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Tucker, on Boxing Day no less (sorry, just couldn't resist the irony) hit New Jersey's Cam Janssen on the head, twice, with Janssen's helmet (which he ripped off Janssen's head) during a fight.
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Leaving aside for the moment that it was a fight, a situation where history, even NHL history, shows it is generally presumed as an intent is to batter an opponent into submission, what did he think Tucker's intention was? To show the merits of quality-made equipment? And, for the record, did he happen to ask Tucker exactly what his intentions were if swinging a helmeted-fist weren't designed to hurt Janssen? Did he ask Janssen, did he ask the New Jersey Devils medical staff, did he consult the Marquis of Queensbury rules?
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You might remember he re-wrote the published rules (not an uncommon occurrence in the NHL) to absolve Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky of a $10,000 fine for an altercation involving one of Gretzky's players, then later invoked the original rule to fine Ottawa Coach Bryan Murray and suspend one of a Murray's players. In both cases, the situations were virtually identical. However, Gretzky got the pass because Campbell said he didn't think it was Gretzky's intention to violate the rule. You would think Murray would argue the same, but that's not the way Campbell saw it.
He fined Toronto coach Pat Quinn for speaking out against the new rules and the general quality of play in the league at a time when the league was (and apparently still is) very sensitive to even constructive criticism about its reinvented game; but gave a pass to Detroit captain Steve Yzerman for doing exactly the same thing.
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Leaving aside for the moment that it was a fight, a situation where history, even NHL history, shows it is generally presumed as an intent is to batter an opponent into submission, what did he think Tucker's intention was? To show the merits of quality-made equipment? And, for the record, did he happen to ask Tucker exactly what his intentions were if swinging a helmeted-fist weren't designed to hurt Janssen? Did he ask Janssen, did he ask the New Jersey Devils medical staff, did he consult the Marquis of Queensbury rules?
...
You might remember he re-wrote the published rules (not an uncommon occurrence in the NHL) to absolve Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky of a $10,000 fine for an altercation involving one of Gretzky's players, then later invoked the original rule to fine Ottawa Coach Bryan Murray and suspend one of a Murray's players. In both cases, the situations were virtually identical. However, Gretzky got the pass because Campbell said he didn't think it was Gretzky's intention to violate the rule. You would think Murray would argue the same, but that's not the way Campbell saw it.
He fined Toronto coach Pat Quinn for speaking out against the new rules and the general quality of play in the league at a time when the league was (and apparently still is) very sensitive to even constructive criticism about its reinvented game; but gave a pass to Detroit captain Steve Yzerman for doing exactly the same thing.
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Darcy Tucker takes fighting to another level versus Devils' rookie Cam Janssen.
