Reading this thread reminds me of why sometimes I'm annoyed by hockey fans. Hockey fans make up rules about "class" and "respect" that have ZERO relevance to anything. Seriously, ZERO people were in any way shape or form hurt by Lias's actions.
Mostly the people complaining about respect are the same people that 10-20 years ago were cheering on goons whose sole purpose was either to fight or hurt someone.
@Machinehead mentioned something that got lost in this thread. Mark Messier was one dirty SOB. He's universally respected and a lot of that is BECAUSE he was so dirty. You know, he was a good tough hockey player. When someone mentions that he's a dirty player people just say "that's hockey" or "that was hockey back then". This isn't the 1650s, this was 20-30 years ago. Deliberately trying to hurt someone shouldn't be thrown under the rug because "it was a different game back then".
Look at this beautiful perfectly classy hockey player that everyone on this board drools over:
That was just over 20 years ago.
Here's a documentary lauding Messier called ****ing "goals and elbows".
And everyone's favorite Adam Graves, who is a great guy outside the ice, mind you. But he broke Lemieux's wrist in a 1992 playoff game and Rangers fans are still complaining about his suspension.
Here's the classy slash:
All of the people complaining because Lias Andersson did something of ZERO relevance to anyone's health or well being and in fact gifted someone a silver medal but are head over heels in love with how "tough" Messier is or are upset 25 years later that Adam Graves got suspended for a slash that broke Lemieux's wrist are hypocrites of the HIGHEST order.