NHL Fans: The Sean Avery Rule

LuvMyFurbaby

What do you think of the Sean Avery Rule? (Implemented in 2008, an unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play, like this: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3346729) What do you think of its application in the Philadelphia vs. Calgary game on Friday night (11/26), the first time the penalty has been called since its inception? (See the second video on this page: http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2010/11/27/1838497/chris-pronger-sean-avery-rule-flyers-flames-recap)

mdd

I think it's a bunch of BS.  Brodeur is such a cry baby and that's why that rule was implemented. 

Pronger's penalty was a joke.  When he raised his arm I thought he was pointing to the shooter to shoot into the board, hoping for a rebound of the board and a tip in the goal.  There were at aleast a couple of seconds and some movement sideways between the arm raising and the goal, so no way that was a violation of the rule.  But, with players like Pronger, Avery, Holmstrom, who make a living being pests in front of the goalie, will probably see this again, ughhh...

mrsdevilguy

The video isn't playing for some reason but if Pronger's back was to the goalie and he was paying attention to the play of the game then he shouldn't have been penalized.

sporky

mdd:

I think it's a bunch of BS.  Brodeur is such a cry baby and that's why that rule was implemented. 

Pronger's penalty was a joke.  When he raised his arm I thought he was pointing to the shooter to shoot into the board, hoping for a rebound of the board and a tip in the goal.  There were at aleast a couple of seconds and some movement sideways between the arm raising and the goal, so no way that was a violation of the rule.  But, with players like Pronger, Avery, Holmstrom, who make a living being pests in front of the goalie, will probably see this again, ughhh...

i would have to strongly disagree with that statement.

jacki_sue

Pronger and Avery are two peas in a pod...

Techinally, he shouldn't have been penalized because his back was to the goalie, and the rule clearly states that he must be facing the goaltender.  But I think the general spirit of the rule was violated with Pronger's play.  Same idea, small loophole.

It's a little sad that Pronger resorts so often to such childish actions, it takes away from the fact that he's a pretty talented player.

That being said, I rather enjoyed shutting him up in the Finals last year.

J