Top Shelf: Reasonable doubt gets Pronger off the hook
Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger has had a fair share of disciplinary measures levied against him during his career. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Ryan Dixon
2008-03-14 13:38:44
To simplify one of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of physics, every action has an opposite and equal reaction. But some irate Vancouver Canucks fans would have you believe in the NHL, the same action can produce opposite and completely unequal reactions.
In the wake of the league’s decision not to suspend Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger for stepping on Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler during Wednesday night’s game in Anaheim, there are cries of injustice and accusations of double standards for star players.
After all, just a few months ago then New York Islander Chris Simon was handed the longest suspension in league history for stomping on Pittsburgh’s Jarkko Ruutu.
Let’s get this out of the way right now. Pronger’s action was not the same as Simon’s .
Deciphering another person’s intent can be difficult, but for all intents and purposes, you could see the thought bubble forming above Simon’s head that said: “You’re not going to like this one, Jarkko.”
The Pronger situation, on the other hand, is much more convoluted. There’s no doubt his skate makes contact with Kesler’s leg. But it also appears Pronger is trying to yank his foot free from where it was clearly wedged between Kesler’s legs.
And here’s a law of physics nobody would need Newton to explain: Ice is slippery. While Pronger is vigorously trying to yank one foot free, the other one, which he’s trying to plant on a patch of ice, is obviously not as stable as it otherwise might be. One foot slips a little, the other one drops.
It could be as simple as that.
However, while his history is certainly not Simon-esque, Pronger hasn’t exactly been a model NHL citizen. The man did have two suspensions in last year’s playoffs alone and already introduced himself to Kesler by cross-checking him after the Canucks forward had scored a goal in a 4-0 Vancouver win back in November.
(Between the abuse Pronger and Jesse Boulerice have handed him, Kesler’s got to be in the running for most battered body this season).
Giving Pronger the benefit of the doubt in any incident, some would say, is akin to entrusting a ‘Wallet Inspector’ who approaches you on the street.
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Others will claim the reason Pronger got off was because he’s an elite player, but that argument loses face in the fact the NHL hasn’t hesitated to mandate the big blueliner miss games for past indiscretions.
The bottom line is NHL senior executive vice-president of hockey operations, Colin Campbell, can’t – and shouldn’t – convict on reputation or suspicion. He’s got to look at each incident individually and if it’s deemed suspension worthy, then let a player’s history play into the sentencing.
That’s why Simon got the severest sentence in league history. Don’t forget, he was fresh off serving a 25-gamer – for hacking the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg in the chest last spring – when he dropped his foot on Ruutu.
People will take one peek at Pronger’s rap sheet and conclude he must have meant to stomp on Kesler. My take, influenced by an Internet viewing with several other members of The Hockey News staff, is there’s at least as good a chance he didn’t mean to do it as a chance he did.
The truth is, it would have been the easiest thing in the world for Campbell to suspend Pronger for a handful of games, appease the Canucks, field one perturbed, but not vitriolic call from Anaheim GM Brian Burke and call it a day.
But obviously he believes the action was devoid of obvious intent, so Pronger skates away and the NHL avoids the dangerous precedent of conviction on character perception.
Ryan Dixon is a writer and copy editor for The Hockey News magazine, the co-author of the book Hockey's Young Guns and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Wednesdays and his column, Top Shelf, appears every second Friday.
For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.
Liam Djupstrom (Posted 2008-03-22 19:42:00)
I think Pronger needs a good beating for being a jackass. From what Ive heard so far, his on ice actions might reflect his off-ice actions as being a jackass. Whoever brings up the "toughness" part of it needs the same. Its a sport, for entertainment, yes these guys are role models, the game has changed and you cant two hand guys anymore, and guys dont settle things toe to toe anymore, oh well. Maybe we'll all figure it out someday that fighting really isnt that great for anything, not even sport. Im guessing most "tuff-guys" in the league are perfectly normal, polite, human beings off the ice w plenty of friends. (...."fake-fart-noise)....
wwage (Posted 2008-03-20 03:43:51)
Dixon, you read my mind. I don't know how many of these ridiculous people who are commenting play hockey, but when someone grabs your leg as you are trying to move, you fall. Ask someone to scissor your leg on regular flooring, and try to move. Now pretend you're on ice, you're 6'6 and the play is moving up ice where you should be. Yeah he was anxious. I'm not defending his other hits, but this is stupid. It was by no means a stomp. Step is accurate. Let's not forget Kesler wasn't injured. If Pronger wanted to muster all of his 220 lbs and cut through Kesler's woolen sock, he would have been injured. Unless your implying Kelser's socks are made of teflon? Lucky for him then.
nhlshootouts (Posted 2008-03-18 09:29:56)
Chris Pronger knew what he was doing. His skate got stuck between the legs of a fallen Ryan Kesler. Pronger got upset and intentionally stomped on Kesler's leg. Pronger did not slip. He did it on purpose. It's possible that Kesler intentionally tried to trap Pronger's foot, but that's no reason to try to injure someone with a skate blade. Pronger has a long history of trying to hurt people intentionally. The Pronger apologists are obviously biased.
David Caldwell (Posted 2008-03-16 14:38:25)
Biggest goon in the league, by far. Plays with a blatant disregard for the rules and gets away with it. Could be called for a penalty every shift if the refs had any backbone. They truly seem to fear the guy. Then he whines about it. Did you read the article in the hockey news last year when they watched the game with him while he was suspended? "If that was me..." What a loser. By the way Edmonton fans, he left your city because his wife found about about his girlfriend and told him they either move or she's gone. Does that clear things up?
mssr (Posted 2008-03-15 22:24:33)
It is a very rare instance where I do not agree with Mr. Dixon. This is one of them. From any angle, it is crystal clear. Pronger suspended for remainder of season, including playoffs. Period. If every incident injures others due to "accidents", he should not be allowed to play with people who can control their sticks, skates, elbows, knees, tempers, foreign objects etc... Nice job Mr. Campbell, as well. You and Mr. Bettman should start a vaudeville act.
K. Wagner (Posted 2008-03-15 18:58:22)
Granted, Pronger is no angel. Still, looking at the video the entire action takes place in about 3-5 seconds of time. No real conclusion can be drawn about what he was doing. The action can be judged either way. The puck was on its way to the other end of the ice, where Pronger needed to be. He had to get out of there. Was he taking the time to get an extra hurt on Kesler? Or just trying to get back to the action? Hockey is a split second game. The NHL can't read minds, but they can expect players to be responsable for their skate blades as well as sticks, since there is a great possibility for injury. Pronger is one of those players you either love or hate, it all depends on whether he is on your team (love him) or not on your team (hate him). I have watched Pronger from both perspectives, and it is likely that love/hate perspective that is influencing the opinions of the people on this blog.
Kirk R. Agthe (Posted 2008-03-15 15:32:10)
I hope I never have any of you people on the jury if I were ever being tried. Slow motion (or super-slow motion) imparts a totally different take (and often makes something look worse than it is)on things that happen in a second or two flash. NOONE can know what a persons intentions were at that moment. Hockey is a rough game,and as a defenseman Pronger is being held in the offensive zone while the play is already back at center ice. It might simply be a thoughtless effort to get back in the play as soon as possible. No one can or will ever know
Michael Figueiredo (Posted 2008-03-15 13:25:53)
Oh that is complete BS.
The bottom line is that pronger is a goon, a thug and a goon, hes hurt people.
he has a bad history which proves that this stuff is thought up its not just impulse.
The difference between simon and pronger?
Prongers more important to his team stats wise.
Last year in the finals he should have been given a minimum 2-3 game suspension.
PERIOD.
He hurt mcammond hurting the sens roster, dean didnt return pronger came back in one.
SO ALL TEAMS TAKE NOTE!
Knock out Crosby from behind and as long as your an important player its okay.
Bottom line pronger should be penalized equally and hurt his team rosterwise through suspension due to his stupid actions.
Ryan (Posted 2008-03-15 13:16:17)
Completely off base here. I don't agree that Simon's penalty should be used as the determiner for the length of a suspension to Pronger since one incident occurred during play and the other well after a whistle during a TV timeout, but players absolutely must be responsible for where they put their skates when another player is prone. Even if his actions were merely reckless--and the fact that he didn't stomp his foot down once, but _twice_--he deserves a suspension for the incident. Mr. Dixon applauds Campbell for not sending a message at the expense of Pronger, but that's clearly what needs to be done to curb the potential for other incidents like this happening. Campbell has, once again, managed to make a mess out of an open-and-shut case.
poploser (Posted 2008-03-15 13:03:15)
is it April Fools already? This story has to be a joke.
DRB (Posted 2008-03-15 12:46:21)
Hey Ryan, get your verbage straight. Pronger did not "step" on his leg - Pronger "stomped" on his leg. He should be done for the season (playoffs included) !!!
Scott Stinson (Posted 2008-03-15 11:37:56)
A slip? You people need to discover the wonderful world of HDTV!!!! He clearly intended to stomp on Kesler's leg, if he where just tring to get his leg out he wouldn't have been looking down, he would have kept his eye on the play. Pronger's style of play and his ability to make every team he plays on a Stanley Cup conteder (how much does Edmonton miss him?) makes him one of the most exiting players to watch but it seems this star status has made him on of the most diffucult to discipline, his elbow(s) in last years playoffs where deserving of much harsher suspensions yet he only got 1 game for injuring 2 players? No player, regardless of his stature, should be above being held accountable for his actions, its time for the NHL to step up and hold every player equally accountable regardless of how good he makes a team.
jj jones (Posted 2008-03-15 11:20:00)
Looks like you and Mr.Campbell really fell for what Pronger was selling. He clearly saw the opportunity to accidentally assault someone and took it. He thinks he can get away with anything. Assault, walking out on a contract. His ego is dangerously out of control and I think it is only a matter of time until he seriously injures someone. When that happens Campbell must take some of the responsibility.
Louis Chirillo (Posted 2008-03-15 10:56:40)
Watching the video a couple of times, I see Pronger pull his leg away from Kesler, then before skating away, deliberately stomping on Kesler's leg. For guys like Chris Simon, it's a lengthy suspension. For a star player, it's business as usual. No wonder the NHL continues to be ranked below NASCAR and WWE.
terry vedas (Posted 2008-03-15 10:48:06)
Dixon's comments don't stand up to the internal logic of his own aurgument. If we are to "interpret" Pronger's actions, past precedent would indicate a strong propensity for unsportsman like actions like this. I also agree with one of the other comments suggesting that high sticking (for instance) is not open to interpretation (and one might add the controversial "delay of game" penalties that have impacted the final score of games). While those are ingame decisions (and this is ex post facto), the point remains valid. The NHL needs to be consistent in the way it enforces policies least it fall into the disgusting morass of NBA style "figure skating" interpretation of rules!
Mike Kidd (Posted 2008-03-15 10:19:28)
I find it absolutely mind boggling that anybody could defend Pronger's actions.So what if Kesler impeded his progress,I've watched the video at least a dozen times and Pronger is clearly looking at Kesler's legs and not only that,he stomped him twice.A precedent has been set for this type of trash - 30 games.This is no different than what Simon did,but guess what,the NHL has no stones when it comes to a "Star player" being suspended.Anything less than 30 games is a disgrace!
Diane G (Posted 2008-03-15 09:55:29)
Pronger should not have gotten a susupension and this shouldn't even be talked about. It is very clear Pronger was trying to get his leg loose and Kesler was not letting him go. Pronger is trying to skate away and rejoin the play. You Pronger haters need to grow up. Watch another game so you can find another player to complain about!
Tom M (Posted 2008-03-15 08:53:12)
this article is a joke!! Pronger deliberately stepped on his leg. a profession athlete, who is paid millions of dollars to make decisions and react in a split second, cannot control his foot enough to move it an inch or two to the side to stop his skate from coming down on another player's leg.. and this wasn't happening at light speed. a joke. it was intentional. Pronger was watching his foot at all times.come on, his shield impeded his vision??? Chris Stomper should be suspended
Bill Thompson (Posted 2008-03-15 08:26:13)
S U S P E N D C O L I N C A M P B E L L
Bernie Hotham (Posted 2008-03-15 08:00:34)
Brian Burke,Do I need to say more.
Robert Rutkowski (Posted 2008-03-15 07:56:01)
Looking at the video. It looks more like Pronger was trying to get his leg out Kesler hold . In the Heat of a game someone needs to hold your league and you try and get it out even when you do i bet your will come back down. This has no comparison to Simon as Simon knocked down Ruutu then watched himself stomp on him. Pronger can be dirty as we found out but really this was not was not with intent
Brock Leroux (Posted 2008-03-15 01:54:16)
Well sir!!
It was exactly the same....period...
Pronger or Simon...hmmm.Who's the bigger gate draw there?
Sometimes you guys at THN are so off base.
Usually not.
Nick (Posted 2008-03-15 00:22:05)
It's a little ridiculous to say that he was losing his balance. He was obviously on his feet and was just annoyed that Kesler was wrapping him up; the stomp, and it clearly was a stomp, was in retaliation for Kesler trying to wrap him up in his legs. I agree that it wasn't as bad as Simon's stomp, but at the same time it merits a suspension of at least a few games. Why should anything like this be tolerated at all? Why should dirty play be allowed to go unpunished? It smacks of preferential treatment to allow a star like Pronger get away this, while a thug like Simon gets punished.
Daryl Lyseng (Posted 2008-03-14 23:33:43)
I agree with Mr. Dixon wholeheartedly. I too, think that elite players should be able to hurt other players with impunity. That's what makes hockey so entertaining. Kind of like WWE Wrestling. Campbell should feel free to invoke the Double-Standard rule whenever he feels like it.
Mike Kidd (Posted 2008-03-14 23:28:49)
Mr. Dixon are you blind?Did you watch the same video as the rest of the planet?And what does intent have to do with anything?Yeah sure,he slipped.If it looks like a duck,it smells like a duck and it quacks like a duck - well then it must be a duck.A stomp is a stomp.30 games.
Aaron (Posted 2008-03-14 23:21:04)
Intentional if you ask me. He was caught up, but that last one was obvious. Pronger is a goon, but since he can put in the occasional point, he is let off the hook again and again.
In the play-offs last year, his token one-game suspensions weren't enough to put his behavior in check.
glenn t (Posted 2008-03-14 22:13:16)
Amen! Black Irish...could'nt have said it better myself!
Colin (Posted 2008-03-14 21:57:14)
To say that there was no intent in the "Pronger two-step" is like saying that figure skating is a sport - it's an assertion you can only believe if you're a die-hard fan of Pronger or of figure skating. Fact is, Pronger is a first-class toolbag who never misses a chance to sneak in a cheap shot whenever he can.
Fred Bartsch (Posted 2008-03-14 21:12:55)
Mr Dixon, I have to ask you a favor. PLEASE go and have your "EYES" checked, as I think you are going BLIND! If you have had a recent eye examination then the only thing I ask is send me some of the stuff you must be "SMOKING". Honestly Mr. Dixon if you really believe what you are writing then you should be writing for motion pictures, NOT HOCKEY! To even make a statement that this is "NOT" simular to Simon's episiode you have to be kidding or you were watching another game and just thought you saw the Pronger incident. GET REAL!
Robert (Posted 2008-03-14 20:24:06)
PROPOSTEROUS! Ice was also slippery when McSorely swung his stick at Donald Brashear's head. Athletes need to be accountable for their actions. Weather they play on grass, or ice.
JC (Posted 2008-03-14 20:03:43)
What a ridiculous insult to our collective intelligence. I vehemently disagree with Mr.Dixon. There SHOULD be stiffer repercussions on repeat offenders ESPECIALLY if they're supposed to be our "star players". These "star players" the NHL uses to sell us the sport should be the most accountable for their actions since THEY'RE the reason the cap keeps increasing as do our ticket prices! Oh one more thing...Mr.Burke sure yields a lot more power than originally thought...it appears a DUCK can easily DUCK-UP another player and STILL be eligible for the playoffs! What a disgrace! Just another example how gutless the NHL is, and how it'll NEVER be on the same level as other pro leagues. Perhaps Colin Campbell is in l ine to take over Burke's GM position when Burke bolts to TORONTO??? Pathetic of you Mr.Campbell.
Trever (Posted 2008-03-14 17:11:48)
I love how Dixon says Pronger "stepped" on Kesler like it was an Accident that he politley appologized for. what a joke.
Chris "knuckles" Nilan (Posted 2008-03-14 16:51:04)
WHAT IF CHRIS PRONGER HAD STEPPED ON COLIN CAMPBELL'S SON GREGORY CAMPBELL WHO PLAYS FOR THE FLORIDA PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marc (Posted 2008-03-14 16:25:38)
Luke DeCock of the Raleigh N&O wrote a good story about suspensions at this link. Colin Campbell's comments are a bit disturbing.
http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/999555.html
Ken (Posted 2008-03-14 16:19:51)
Kesler was still falling when his legs were tangled up in Pronger, he wasn't clutching on to him. If Pronger really is an elite player, he wouldn't "lose his balance" so easily. No, it's not the same as what Simon did...so give him ten, not thirty.
James Finney (Posted 2008-03-14 16:16:24)
Theres only one difference between Pronger's stomp and Simon's stomp:
Pronger is one of the leagues best defensemen (though he does often take cheap-shots) whereas Simon is just a goon.
If Simon, Rutuu, Brashear, Laroque, Boogard, Neil, etc. had done the same exact action, it would be a lengthy suspension. This is a perfect opportunity for the league to show that it will not favor star players and that it will suspend them significantly for dirty playing.
Lyle (Posted 2008-03-14 16:13:40)
Bah!!!! The media falls into the NHL doctrine. Pronger should have got way more last year in the playoffs. He got off because "Ew you don't want to affect the Ducks chances by suspending an "elite" goon, I mean player". Why not? 7 suspensions??? And this should be 8. It's funny how all the media are backtracking now the new video has surfaced. And don't tell me that Campbell didn't see the new one before he made his decision. The double standard is a disgrace!!
Black Irish (Posted 2008-03-14 15:59:53)
Besides, it's not like it's a court of law, Reasonable Doubt and Double Jeopardy don't apply..how about common sense??
Black Irish (Posted 2008-03-14 15:49:47)
Ha!! "Oh dear, I(stomp) appear(stomp) to(stomp) be(stomp) stuck(stomp)?!? Pronger would be lurking in the park, mugging old ladies if he couldn't skate
Chris (Posted 2008-03-14 15:05:28)
Ryan, your kidding me by saying Pronger's actions were different than Simon's? last time I checked, a stomp on someone's leg is a stomp on someone's leg. I didn't realize there were different ways to accomplish that. You can't give 1 guy 30 games and another guy nothing for the same exact thing just because Pronger is a star. typical NHL bush league and we wonder why the national media doesn't take Hockey seriously.
chris (Posted 2008-03-14 14:59:30)
This is getting ridiculous. it wasn't even a stomp, he was trying to skate away from kessler who was blatantly grabbing his leg. come on guys, grow up and don't let your hatred for pronger impair your opinions.
Mr. William (Posted 2008-03-14 14:56:40)
It sure looked like a stomp to me. If his one skate was slipping on the ice and he happened to put his other skate down on Kesler to keep his balance he would have toppled right over. I'd like to see anyone stay balanced while wearing skates and standing on someone's leg. The way I saw it was that Pronger was fully balanced on his one skate which is why he was able to step on Kesler without falling down. In my opinion the only difference between this incident and Simon's was that Simon had the cameras zoomed in on him whereas Pronger's occured behind the play leaving only the grainy image. The intent to injure was exactly the same. I think most fans are disgusted by the lack of a suspension and hopefully it is the begining of the end for Mr. Inconsistency Colin Campbell.
Gary (Posted 2008-03-14 14:40:08)
umm....has anyone stopped to consider the fact that maybe his jaw guard is messing with his downward vision?
Just a thought....
Try walking while looking through a foggy concave piece of plastic...you'll see what i mean ;)
Personally i think he was trying to yank his leg free and lost his balance.
Kesler should have just stopped scissoring his legs and let pronger get his skate out.
Kurt (Posted 2008-03-14 14:36:23)
I have to agree with Craig. Pronger should have received much longer suspensions for his cheapshots in the playoffs last year. This was ridiculous. There was clear intent, Pronger is a known thug, and he is too good a skater to have "slipped." Give me a break! If the league is not going to do anything about a star player like Pronger's continued cheapshots, then perhaps the fans of retribution are right and somebody needs to seriously gete even with pronger for a career's worth of dirty play!
Jay R (Posted 2008-03-14 14:31:14)
I believe Campbell and the NHL head office is corrupt.He's obviously kissing Burke's hide for future employment opportunities.As for Pronger,he's not a goon,just a gutless coward who never fights or drops his stick.He's got a long track record of offences followed by short suspensions.Proof that he gets off easy.Just ask the waitress in Edmonton!
Tony (Posted 2008-03-14 14:28:02)
Watch the video! Pronger is a dirt bag and the NHL let's this idiot get away with that action. He CLEARLY stomps his skate on his leg (PERIOD).
Campbell NEEDS to be removed from the office.
Craig (Posted 2008-03-14 14:21:36)
Or Campbell is a gutless fool, who's hoping Burke can help get a GM posting one day. Pronger has been suspended twice in last years playoffs, but if those head shots had come from Boulerice, or Bertuzzi, or even a second tier star like Tucker, the punishment would have been significantly greater then one game. Pronger always gets of easy, do I think there was intent to injure when he stepped on Kesler, No, but I does that excuse the action? in the real world a crime, regardless of intent is still punished. On intended murder is manslaughter, unintended injury is negligence resulting in bodily harm. Campbell has a double standard and you see it every day, the question is wether this double standard is due to his own incompetence, bias, or league mandated? regardless, if you are talented and dirty you get a pass. How often did Pavel Bure get sat down by the league, yet he often left his feet to deliver an elbow when he was cheesed off. And if it's all about intent, why did Mattias Ohlund, (who has never previously been suspended) get four games for slashing Koivu in a knee jerk response, does intent not require thought and yet Ohlunds action (which where rightfully penalyzed) was clearly a reaction with out thought. Pronger, who maliciously knocked Kessler down with a huge illegal cross check after a whistle while the Canuck was celebrating a goal got nothing. Is there not more intent in skating over and two handing someone aftet the play then swinging back?
Walterburrows (Posted 2008-03-14 14:18:42)
Yesterday I commented on this incident. I upset some people with my opinion, and by my non-chalent attitude. While it's true that no injury occured, clearer video reveald today, suggests that the atttemt to injure was evident.This is unacceptable!Pronger should not have gotten away with this! He could have seriously injured Ryan Kesler.The NHL blew it on this one. Unforunately, people make mistakes. In this case, myself, the league and in particular, Chris Pronger.Even if he was trying to get free, and it may have been a split decision, quick reflex reaction!This could have been tragic if he had come down on anther part of the anatomy.I'm again, very sorry, for my remarks made yesterday.
Jay R (Posted 2008-03-14 14:10:26)
Get it right Dixon! Simon whacked Hollwegg in the face,not chest! Also,Pronger looked down and intentionally stepped on him.Give your head a shake!!!!
Rocco Russo (Posted 2008-03-14 14:05:25)
Ok, Mr. Dixon. Now that we're only going to punish based on interpretting intent over the actual act committed, I'd like you to explain to me why it's still a penalty to high stick someone, even when it's not always intentional. As soon as people like you stop making excuses for dangerous acts, intentional or not, we can get back to playing real hockey. Maybe someday there will real respect among players, care and concern for your actions on the ice, and accountability when rules are broken. Accidents can and will happen; that's the nature of a fast moving, physical game like hockey. But just because the action wasn't intended doesn't mean it couldn't have been prevented. I'll be curious to hear what you have to say after a player is paralyzed or killed from a hit from behind. I mean, it happens all the time, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not, and suspensions are usually handed out according to the severity of the injury. So, what will be the appropriate punishment when someone gets killed out there? According to you, if their intent isn't clear, no punishment is neccessary. There will always be the chance of rare and freak accidents (ala Richard Zednick); but "hockey plays" that continue to result in injury need to be eliminated. I used quotes for "hockey plays" because I'm not talking about clean checks. We all know the all too common "physical play" that passes for checking now a days. I hope someday people realize that the game need be no less physical yet rid of all the cheap shots and dirty, dangerous actions that have become an all too common occurence.
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