A Bad Night For David Booth

((HT: RDS/NHL))

Florida Panthers left wing David Booth left their game Thursday night against Montreal in the second period after he got his clock cleaned by Jaroslav Spacek's open-ice shoulder check to the head.

Booth missed 45 games earlier this season after he sustained a concussion on a blindside hit by Philadelphia's Mike Richards on October 24. He was face down on the ice after the hit and trainer Dave Zenobi came to Booth's side immediately.

A bloodstain remained on the ice after Booth was helped off the ice to the dressing room. No penalty was called on the play.

Earlier Thursday, the executive board of the players' union voted to accept a new temporary rule that will ban hits to the head against unsuspecting players. The decision took effect immediately starting with Thursday night's games.

Here's the hit and decide for yourself if it fits the new guidelines...

Keith Ballard Update: He's Still Shocked

But the Florida Panthers have handled the situation internally, and Ballard still looks like he has no idea how to apologize to Tomas Vokoun for almost turning him in to Vincent Van Vokoun...

WSVN-TV's Mike DiPasquale was at Panthers practice to gauge the team's vibe on the whole thing...


We have a solution, and the solution is more padding...

Keith Ballard is a Moron

We found something to add to the list of "All-Time Stupid Things Done by Athlete's". Last night at the Florida Panthers/Atlanta Thrashers game, Panthers Defenseman Keith Ballard in a fit of rage, almost killed his teams goalie.

The Miami Herald talks about what happened RIGHT HERE
The story from the Sun-Sentinel.com RIGHT HERE

If you didn't see the video or hear about it, this is what happened. After the Thrashers Ilya Kovlachuk scored a goal in the 1st period of the game on a mistake play, Ballard who was standing next to the goal tried to smash his stick against the goal post. Unfortunately, goalie Tomas Vokoun was still in the net and Ballard's stick struck Vokoun...very hard. Vokoun went down with a severe gash near his ear and had to be taken from the game on a stretcher. The Thrashers would win the game later on a goal with about 6 seconds left in the game.

Here is the video, from our friends at CBC who got it from Fox Sports Florida and it was on the You Tube:

Richards Gets No Suspension For Booth Hit

((HT: CSN Philly/TSN))

According to Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren, Brad Richards will not be getting a suspension for his shoulder-to-jaw smash on Florida Panthers winger David Booth ((pictured, thanks CP)) Saturday night.

"I'm never out there to hurt anyone," Richards said after the game. "I have respect for the game and respect for the players. My concern is with him. Hopefully, he's fine and gets better. I just wanted to separate him from the puck. He dished it off and everything happened so quickly. I don't have a history of head shots and I don't even know if it was a head shot."

But Panthers' defenceman Keith Ballard felt Richards took advantage of Booth's position, something he has a history of doing.

"Richards knows (Booth) is in vulnerable position and goes after him," Ballard said. "He's done it before. That's the same stuff they've been trying to cut out. The thing with Mike Richards is he's a good, honest player. I love a lot about his game. He does a lot of things well, but then he does that stuff."

Go ahead and circle December 21st on your calendar...

Here's the hit in question, thanks to our friends at CSN-Philly and the NHL

Hammerin' Hank And The Florida Panthers

((HT: The Star/McGran))

The Florida Panthers should have new owners by the time the 2009-10 season begins.

Sports Properties Acquisition Corp. – a group linked earlier to potential bidders to the Phoenix Coyotes – have put a $240 million (U.S.) offer on the table to purchase the Panthers, the Star has learned.

Harry Zlokower, spokesman for the publicly traded company, declined comment, as did Bill Daly, deputy commissioner of the NHL.

The deal would include not only the NHL team, but also the BankAtlantic Centre, an arena management company and land surrounding the arena, according to Reuters.

The deal requires approval from 75 per cent of the NHL's 30 owners.

A source told the Star the Panthers deal in no way effects the bankruptcy sale of the Coyotes. Chicago sports magnate Jerry Reinsdorf had been interested in purchasing the Coyotes and keeping them in Phoenix in a deal believed to be worth $130 million (U.S.) prior to the team filing for bankruptcy.

Reinsdorf had aligned himself with Tony Tavares, the former Montreal Expos president who is president of the Sports Properties Acquisition Corp., a new company whose sole purpose was to purchase sports teams.

Sports Properties has previously bid on the Chicago Cubs and has looked at other sports properties.

The group also includes Hank Aaron, Andrew Murstein, a New York City taxi tycoon; former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo; and Richard Mack, a senior partner at Apollo Real Estate Advisors.