Maple Leafs Blame Sean Hill for not making the playoffs

[guinevere]

I didnt see that this had been posted. Apologies if it had.

So the Leafs blame Sean Hill for not making the playoffs...

'Dirty' Hill played for months after testing positive
TheStar.com (http://thestar.com/) - Sports - 'Dirty' Hill played for months after testing
positive

'For sure I think we would have made the playoffs,' says Leafs GM of
blueliner's impact on Islanders

June 05, 2007
DAMIEN COX
HOCKEY COLUMNIST

OTTAWA–The Maple Leafs finally have their answer, and neither they
nor their fans are going to like it very much.

It now appears defenceman Sean Hill of the New York Islanders likely
tested positive for an illegal performance enhancing drug sometime in
February and may have played as many as 20 regular-season games and
four playoff matches while appealing his mandatory 20-game
suspension. The information came to light yesterday during the NHL
general managers meeting when Leaf GM John Ferguson asked league
deputy commissioner Bill Daly for details on the Hill case.

Ferguson said he was told it was somewhere between 6-9 weeks from the
time the 37-year-old blueliner actually tested positive and April 20,
the day he was suspended prior to Game5 of the Islanders first-round
series against Buffalo.

"The issue is how many games was a dirty competitor allowed to
compete," said Ferguson, who was once a roommate of Hill's when both
played in Montreal's organization. "It was an outrage. It still is."

Hill was a key minute muncher on the Long Island defence alongside
partner Brendan Witt down the stretch and in the final week of the
season when the Isles won their last four games and knocked the Leafs
out of the playoffs on the final day of the season with a shootout
victory over the New Jersey Devils.

Hill played 22 minutes and 37 seconds in that game, which
conservatively occurred at least a month after the NHL Players'
Association appealed his suspension, and possibly two months from the
time he actually tested positive.

"For sure I think we would have made the playoffs," said Ferguson
when asked about the impact of Hill's delayed suspension. "I had
heard that it might have been as far back as February when he tested
positive, and clearly we now know it's an area that needs to be
addressed."

Daly confirmed yesterday the league wants to streamline the appeal
process by limiting possible grounds on which appeals can be made and
ensuring the time from appeal to a decision by an arbitrator doesn't
exceed 10 days.

The union has to agree to changes in the collective agreement, and
without an executive director in place in the wake of the firing of
Ted Saskin, the NHL may have difficulty getting the NHLPA to agree to
the changes before next season.

http://www.thestar. com/printArticle /221629 (http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/221629)

[nccanes]

First off - I don't defend what Hill did one bit.

Having said that: :lol: :lol: :lol: Those crazy Leafs.

Why aren't they blaming Hill for us beating them in '02 as well? I realize that there was no drug policy, but I thought that was because no one in the NHL used performance enhancing drugs?

If JFJr wants to discuss the appeal process in this whole deal (but that would be a tough thing to do given it's in the CBA) that's one thing, but to blame it on Hill? Who knew Hill had such supah powers he could single handedly accomplish this.



:lol: Thanks Guin!!!

[perfectstorm]

Sean Hill didn't make the Raycroft trade.

[Captain Slack]

:wah:

Oh, come on!!!!!! I've heard some crap in my day, but this just takes the cake!

One guy would have made that much of a difference? Give me a break!

Fact is JFJ, your team fell sort because the Islanders out played you down the stretch. Deal with it. Whining because Sean Hill was appealing a suspension won't change that.

Honestly, he sounds like a Sabres fan. :sick:

[nccanes]

The issue is how many games was a dirty competitor allowed to
compete," said Ferguson,

Yeah....how many games does Tucker get to play after some of his shenanigans? ;)

[puck_it]

well, I think they DO need to look at the process, because it really isnt all that fair around that time in the season, or any time in the season. 20 games is a LOT.

that said, dont cry over spilt milk.

[corylav]

"It could've been US getting ushered out of the first round!"

[caneshockeychick]

Well, I'm looking at Hill's Stat's page and he scored no goals from the end of Nov to the end of the season. Hmmm...as for assists, well he got 8 from February to the end of "his" season with the last coming on Mar. 30 vs. Buff. Oh yeah, he's a defenseman too!

Not sure how that hurts Toronto unless they just couldn't score when he was on the ice. Of course, Toronto could've won more games, ie score more goals and maybe they wouldn't have to be worrying about putting the blame on a player on another team. ;)

Not that I think what Hill was right but this is the lamest excuse ever!!!! :laugh:

[nccanes]

It's not fair at ANY time of the season. If Hill was caught and then suspended and at anytime of the season and the Isles grabbed the last playoff spot, you could point to any direct games with the #9 team and blame that.

I mean, the whole idea is silly. If you are automatically going to turn TO losses into wins, wouldn't you just also presume that the Isles would have lost EVERY game w/o Hill? Or with an un-juiced Hill?

Again, not saying the appeal process can't be sped up, but the rest is just Leaf fiction.

[puck_it]

^true that.

yes, it's quite possible the leafs could have made the playoffs. But buffalo probably would have spanked them too. i hope they sue the NHL and try to over turn the post season and have it palyed again in it's entirety (comedy at its finest)

[nccanes]

Right, but JFJ can predict it would have been his losses to turn into wins? Puh-leeze.

[puck_it]

everybody knows it would have been the Canes in the playoffs. DUH

[caneshockeychick]

I truly believe that there should be no performance enhancing drugs in Pro sports of any kind!!!!)I'm just saying I think its a bit ridiculous to lay the blame of Toronto's end of season woes on one player. In glancing at the stats, some nights he played longer than others, most nights (that I noticed) he was a minus. I'm just saying, nothing outstanding, statwise, to cause Toronto to miss out on getting their butts kicked by the Slugs in Round 1. ;)

[Canesluver]

I think it's Chris Pronger's fault that TO lost -- 'cause he's a pri*k.
:beatup:

[caniac369]

I'm surprised Cindy Ruff hasn't chimed in. :D

[Fghtr4jc]

Ahh, I can always count on Toronto to make me smile :) .

[kermelbar]

Lord, those guys are taking a page from Cindy's book, aren't they?

Let's see, the Pens have Sid the Kid (and Malkin and Baby Staal) and went down 4-1 to the Sens in the first round of the playoffs.

The Crapitals have AO and they didn't even make the playoffs.

And we're supposed to believe that a hopped-up Sean Hill made all the difference for the Islanders and, even moreso, the difference in why the some completely other team missed the playoffs?

I'm not saying what Hill did was OK -- and I'm realllllly disappointed that he did what he did -- but c'mon. Is there some kind of special Kool-Aid in the Great Lakes?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Honestly, he sounds like a Sabres fan. :sick:

I imagine the Sabres Nation learned from the best....their neighbors above the border.

[AbNormal27]

Lord, those guys are taking a page from Cindy's book, aren't they?

Let's see, the Pens have Sid the Kid (and Malkin and Baby Staal) and went down 4-1 to the Sens in the first round of the playoffs.

The Crapitals have AO and they didn't even make the playoffs.

And we're supposed to believe that a hopped-up Sean Hill made all the difference for the Islanders and, even moreso, the difference in why the some completely other team missed the playoffs?

40 years of excuses. Add this to the list.

Aaryn

[IceSun]

I imagine the Sabres Nation learned from the best....their neighbors above the border.

Maybe it's something (or a few things) in that Niagara Falls water.

If I closed my eyes, I'd swear it was Cindy talking...

Suck it up Leafs, we're not making excuses for our late season collapse - we simply didn't win the games we needed to, neither did you.

[puckin_A]

I thought that was a spoof!! lol...

seriously because of Sean Hill's square jaw, I always thought he looked like he was on steroids.

E, he MAY have been on them in 2002 and THAT is why the Leafs lost THAT series ;) .....................

thanks LEAFS for some comic humour while the Sens are down 3-1 .........

[SoCalcaniac]

:lol: OMG. Guin thank you soooo much for posting- I've not done my usual browsing of the Toronto Star lately, and boy I've been remiss. I also thought it was a joke until I saw Damien Cox's byline.....

You have GOT to be kidding me. Seriously. JFG is reallllllly reachin' isn't he? Seriously, did he say all that with a straight face? Were the media that were surely gathered to hear his lamenting snickering the entire time or were they all nodding in Leaf Kool-Aid agreement?

Obviously, like everyone else here, I'm not condoning one thing Sean Hill has done; but come ya'll. really. I'm so flabbergasted, I can't stop laughing enough to put together a thought other than, good grief.

Puckin', I always thought that square jaw/Tank McNamara look with that overly deep voice of Hill's was suspicious too, but because he was such a good guy, I never really thought anything of it....makes ya wonder about 2002.......

Like Aaryn said, add this to the 40 years of futility. ;)

This is totally the laugh of the day- especially with the Sens down 3-1 and the Cup waiting to come on out tonight.......

[dakuwan]

seriously because of Sean Hill's square jaw, I always thought he looked like he was on steroids.

I always thought Hill looked like an extra in the old Schwarzenegger movies like Commando, Raw Deal, etc.

[Kat]

I think it's Chris Pronger's fault that TO lost -- 'cause he's a pri*k.
:beatup:

:lol:

This is about the most ridiculous excuse I have ever read.

However, I do think the process needs reworked. 20 games after a positive test result is craziness.

[Canesluver]

I always thought Hill looked like an extra in the old Schwarzenegger movies like Commando, Raw Deal, etc.

I've always thought he looks like one of the "Rock-em-Sock-em Robots!"
(do they still make those? Man... I'm old!)
:beatup:

[ontheboards]

I certainly think the appeals process should be exhausted before a player faces suspension--- let's say Hill had a positive test result and was suspended from playing. The player sits out 6-9 weeks, misses 18 to 30 games and it turns out the initial ruling overturned and the player should never been suspended. His suspension has a bigger implication for his team instead of the teams against whom he plays. I would also question whether or not the suspended player, who could not play while the appeals process was pursued, could come back and sue. Overall, it will be interesting how the NHLPA responds to this-- no real leadership and how will the membership want to see this handled. I suspect that if the NHLPA comes down harshly on this, then Hill is the exception-- if the NHLPA take a more advocating role for its member, illicit substance use may not be so isolated.

[caneshockeychick]

^^ CL....Not sure if they still make them...I'm clueless when it comes to "toys" but haven't they been featured in commercials recently? If so, yeah, I see the resemblence ;)

[livinthedream]

I've always thought he looks like one of the "Rock-em-Sock-em Robots!"
(do they still make those? Man... I'm old!)
:beatup:

They sure do, just like the original! We play them all the time at our house.

[puck_it]

I certainly think the appeals process should be exhausted before a player faces suspension---

you're right, it should. but it shouldnt take 20 games either. I wanna know why the frick it took so long.

[nccanes]

Do you realize that the Tour de France issue with Landis is still going on? I have no idea if they have "B" samples and whatnot, but given that it was the FIRST ever case, I'm not surprised that both sides (NHL/NHLPA) took some time to figure out wtf to do.

Or maybe they just wanted to screw the Leafs. :lol:

[puck_it]

yeah, but the french are involved on that one.

And it's an individual impact... everyone gets moved up a place, there's no yammering from 2nd through last place. they can take their sweet as time.

[svandijk1]

yeah, but the french are involved on that one.

Hmmm, like the folks from say Quebec?
I think maybe the Montreal Canadiens had a hand in Toronto missing the playoffs.

[svandijk1]

I'm surprised Cindy Ruff hasn't chimed in. :D

THAT'S IT !! That's why Buffalo lost.

Clearly had the Sabres played Toronto in the first round, they would have been better prepared to face their Canadian brethren from Ottawa. Instead they were left over-confident and unprepared due to facing an undeserving, cheating bunch of fishsticks. Though at least they did win that whole state championship thingy - what's the name of the trophy for that one? The Empire Cup?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

THAT'S IT !! That's why Buffalo lost.

Clearly had the Sabres played Toronto in the first round, they would have been better prepared to face their Canadian brethren from Ottawa. Instead they were left over-confident and unprepared due to facing an undeserving, cheating bunch of fishsticks. Though at least they did win that whole state championship thingy - what's the name of the trophy for that one? The Empire Cup?

:laugh:

I really do love how we can, and will, turn damn near anything into a Buffalo bashing thread. :laugh:

[Fghtr4jc]

:laugh:

I really do love how we can, and will, turn damn near anything into a Buffalo bashing thread. :laugh:

It's a great talent.

[caniac369]

^ & ^^ Hehehehehe... :lol: