Your argument about the rule book is also wrong. Google Sean Avery/Martin Brodeur. What Avery did wasn’t technically against any rule in the book. But the next day it was an illegal activity. The book wasn’t changed overnight, the league told players and refs it would not be allowed. Strike two.

A little knowledge about the subject goes a long way. Try it some time.

I don’t even remotely agree with a suspension. It was not a head show, and there was some good acting on Ryan’s part.

Lucic committed a penalty and deserved to serve the time in the box, not a suspension.

Do we now suspend everyone who commits a penalty? That’s a completely woos approach.

Let me be clear: the hit was wrong by definition. The rules are absolutely clear on this. Shanahan is just plain wrong on the call – he either forgot or ignored the rulebook’s own verdict. That said, the rules need some sort of acknowledgement of this situation – if a player’s on a break and chasing the puck, we can’t just have invincible, can’t-hit-me goalies flying out and playing it. There needs to be something in place to handle that.

#2 – It’s a ridiculous rule.
Ryan skates almost to the red line to play the puck while Lucic is booking towards the net?
What is Lucic supposed to do? Say… ‘Oh, weill excuse me Mr. Ryan, please play through?’
This isn’t Golf.
If a goalie wants to come out and play the puck in front of a pursuing defender, he should be fair game, just like anyone else playing the puck.

Positive result: Goalies decide to remain in the crease and let defenders play the puck that far out in THAT type of situation.

Unwritten rules? What is this? Baseball?

He claims that he attended a GM’s meeting during which it was “generaly agreed” that goalies would be untouchable. Here’s a little reminder for Fraser: secret alleged agreements that are reached behind closed doors do not control the rules of the game…the officials rules that are in the rule book do!

There’s a good reason for this. Players play the game with the known rules that are in the rule book in mind. You can’t penalize a player for playing within the written rules of the game but who is not in compliance with a secret, informal “general agreement” that was reached behind closed doors among some GMs.

Under the rules of the game, if a goalie leaves his crease and plays the puck, then he can be checked just like any other player who players the puck. Lucic did take several strides before the impact so there are valid grounds for arguably giving him a penalty for charging, but that’s all.