Krys Barch was back at practice on Monday and was playing on Florida's fourth line with Mark Cullen and Bill Thomas.
Barch is expected to talk to NHL Senior Executive Vice President Colin Campbell on Tuesday regarding his ejection from Saturday's game for allegedly using racially charged language toward Montreal's P.K. Subban.
Scott Norton, Barch's agent, said Sunday that he believes his client will be cleared by the league for what he calls an misunderstanding. Numerous sources from around the Panthers say Barch didn't use a specific racial slur, but what he did say is up for interpretation. Subban is black.
The Panthers expect the matter to be resolved on Tuesday; the league was in no hurry to take care of the matter because of Monday's Winter Classic in Philadelphia and that the Panthers don't play until Thursday.
Barch was not made available for comment.
“This is something we're all very sensitive to,'' coach Kevin Dineen said. “Whenever you're under league review, you respect that process and that's where we are. We needed a good skate, got a good two points the other night. .-.-.
"The Winter Classic is [Monday] and that needs to take center stage. The league will take care of its business [Tuesday]. It's inappropriate for me to make any comments before they make their due diligence.''
-- Barch inadvertently hit teammate Tomas Kopecky to the ice during practice on Monday, with Kopecky staying down while being treated by Florida's medical staff.
After a few minutes on the bench, Kopecky was back working in drills.
Let's hope Hockey Hall of Famer Cliff Viner stays out of the Barch controversy.
Posted by: Seeing Red | January 02, 2012 at 07:43 PM
I really hope the league doesn't slap him with a suspension just to keep him out of the NYR game. You know they're thinking about it....
Posted by: jimh | January 03, 2012 at 09:47 AM
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking, jimh. Glad to hear Upshall is skating again.
Posted by: Eric | January 03, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Come on Barch. Step up to the plate and be a man. You said what you said, so own it. The linesman does not have a vendetta or any secondary issue here. They report on what they see/hear. THAT IS IT....nothing sinister here. When I was a linesman, I would report to the reff what I seen, the reff makes the decision.
Posted by: Terry | January 03, 2012 at 01:53 PM
Can't we hire Peter Worell again? That would solve the problem ...
Posted by: Peter W | January 03, 2012 at 07:02 PM
The Rat Trick Blog has that Madden has signed.
Posted by: John | January 04, 2012 at 01:24 PM
Yup, it's official. We signed Madden. What's new with the disciplinary hearing?
Posted by: Mad Max | January 04, 2012 at 01:43 PM