Downie gets 20 games

The NHL levied a 20-game suspension on Flyers prospect Steve Downie for his flagrant hit on Dean McAmmond. It is the fifth longest suspension in NHL history.

To satisfy the ban, Downie must be on the Flyers' 23-man roster for the requisite number of regular season/playoff games. He is also prohibited from playing in the Flyers' last preseason tune-up against the Rangers, however Downie can play in the AHL during his suspension.

GM Paul Holmgren will have to get creative to allow Downie to serve the suspension without stunting the player's development or eating up Philly's cap space.

According to Holmgren, the plan is to deal with the suspension in small chunks, while keeping Downie playing in the AHL...

Holmgren said that Downie would play for the Phantoms and be recalled to the Flyers on days when the Phantoms are not playing. On those days, Downie's salary would be counted against the Flyers' cap.

- Philadelphia Daily News

In response to the increase in head shots last season, the NHL established criteria by which league disciplinarian Colin Campbell will assess suspensions:

- hit unsuspecting player in the head
- hit that is late
- repeat offender
- target the head
- launching
- results in injury (and its severity)

The teams and players were aware of this, thanks to a DVD circulated by the league.

Downie's hit fit the bill in all but the "repeat offender" category. Expect his next dirty hit - and there will be one, the kid's a head case - to satisfy all six criteria.

Update: The AHL has ruled Downie ineligible to play the first month of the season. He can return November 3. Will/can the Flyers call him back up (at least on paper) in the meantime to start serving some of his 20-game NHL suspension?

More on the Downie-McAmmond affair

"I didn't mean to hurt him and I hope he's OK. My game's to hit and to finish the check. I'm just trying to earn a spot on the roster. It's part of my game and I apologize for him getting hurt. I thought I got him clean. Once we hit the boards after, I asked if he was okay."

- Steve Downie

Gee, how gentlemanly of you. Don't suppose he had much of an answer, being unconscious and all.

God, I hate this kid. What a waste of hockey talent.

There are players who push it to the edge in finishing their checks (Ryan Hollweg) and there are those who attempt to injure (Colby Armstrong). While the former is questionable, there is no room for the latter, which includes Downie.

Sens lose McAmmond to vicious hit

Ottawa defeated Philadelphia tonight, but it was at a cost.

After taking a heavy check, Flyers prospect/punk Steve Downie looked for some retribution lining up Senators center Dean McAmmond. Leaving his feet, Downie drove McAmmond head first into the boards knocking him out cold. McAmmond was taken off on a stretcher and was later diagnosed with a concussion. Here's the video.

This could very well mark the end of McAmmond's career. He has a history of concussions, the last thanks to a Chris Pronger elbow during the Stanley Cup finals. McAmmond did not return for during the playoffs.

Steve Downie was identified as a head case early in his young hockey career. In junior, Downie was suspended for a cross-check to the mouth of rookie Windsor Spitfires teammate Akim Aliu during practice. London Knights fans remember Downie's spear to defenceman Ryan Martinelli during a playoff series against the Peterborough Petes. Last year, Downie was traded from Peterborough to the Kitchener Rangers where fans and teammates were treated to shows of sportsanship like this.

For those counting, that's 3 teams in 4 years for the talented winger with an anger management problem. Can you say Billy Tibbets, anyone?