The Hockey News: Ken Campbell's blog: THN.com Blog: The good and bad of the Red Wing suspensions

THN.com Blog: The good and bad of the Red Wing suspensions

The Red Wings won't have a single player in Sunday's All-Star Game after Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk dropped out Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ken Campbell
2009-01-23 20:49:00

Good for the NHL for lowering the boom on Nicklas Lidstrom and the Detroit Red Wings. At least it shows the league has a modicum of respect for its fans.

Lidstrom? Well, perhaps not so much. Lidstrom is apparently “injured” with a tendon problem in his elbow, however, the injury wasn’t severe enough to keep him from scoring two goals in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night.

It did, however, give him an excuse to beg off the All-Star Game. Pavel Datsyuk, who left the same game in the third period with a hip pointer, also isn’t here for the festivities.

All of which prompted the NHL to announce that neither Lidstrom nor Datsyuk will be playing Tuesday night when the Red Wings visit the Columbus Blue Jackets. And it’s not as though the players or the Red Wings didn’t see this coming. The rule to take the action was passed at the GMs meetings last February and both players were well aware of what would happen.

Datsyuk could probably make a case for being legitimately injured, since he left the game Tuesday night. Although Lidstrom has been bothered by his elbow injury all year, I defy anyone to name me one player in the All-Star Game that isn’t playing through one kind of nagging injury or another.

What would concern me more as a Wings/NHL fan is that both Lidstrom and Datsyuk skipped the event knowing they would have to sit out a game after the all-star break.

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I can’t imagine the fans in Columbus, who paid for a ticket thinking they’d have a chance to see the reigning Norris Trophy winner and one of the most electrifying players in the NHL, are pleased with the news. Even though it gives the Blue Jackets a much better chance of winning that game, those people will be denied that opportunity.

And the Red Wings are just five points behind the San Jose Sharks for first place in the Western Conference. What if they lose Tuesday night in Columbus, then finish a point behind the Sharks and face them in Game 7 of the Western Conference final?

I can’t imagine the Red Wings will be too thrilled with Lidstrom’s and Datsyuk’s decision then.

Ken Campbell, author of the book Habs Heroes, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Wednesday and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (85)

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mistert581 Posted
(2009-05-31 16:54:04)

You know I'm 14 years old and I know real hockey better than you.

Donald McIntosh Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:48)

Billwinkle, check your history! It wasn't Tojo that made that statement, it was Admiral Yamamoto after master minding the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Steve Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:40)

You got to be kidding me. I can't believe I'm reading an article by a writer of this fine publication that is belittling Nicklas Lidstrom's character and putting gary bettman's integrity above his...pfft. The day I have more respect for a lawyer than a player that has gone to every NHL award ceremony and what, 9 other All-Star Games to help promote the game is the day I'll see world peace which will obviously never happen at least in our lifetime. So Lids didn't want to go, so what! Find a replacement for him. So Rafalski and Hossa already made plans with their family and friends and bowed out also, no other Red Wings on the roster left to ask to rep. and play in the game???? Chelios Monday said the players didn't even know about bettman's "policy" and Lids was informed about if he went to brown nose gary's sponsors for the 3 days event then he could play Tuesday but it wasn't til Friday that they told him this! The league is never going to be able to make players that make millions that are injured play in a game in the middle of the season that has no bearing on the Stanley Cup Finals. Move the game to after the season is over like football does with the Pro Bowl or make the games winner get home ice advantage in the Finals for incentive for the players since the game is getting more boring each year it is played under bettman's rule. I watched some replays of the 1980 and 1983 games and those All-Star Games were 10 times more entertaining with the player even checking a little bit and it looked like they tried harder to outplay the other Conference back in the day when they weren't named generic East & West. Firebettman.com

Brett Lance Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:27)

You going to respond to any of this Campbell?

jim partridge Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:27)

Wow Ken, you actually know how Wings management will react towards the two players. Well I'll bet you that management has no problem with two of the premier players on and off the ice missing a game. This is an organization that has let Brad Stuart miss games after just signing him so he could be with his wife during labor, this is more common than not. They take care of their players and in turn the players have paid back the organization with a nice 17 year playoff run. Why do you think Lidstrom, Yzerman, Hossa, Shanahan etc...gave up money to play for the Wings. So I'd bet your salary and a beer that Mr. Ilitch has no problem. Oh and I'll also bet you that these "rules" will be different next year if it concerns any of Bettman's infatuations......

Tiny19 Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:27)

dw2927- Remember last years " No octopus on the ice or it will be a 2 minute bench minor"? I don't remember hearing that one when Florida was chucking hundreds of rats at Patrick Roy. all of the sudden Detroit can't celebrate a tradition that's been happening since 1952. What did PETA call an threaten a lawsuit on Buttman, Give me a break. Also why did the league have to verbally remind The Wings that Tomas Holmstrom has a big ass and will be peanalized for it. When more than 1 goal gets called back in a series because of ass interference and the TV announcers are even upset about the calls what do you expect. I think all us Detroit fans would really like is to play hockey by the same rule book as the other 29 teams in the league use.....

Tiny19 Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:27)

I recall Martin Brodeur skipping last years ASG for I believe was called family reasons. They mentioned that this rule was discussed before last years game. Now I don't know what Marty's family deal was, And if it was something that was of great importance, I'm glad the league gave him the time off. But, did they try to force him to go to Atlanta or sit a game. I'm glad he took the time off, because family is far more important than sport. Just wondering what the leagues stance was, as I can't remember.

BIllwinkle Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:26)

As it turns out, there was no written policy on this, so Bettman was able to make one up last week, including the exceptions for Sid the Squid and Mason. The Players' Association has filed an action on this, so we may get some more info on this soon, but the more we know, the worse it gets. The Wings are pissed, all of them. "All we have done", said Tojo: "Is awake a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

William Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:25)

Understandable why it has been so hard for Europeans to win NHL hardware until recently. Lidstrom should have 8 Norris trophies instead of six but NA media voters robbed him of two in which he was runner-up (Blake and Pronger were gifted these awards - just look at the numbers). More bias isn't a surprise here. If this were Steve Yzerman rather than Lidstrom (and I think the comparison is fair as would Stevie Y) being held out of Tuesday's game the CanadiAn press would be up in arms and near rioting, in fact, were it Steve Yzerman Mr. Bettman would not have dared suspend him. As much as I dislike Bettman and feel he is ruining the league I must give him credit in this case - he chose his battle wisely; he found a way for the CanadiAn golden boy to escape a suspension and back-handed a couple of Euros from that pesky Detroit team that keeps stepping on his dreams of league-wide parity.

Donald McIntosh Posted
(2009-04-30 07:46:22)

All Star Game? Skills Competition? Watched a little of both and came to the conclusion it's all a big farce! If Bettman thinks this is the way to "expose the game" he's an uncertified nutcase, as attested to by "banning" Lids and Pavs from playing in Columbus. What the hell is happening to the greatest hockey league in the world? I know it's a business, but don't screw up the teams that make it work. What a Dilbert!

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