Bunting got 5 and a game for elbow to the head of Cernak (suspended 3 games)

[HanSolo]

3 games is wild for the playoffs but good for the DOPS.

 

[Keystone]

Makes no sense to me. Comparing it to the Hartman/Ehlers hit which was 1 regular season game suspension, which seemed light, and Hartman was a previous offender I believe. While Bunting targeted head, Hartman brought a guy going 30km/h to a dead stop, which probably had a nasty effect on the head/neck/chest/shoulder,etc. I was expecting 1 , maybe 2 playoff games.

 

[Divine]

The correct amount.
- jump
- chicken wing
- on purpose
- puck nowhere near

But they reduced it to 3 because the Leafs are stronger without him.
No they can get the series to a 3-1 and then it‘s fair game.

Missed the game misconduct which accounts for 1x, and 2x playoff multipler.

So this is a 7 game suspension by NHL standards.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I meant Dubas. Bunting while a twat, is still a skilled and useful player that increases Toronto's odds if playing.

Dubas is on an expiring contract.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I thought it would be 2, but not shocked by 3.

 

[sennysensen]

I was sure it would be 1 or 2. Maybe more because like others said, Cernak wasn't part of the play.

 

[Tryblot]

If you're a player like Bunting who can't help but cross the line, then you need to make the conscious decision to play as far as you can away from it.

The thing is, is the moment he stops playing close to the line is the moment he stops being effective. Players like that need to play close to the line.

 

[notbias]

3 games is wild for the playoffs but good for the DOPS.

Good for them if they were consistent... this won't start a trend... look at the suspension last week for reference.

 

[bossram]

I keep seeing this first offense nonsense. This wasn't a good hit gone bad, he deliberately elbowed a player in the head and that player is now injured and wont play next game.

The fact that its his first time being suspended is irrelevant.

Factually, no. Repeat offender status is a criterion used to increase suspension length. Bunting is not a repeat offender.

Is this hit suspension worthy? Yes. But it’s another case showing DOPS have no clue what they’re doing. It’s completely out of line with prior punishments they themselves have doled out.

The Hartman hit was equally malicious. They deemed it a one regular season game punishment. For Bunting’s to be 3 regular season games is absurd.

If they want to set a standard of tougher punishment, I am for that. But we all know that won’t be the case. The next headshot that rolls around will be given a fine or one game suspension. DOPS never has been consistent. And with the buffoons in charge, it is a guarantee they won’t be.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Who draws in? Knies?

 

[Oleksiak]

What did you want, lifetime ban for a first time offense?

Playoffs games are typically charged at twice the rate of a regular season games... The last time somebody got 6 games was Marchand for literally suckered punching and swinging his stick at Jarrys head. That's even with a history (which Bunting doesn't have).

Shouldn't have been allowed back into the series at a minimum. First offence or not, that was completely unacceptable. Bunting needs to be shown that he needs to either start playing like a man or look for another line of work.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Makes no sense to me. Comparing it to the Hartman/Ehlers hit which was 1 regular season game suspension, which seemed light, and Hartman was a previous offender I believe. While Bunting targeted head, Hartman brought a guy going 30km/h to a dead stop, which probably had a nasty effect on the head/neck/chest/shoulder,etc. I was expecting 1 , maybe 2 playoff games.

Yeah it being days after the Hartman hit kind of highlights the lack of consistence in player safety. I do not give a damn about losing Bunting for 3 games but the Hartman hit being 1 regular season game and Bunting being 3 playoff games just does not compute within logic.

 

[bossram]

Good for them if they were consistent... this won't start a trend... look at the suspension last week for reference.

Yep. I’m all for harsher punishments. But this won’t be the standard. DOPS is forever inconsistent and incompetent.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Dubas is on an expiring contract.

Didn't know that.

 

[Sheppy]

I figured two games… 3 might be a tad on the higher side.

 

[bossram]

Shouldn't have been allowed back into the series at a minimum. First offence or not, that was completely unacceptable. Bunting needs to be shown that he needs to either start playing like a man or look for another line of work.

Get real dude. This punishment is not at all in line with similar hits.

 

[BTP]

Shouldn't have been allowed back into the series at a minimum. First offence or not, that was completely unacceptable. Bunting needs to be shown that he needs to either start playing like a man or look for another line of work.

Cant even tell if you guys are joking or not anymore

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Bunts was not gonna see the ice again this series after costing his team any shot at a comeback. It would have been a sign of weakness from Keefe. If it has been 1 game instead of 3, same outcome. Dude was gonna be in the press box as a message to the team that you can’t defeat yourselves.

 

[HanSolo]

Good for them if they were consistent... this won't start a trend... look at the suspension last week for reference.

True. Still though. Nice to see them get it right this time. You want the privilege to be a key factor in your team's playoff run? Don't do shit like this. Inconsistency doesn't help deterrence but maybe if they start dispensing with the mindset of "it's not fair to the rest of the team to have to suffer a key player being out" it might encourage some individual and team accountability to reign it the f*** in and deliver clean/legal checks as opposed to emotional, reckless/intentional ones.

 

[Empoleon8771]

3 is deserved because of how downright needless and moronic it was

 

[Oil Spill]

It was a cheap shot, suprised they gave him 3 even though it was probably correct.

 

[Oleksiak]

Get real dude. This punishment is not at all in line with similar hits.

Agreed, it's lighter.

 

[General Fanager]

The Leafs are better off without him anyways. He is too risky to have on the ice when each game means so much.

 

[CatchyTune]

Watch the Leafs benefit from him not being in the lineup. Less dumb penalties and nonsense.

Knies will provide much more skill likely on O’Reilly’s wing

 

[notbias]

True. Still though. Nice to see them get it right this time. You want the privilege to be a key factor in your team's playoff run? Don't do shit like this. Inconsistency doesn't help deterrence but maybe if they start dispensing with the mindset of "it's not fair to the rest of the team to have to suffer a key player being out" it might encourage some individual and team accountability to reign it the f*** in and deliver clean/legal checks as opposed to emotional, reckless/intentional ones.

I have 0 issues with the suspension if it was consistent... all I want is consistency.

No one thinks this is the standard moving forward when a week ago the Hartman hit was 1 game.