it for the fires but in doing so he would have looked like an ass for withdrawing what he already said he would give to children.

    I think that the noble act would have been for the school to say that part of the money made would be donated to fire victims.

  3. I forgot to add that at the bottom right hand corner of the NHL webpage they have a link for NHL Live from 12 – 2 ET. I have never tuned in becuase I am listening to the FAN590 Hockey Central at Noon which is a good show that you can listen to online.

  4. An especially great podcast last week guys! It was highly entertaining listening to the two of you debating the oft-changed rules of the NHL and who was responsible for Patrice Bergeron’s woes. Good stuff.

    As far as whether or not Rick Tocchet should have been allowed to return as a coach in the NHL… it’s probably because a gambling addiction (if proven) qualifies as a disability, hence Bettman and the powers-that-be letting him resume his coaching career. To fire a person for something that’s been proven as a disability in a court of law would only allow Tocchet the chance to level a lawsuit against the NHL, and that would probably be worse for our sport’s image than simply sweeping this whole ordeal under the rug, which is what happened. I could be wrong of course, but it’s possible.

  5. Regarding Rick Tocchet and his return to the NHL. Like Ed, I was surprised by this. The one thing professional sports leagues cannot abide is any perception of fixed or tainted games. If a player or coach is involved in gambling, there is always the possibility that they bet on a game in which they are involved. That taints the game.

    I think Doug made a comment about the league not being able to legislate behavior. But this isn’t legislation, it’s simply workplace regulation. Every workplace “legislates” behavior. You don’t have to commit a crime to get fired, you just have to do something that violates company policy. The NHL can certainly establish a policy that says gambling is forbidden and you’ll be fired if you engage in it. Nobody has any inalienable right to work for the NHL or its constituent teams.

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