So $2500 later, Alex Burrows is back to being a regular NHL player again, well – sort of.

The amount of attention Burrows has received this week after calling out referee Stephane Auger in interviews following Monday’s game against the Predators has been amazing.

Almost too much attention, it seems.

Burrows’ comments regarding Auger and his alleged comments before the game on Monday have caused all types of media to comment on the situation. A Facebook group titled “Stephane Auger Should Be Fired From The NHL” has been created, and embarrassingly, has amassed just over 2200 fans. Based on the words of a hometown hero, 2200 people believe a man should lose his job. Slowly I start to understand why Canucks fans get a bad reputation.

Our passion is unmatched, however passion can move in both positive and negative ways. 2200 people joining a group that’s only purpose is to fire someone, based on comments made by Alex Burrows; that’s a problem. 18,000+ passionately waving towels to honour the ’82 Canucks and the late great Roger Neilson, that’s awesome.

However, overzealous Canucks fans are not the only ones reacting wrongly to the whole situation.

Enter, Damien Cox. It’s ridiculous to expect the media to pass on something as juicy as Burrows’ allegations. However, I assumed Burrows would be given the benefit of the doubt in regards to what Auger really said, since only two men really know the truth. I guessed wrong.

After news came out that Alex Burrows would be fined, Auger would be talked to, and that the matter would be closed, apparently a green light was turned on somewhere to commence the Burrows bashing. Damien Cox decided hey, screw it, why not bash some of the other Canucks, and the whole province of BC while I’m at it, and away he went.

“Funny how people are so ready to believe Alex Burrows, and so ready to assume Stephane Auger essentially cheated the Vancouver Canucks.

Come to think of it, funny how it’s always the Canucks screaming outrage about something. Unless, of course, its a Vancouver fan shining a laser into the face of an opposing goalie. Then, in the words of Alain Vigneault, they’re just “great fans.”

65 words, and all of a sudden all Canucks fans are hard done by, laser-pointer wielding lunatics who only wear Canucks jerseys to cover the “I love Burrows” tattoos. Yepp, bang on.

And he was just getting warmed up…

“They sure get unhinged in a hurry over hockey in Vancouver. Geez, years later, you can still get folks all up in a lather over the Bertuzzi-Moore incident, claiming Steve Moore deserved what he got and how he faked his injuries, etc.

Never much moderation out of B.C. when it comes to these things.

Just last summer, Canucks GM Mike Gillis accused the Leafs not once but twice of illegally meddling in Vancouver team business. The NHL essentially laughed and went on to other business.”

Vancouver gets unhinged in a hurry? Yes, when we feel we’ve lost a game because we’ve been cheated by an official, we get upset. And yes, you’re right; most Canucks fans do believe Burrows, nothing wrong with that. Only two men on this earth were involved in the conversation before Monday’s game, and I believe the hard working NHL player over the NHL referee with a past of controversy. No big deal, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, except for British Columbians I guess. Oh my mistake.

It’s actually quite impressive Cox was able to make such an interesting comparison between the Canucks tampering allegations against the Leafs and the allegations of Burrows, they are very similar. They were both barking up the wrong tree, attacking the big players in the NHL and are getting swept under the rug.

The Canucks accused the biggest money maker in the NHL of tampering and they “laughed and went on to other business”. Power corrupts.

Now that Alex Burrows has accused Stephane Auger of “getting him back” he too is being swept under the rug, $2500 later. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

And Damien wasn’t done there either; he hadn’t quite hit everyone on the west coast juuuuuuuust yet.

“For starters, how do we know Burrows is telling the truth?

There’s absolutely no corroboration of his story. What we do know is that he’s a known dive artist and agitator who is more than happy to fake an injury or a foul if it draws a penalty against an opponent. He believes referees are there to buy into his various cons and acting jobs.

He’s a pretty good hockey player, too. It’s just that the nonsense sometimes overshadows the ability, just like his teammate, Ryan Kesler.

Auger? Solid, not spectacular ref. Not one of the NHL’s best, but solid. To be honest, most nights I couldn’t tell you who the referees are any more. It’s just not a big factor to me.”

Truth? Truth is a funny word. We don’t “know” the truth about Burrows or Auger, but thanks very much for enlightening the world regarding the truth about Burrows’ play. I’m sure he runs around the ice focusing on what referee he can trick next. In fact, now that I’ve had such an epiphany I don’t think I like Alex Burrows, better go get that tattoo removed quickly.

How is it that Cox speaks about the truth like it’s as sacred as the bible, but then turns around and peddles his opinion of Burrows’ as the truth. Not only as the truth, but apparently a truth known by everyone “we do know” (emphasis mine) that he’s a “known dive artist and agitator who is more than happy to fake an injury or foul”. I’ve had words put in my mouth before, but Cox really slams it in there doesn’t he.

I KNOW Alex Burrows is a decent hockey player, not the most squeaky clean player in the whole league, but its hockey, a contact sport, and in the heat of battle things get intense. I know Burrows has done some things I’m not proud of.  He’s not perfect, but the same can be said about Auger’s officiating. He’s no saint either. Yet somehow Cox passes Burrows off as a known dive artist, and Auger as “solid”. I don’t get it.

However, what I do “get” is that throwing Ryan Kesler into a story for the sole purpose of bashing him, is a damn cheap shot. Cox provides no basis for this attack. This is much worse than any cheap shot either Kesler or Burrows has attempted on the ice, which must be saying something fairly significant since you believe they are such immoral players.

So what have we learned after all these shenanigans?

To be honest, not much. The NHL didn’t budge at all, the matter was privately investigated and closed. Other than the game itself, the interaction between referees and players will continue to be a secret to the public, allowing whatever happens to continue to occur, for right or for wrong. The truth is out there somewhere, but fans may never know. I guess both Burrows and NHL fans lose this round.

Battle lines have been drawn, those who love Burrows will continue to enjoy his play for the same reasons they always have. Those who disagree with his playing style will continue to do so, hopefully without ruining his reputation and the reputations of his teammates in the process.

Update 10:38 AM – Colin Campbell spoke out on Fan 590 in Toronto in regards to what Auger said to Burrows, and why no further action was taken against Auger.