Penguins’ owner Mario Lemieux once famously referred to the National Hockey League as a “garage league” based on the fact that star players were not protected and clutching, grabbing etc was allowed to run rampant. The league eventually went out of its way to fix those problems and came out of the 2004-05 lockout a revamped league.
Unfortunately, based on the situation that occurred on Long Island on Friday night Lemieux felt that he needed to share his opinions once again and they aren’t pretty. Here is the statement that he released via the Penguins’ website regarding the discipline that was handed out in the fall-out of Friday’s events…
Statement from Pittsburgh Penguins Co-Owner and Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux
“Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.
“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.
“We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.
“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”
Pretty harsh stuff from a very respected owner and former player… what do you think of Mario’s take?
BEST.PICTURE.EVER!
Mario is right on and he sort of echoed what Paul Steigerwald said during the broadcast on FSN.(Mario was not as obvious with his bias) The Isles are an embarrassment based on productivity, but when they put people like Tyler Gillies on the ice its a whole new level of it. 9 games was not enough for him. He’s 32, hes played a handful of games in the NHL(due most likely to injuries), and he has zero class.
KICK ASS Mario !!! This JOKE of a League needs It
Worst picture ever 🙂
I thought Steigerwald and Errey made asses of themselves with the comments they made. Weren’t the Pens in pretty much the same situation as the Islanders not long ago?
It’s hard for people to take the comments too serious from Mario (I agree what the Islanders did was disgraceful that game) when the Islanders write cheques to Matt Cooke and lead the NHL in fighting majors.
Just non Pens opinion on the sublect.
Again I agree what the Islanders did that game was a total disgrace.
UMMM they were talking about what was going on on the ICE dimwit
name calling is always good and very mature.
They were ripping on the Islanders for being doormat for years and so on.
The Pens were a doormat for years as well, that’s how they got Sid, Geno, Staal and MAF but don’t like facts get in the way of a good story.
wow, nice job by me, lets try that again.
name calling is always good and very mature.
They were ripping on the Islanders for being a doormat for years and so on.
The Pens were a doormat for years as well, that’s how they got Sid, Geno, Staal and MAF but don’t let facts get in the way of a good story.
BOY you are The Master of reality Aren’t You ? & they won the SC what has Fisherman done CONTINUALLY BLOWN DEAD GOATS !! Fired a Respected GM because he wouldn’t let the Criminal Joke of an owner Wing, Wong, Wang stick his DICK in the Punchbowl !! so he then Hires his Backup Goalie & they are worse Now than ever so he fires a Coach who did as good as job as he could considering the MORON Owner & Incompetent GM !! Also Look at the MAGNIFICENT deals Milbury Made !! END OF ARGUMENT & STORY KthxBYE
Buts I have to agree with the Steigy and Errey comment….
I have to admit I am sick of them as callers of the Pens games. They are too one sided, the only commentators that are close are the Boston boys on NESN.
I think they got caught up in the shock of the incident and let their ‘homerism’ show through even more than usual.
Ignoring what happened on the ice and who’s fault it was, they didn’t call what was going on out there as it happened they called it through the eyes of a fan.
That is not their job, when stuff like that happens they have to call what is happening on the ice, not saying it is all the islanders fault, the Pens were just as at fault in a few of those situations on the ice, it was not all one way.
The Penguins were not angles in that fracas, and Steigy and Errey basically made them out to be.
I think the league blew it as well. What really was the difference between what Bertuzzi did to Moore and what Martin did to Talbot? The answer: injury. The league tends to land harder on the perp if there’s an injury and that’s wrong. Punish the act and not the outcome. Talbot it very lucky he saw it coming at the last second. If he hadn’t we’d have another side saying “he should be suspended for as long as Talbot is out” which is also silly. Let’s not also forget that the Isles were out to get retribution on Talbot for what was a clean hit, but their buddy got hurt from that hit so it gives them the right to go batshit on the ice. (sarcasm, folks)