Canucks' Rick Rypien Accosts Fan

I don’t think this is really even close to as bad as what happened with Artest. However, I do think there’s a difference between the two in that Artest was provoked by a physical attack while Rypien just lost his cool so I can see the argument there.

I also could totally see the NHL suspending a guy like this for the rest of the season—whether it’s just or not—because of his place in the league as a non-star and for setting a precedent.

As long as it’s at least 10 games, I think I’ll be happy. Rypien seemed to realize pretty quickly that what he was doing was nutjob, so I don’t think he needs to be looking at a season-long ban or anything like what Artest got, but if he gets five or fewer, I’ll be incredulous.

Before he got a chance to accost a fan, he also hit a linesman, sucker punched a player on the ice, and took a guy down cheaply.

Also, I don’t like Rick Rypien or his stupid face.

they really need to close that WIDE OPEN space off especially by the visitors bench. Screw it, suspend him 20 games at least. It is not like the Domi incident in Philly where the fan was asking for it by trying to get at him and eventually falls into the penalty box. There is no way that guy was saying anything bad enough for Rypien to put his hands on the guy. Also, I love the look on that guys face afterwords lol. The NHL has to set a precedent here…and hopefully it makes more sense than any other suspension they give out.

Because I’m a partial tard. I was told by someone else who had watched it that he actually went into the crowd, which should shut down his season without question. But since he only shook the guy up while not in the crowd, 10-15 games seems fair.

I was listening to the vancouver game last night and hanging out over at nucks misconduct (stuck at work, no other hockey game going on), and as Brion says, the initial description made it out to be a lot worse than the incident actually was. Put it this way, the refs didn’t even give him a game misconduct for the incident when it happened. Rypien was back on the bench late in the third, and Vigneault could have put him back in the game, if he dared.

This was nothing like the multiple, cascading layers of lunacy that was the Malice at the Palace, where there was a huge fight on court, before things went up into the stands. While I fear Colin Campbell and his Flaming Dartboard of Inconsistent Justice might bring the hammer down on Rypien, the guy doesn’t deserve a season suspension for this incident.

You can’t touch a fan. Whether he shoved him a little or beat the living snot out of him, the accosting appears fairly unprovoked (although I guarantee the fan said something out of line). But Rypien is an NHL player and professional, and he should have the ability to ignore whatever comments are thrown his way and walk away into the dressing room. If it were ok for the players to go after any fan who said something, then the seats would have to be at least 50 feet away from the benches and ice surface.

I think the fact that he only grabbed the fan and then let go pretty quickly will reduce the suspension, because had he really hurt the fan, he’d be looking at 25-30 games. As it is, I expect 10 will probably be what he gets. The interesting thing to watch here is that this is a 4th liner/enforcer, so the NHL will have no problems using him as a sacrificial lamb to show the world that they mean business when it comes to this type of stuff.

I’m for a stricter punishment, 10+ games. Need to hit the nail on the head here. While this thing doesn’t come up much thanks to the glass and all, I think the message should be reiterated sternly when something does happen.

Adios. Try again next season when you can control your temper. Maybe.

Be a professional. That’s why you’re wearing that sweater.