Why the sudden ban?..Why now?

Question

The tossing of the octopus has been an NHL tradition for many years. If safety was the real reason for the ban, wouldn't it have happened before now?

Answer 1

The first ban of throwing things was in the '96 playoffs when the Florida Panthers fans started throwing thousands of plastic rats on the ice when they would score.  Ruined the tradition.

Answer 2

The ban was effective starting April 19th, 2008. It was caused because it took a long time to remove the octopus from the ice. (total BS).

Answer 3

Some whiner got their panties in a bunch and knew the right people.

Answer 4

PETA got bored and wanted to ruin a tradition.  Rodeo is still on their hit list.

Answer 5

game delays and some crappy arguement about players and officials safety blah blah blah.  Don't think for a moment that Wings fans in Detroit or Pitt won't still throw the 8 legged creature!  It's gonna happen, just like the Wings winning the cup!

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!

Answer 6

Because Bettman is a bonehead that has a hardon for the Wings.

Answer 7

What you mean you missed all those knee and eye injuries caused by flying goo?

Sudden?  It happened over a month ago.

Answer 8

Throwing the octopus onto the ice has been technically "not allowed" for a long time.  If they catch anyone trying to bring it into the arena they will confiscate it.  Even though they might not try that hard.



It's recently that they banned the simple "twirling" of the octopus over the ice or else the team will be fined $10,000.   That itself has been banned for about a month or so.



Though he says that "matter" flying off of the octopus can land on the ice, freeze, and become dangerous, experiments have tested that to find that nothing comes of the opctopus while twirling.