Anaheim Ducks Gameday: Talking Suspension Blues

Yesterday the Catholic Church chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope (despite more qualified candidates), and his first act as pope was to suspend Corey Perry for four games. That's about twice as much as any other player would have received in the same situation, and 4 games more than other unrelated hits this season received that were more reckless with clear intent to injure. But what can you do? No one has ever argued that NHL discipline is consistent.

In case you missed it yesterday, because you've been on Mars, in a cave, with your eyes shut and your fingers in your ears, here's Perry's discipline video from the NHL's Department of Player Safety:

How fitting that it's narrated by noted shitbag Rob Blake.

The four-day break could be a blessing in disguise for Ducks GM Bob Murray, who has to make a pretty tough decision regarding Perry's (and the Ducks') future, and has to make that decision soon. The Ducks were able to come out on top against the Wild without Perry, and if they're able to continue to do well without him for the four upcoming games against tough opponents, maybe it's a little easier for Murray to trade him away come the deadline and try to make a decent return on assets. If the Ducks circle the regression drain, maybe Murray takes a chance on keeping Perry, getting nothing in return if he walks in Free Agency, but possibly capturing the ultimate prize with him while he's around. It certainly doesn't give a definite answer, but at least the team will know where it stands with Perry not around.

Of course, this could all be solved if Perry decides to follow in Getzlaf's footsteps and sign an extension.

The first of our Perry-free games comes tonight against the Stars. Dallas handed Anaheim one of their very few regulation losses this season, and it's been so long since we've had one of those I've forgotten what regulation losses even feel like. Dallas hasn't been able to win many games since then, and have very little going for them or their crapbag of a state, but the Ducks continue to be one of the most dominant teams in the league. It will certainly be an interesting rematch.

Hopefully the Ducks can manage to not get anymore of their own suspended.

Gameday Prediction: Sbisa falls in to a bit of a performance slump after being overlooked for pope.