NHL News: Rypien meets NHL about fan altercation

[JimmyMess]

Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien will find out how many games he'll be suspended today for his altercation with a fan on Tuesday in Minnesota. His meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and vice-president Colin Campbell this morning in New York is over, and the decision is expected sometime today. Rypien, who was assessed a double minor for roughing, as well as a 10-minute misconduct in the second period of the Canucks loss to the Wild, was heading down the tunnel to the dressing room when he pushed a Wild fan that was applauding at the railing. Due to the fact that it will be an in-person hearing, Rypien can expect a suspension of at least five games. TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie told Off the Record on Wednesday that the presence of Bettman, who would not normally attend these type of hearings, is due to the fact that the incident happened off the ice. "You cross that line and go into the stands, then it become a bigger issue in hockey operations," McKenzie said. To make matters considerably worse for Rypien, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that the fan that he grabbed is seeking a lawyer. "Bottom line, I was assaulted," the fan who the Star-Tribune have identified as James Engquist, said. "I was just standing straight up applauding as he was getting kicked out," Engquist told the Star-Tribune. "He was out of control. And then I said, 'Way to be professional,' and he obviously didn't care for that comment and decided to grab me and almost dragged me over the rail." The 28-year old Engquist told the Star-Tribune that he spoke to NHL security on Wednesday however the NHL had yet to call him or apologize. He remains upset about the situation. "It's been a long day," the fan told the Star-Tribune. "If my brother wasn't grabbing me, he probably would have dragged me over the edge. It's not right." - TSN.ca

So how do you guys feel about this? Lets discuss all aspects. The fans side, the players side, and what the league could/can do about it.

This is not the first time a player has gotten involved with a fan, but it appears the circumstances are different.