O'Donnell video

i read that later in the 3rd period simmonds and martin went at it for awhile.

Glad to see Martin paid for his sins.

Nice. Good to see such a fast reaction along with the little extra punch at the 26 second mark before OD gets up and then the stare down and extra talking at the end.

Hey Rich, if the games not televised, then why do I hear Bob and Jim commentating as if they're televised.

Completely unrelated, and I don't really care, but I know some of you are Gretzky fans so here...http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=499636

its nice to see players getting mad when the other teams are taking runs at the Kings guys. I dont care if its a run at doughty or zeiller, someone should always do what OD did right there.

"I know some of you are Gretzky fans."

Yes indeed!

THIS is huge and now opens the door to have 99 come back to LA where his home is and where he belongs! I wanna see Gretz be a part of this organization in some capacity SO BAD. Make it happen Deano!!!

Because MRK, that's not Bob and Jim. It's Nick and Daryl's radio feed played over it.

i LOOOOVE to see this. you get the feeling that the players really think of themselves as a team and genuinely like eachother. this is huge for the team chemistry AKA the "X factor" that all good teams have.

...gotta love it!!!

Gretzky stepped down as head coach because of all the uncertainties regarding the team's ownership and bankrupcy court hearings. He has said that he doesn't fit in the future plans of the two prospective buyers, but I'm not sure he won't stay with the Coyotes.

That being said, I think he's more likely to join the Oilers organization because they were his first team, he had his success with them, and they're the team everybody associates Gretzky with.

From what this video shows, it's hard to understand how this was sufficient evidence to warrant a suspension. I mean he obviously beat the crap out of Martin, but you don't see the initial cross check at all, just the after math. Either way, I guess I would want a suspension had it been the other way around, but there has to be a better replay out there, especially of the initial hit on DD!

Looks to me, at the very begining of the video, like Martin has his stick up high and takes swing at the head or shoulders of Doughty. OD was looking that direction and took a bee line as soon as that happened. From Coach Murray's quote, the day after the game, he said Martin got his shoulder up to Doughty's head on a hit. Prehaps that happened off camera. Normally, I'd prefer OD just drop the gloves and fight Martin, but if that indeed was a slash near Doughty's head, I can't blame him at all for flying off and cross-checking Martin.

Also, if that was the case, Martin deserves not only what he got from OD, but at least one game suspension as well. The league needs to penalize stick fouls heavier and outlaw all shots to the head. I'm sure Martin got the message loud and clear, but the league needs to follow up and be consistent. Usually I'd say the instigator, Martin, should get a heavier punishment, but I can see how they'd go after OD hard since he ended up on Martin's back punching him in the face/head.

Rich,
From Daryl Evans's commentary it sounds like he got a pretty good look at the play and I'm sure Doughty and OD have their version of the story to tell. Any chance of you getting a quick interview with any or all of them so we know what "really" happened. I'm sure they'll be completely unbiased. ;)

Nice OD!

You know, even though you can't see his face, I imagine towards the end when OD is still on Martin but looking up at and talking to the refs, this angry puppy look on his face... "But I don't wanna stop!"... or the offended, but guilty, child "He started it!"

Its also funny how OD gives Martin another shove to the ice, for good measure, before getting off him and skating away. Man was he PISSED! You can see a few punches from far away before the crush of bodies obscures everything. He was really throwing some hard shots.

While I am glad that Martin did not get seriously hurt as a result, I am even more glad to see that kind of umbrage taken over what the team saw a dirty play.

Totally worth the suspension.

OD's a pro's pro! It's great to have him back again this year. He'll never be spectacular, he's just a pro.

What a clusterf*** going on in Phoenix. Good job by Bettman keeping his house in order. I'm starting to wonder if the Kings opening night could be in jeopardy? Under Bettman's watch, anything is possible.

My initial reaction would be positive to having Gretzky back with the organization, but in what capacity?
He's not a good talent evaluator and he's not a great head coach....the old saying still holds true...Great players don't make good coaches.
Unless he's coming back in a similar position to Luc's, I don't see the need to have him back.

Rich,

Thanks, we'll take what we can get. It was good to see Zeus sprint from the slot. Maybe the league went solely on the ref reports, but ‘5 games’ seems heavy. DD is not yet in the Ove, crosby, Kane class.

Hopefully, TM makes it clear to the team this is Kings hockey, and clear to the public that this was an unfortunate incident of a mentor stepping in for a teenager.

OD is a class act. He wouldn't have done this unless the kid did something to deserve it...

He techinically only got 2 games, regular season at least. I dont think the players are paid for preseason games anyway. I could be wrong.

QuickGold, I was there and saw OD put a hard cross check, with both hands on his stick, to the guy's face which made the guy immediate drop to the ice. Then OD started pummelling the guy as you can see in the video. Personally, I'm thrilled he only got 5. I was expecting more. Fortunately, the guy didn't get seriously injured as a result. Boy, OD's one stud of a teammate.

Not big on bashing the times, but what r they thinking using a picture of OD in DUCKS gear to cover this story??? Weak sauce.

Dude went after him Courtnall-style!! ))

Now for Evgeni, and Evgeny, to pay for last year...