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

[Stonehands 1]

It's 3 games because it's a completely avoidable play. Most of the other suspensions being brought up here are guys finishing their checks, or checks that are slightly late. This was an elbow to the head of a guy who was meters away from the puck.

but there are alot of avoidable plays, rarely do you see 3 games is all i'm saying

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

I have rarely seen a player elbow a guy in the head when they are nowhere close to the puck.

I mean, at least not since Messier retired.

 

[Incognito]

The issue isn't the suspension in and of itself. It's the total lack of consistency. I could be wrong, but to the best of my recollection, other bad hits thrown in the playoffs in recent years have rarely been punished to this degree, even when it's a repeat offender involved - which Bunting isn't.

I don't believe that the league has it in for Toronto. Back in 2021, Bettman even took the rare step of going against the DoPS and reducing Jason Spezza's suspension from 6 games to 4. I do think it's a possibility that Parros may have a personal vendetta against the Leafs (though even then, the phrase "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity" likely applies here). Either way, it is somewhat baffling that the league continues to let a mush-brained walking vegetable like Parros run the DoPS.

 

[Stonehands 1]

Not sure about 2022 but Kadri got 8 games in 2021. Schiefele got 4.

Don't tell me about Kadri, he f***ed the Leafs over twice agaist the Bruins

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Whatever you people are watching isn't hockey anymore. Willfully ignorant, blind sheeple creating your very own new reality that exists only in your own heads. Talk about a hive mind with an IQ of 69. Go be a fan of soccer or water polo something. Hockey's cold dead corpse can't take your abuse anymore.

Contrary to your memory, you've never been able to elbow guys who are nowhere near the puck in the head. Maybe back in the day when NHL players were milkmen and firemen and played hockey on the side.

 

[Stonehands 1]

Not sure about 2022 but Kadri got 8 games in 2021. Schiefele got 4.

What did shefle do

 

[quat]

I get major Alex Burrows vibes from Bunting. Constant whining, bitching, diving, recklessness. Going to hurt the Leafs in the long run.

Yeah, the trail of bodies Burrows left behind was carnage not witnessed in decades.

 

[Panthaz89]

You are asking me why apples are not punished the same as oranges.

Yes, it is true that some suspensions should had been longer. But this does not mean that every other suspension is unfair.

And, the last thing the NHL neads is to give a green light to players headhunting other players away from the puck. I do believe that they had to send a clear message that this is unacceptable.

Cool then punish Cernak for the elbows he delivers to the head away from the puck pretty much every game he plays lmao.

Also, this bs about play away from the puck doesn't really hold weight it's just an interference penalty I don't get why whether the player has the puck or not matters when you shouldn't be elbowing someone either way nor charging the fact doesn't change that another player targeted someone else.

 

[Oddbob]

Dirty for sure, and suspend-able, but some are acting like this was super dirty and intentional. I don't like Bunting, but this seems like just a bad hit vs major intent to injure to me.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I get major Alex Burrows vibes from Bunting. Constant whining, bitching, diving, recklessness. Going to hurt the Leafs in the long run.

Burrows was twice the player Bunting was. And while he did the whining and diving he never deliberately hurt someone like Bunting did.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

This Leafs fan could give the slightest f that Bunting is suspended for potentially the rest of the series.

It does not matter.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Also, this bs about play away from the puck doesn't really hold weight it's just an interference penalty I don't get why whether the player has the puck or not matters when you shouldn't be elbowing someone either way nor charging the fact doesn't change that another player targeted someone else.

It's explained if you just watch the video. Cernak has no reason to expect a hit, and therefore can't properly prepare himself for the contact. That's why it matters that it was away from the puck.

 

[State of Hockey]

The DoPS spinning wheel of justice strikes again. Comparing this punishment to Hartman's is laughable. It's painfully clear that the league puts its thumb on the scale of outcomes. The only other option would be gross incompetence, but if that were the case, they'd get it right by chance more often than they do now.

 

[Stonehands 1]

Dirty for sure, and suspend-able, but some are acting like this was super dirty and intentional. I don't like Bunting, but this seems like just a bad hit vs major intent to injure to me.

Ya, suspendable, but 3 games, if the roles had been reversed i doubt Cernack would have gotten 3 games

 

[DistantThunderRep]

It's explained if you just watch the video. Cernak has no reason to expect a hit, and therefore can't properly prepare himself for the contact. That's why it matters that it was away from the puck.

Ssssshhhh he's trying make new cannon lore.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

The DoPS spinning wheel of justice strikes again. Comparing this punishment to Hartman's is laughable. It's painfully clear that the league puts its thumb on the scale of outcomes. The only other option would be gross incompetence, but if that were the case, they'd get it right by chance more often than they do now.

Did Hartman elbow Ehlers in the head?

 

[Edgelord]

don't really care if Bunting is in the line up but 3 feels 1 game too many

 

[DcW]

Should have been 2 games. Extra game was because of who it was.

 

[Oddbob]

Ya, suspendable, but 3 games, if the roles had been reversed i doubt Cernack would have gotten 3 games

I think 1 was fair. Not sure if he has been suspended before or not. If he has that would play a part in it.

 

[State of Hockey]

Did Hartman elbow Ehlers in the head?

Did Bunting clearly target a guy and lay a violent full body check? Is bunting a repeat offender?

 

[Stonehands 1]

I think 1 was fair. Not sure if he has been suspended before or not. If he has that would play a part in it.

he wasn't

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Did Bunting clearly target a guy and lay a violent full body check? Is bunting a repeat offender?

Yes. No. Now you answer my question.

 

[Panthaz89]

It's explained if you just watch the video. Cernak has no reason to expect a hit, and therefore can't properly prepare himself for the contact. That's why it matters that it was away from the puck.

Really the guy who constantly elbows a ton of players without the puck in a game isn't expecting the same? Maybe not expecting to be hit in the face but pretending like he's not the one also stirring that garbage up is laughable.

 

[Mattb124]

I am almost as shocked that the suspension was 3 games (I figured it would be 1) as I am that people thought the elbow was unintentional. I can’t squint hard enough to even bring that into the realm of possibility.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

I’m neutral on this. Not a fan of ether team. I have not hitched my wagon with my team out of the playoffs to ether of these teams. That said, I would have given him 2 games. I understand 3. And 1 would have been to little. He made a horrible choice in a split second that deserves suspension but I don’t think he stepped on the ice with intent. That said I’d rather the league make a trend of going one degree too high on a suspension than too low. It’s better to shoot high then dial back when needed than shoot to low and have to react to push up.